This post covers the California Prop 65 label requirements for Amazon Listings. The California Prop 65 Label Act requires businesses and manufacturers to provide warnings about potential chemical exposures from their products. A Prop 65 warning label does not necessarily mean a product is unsafe but simply informs consumers about potential chemical exposure before they purchase the product. There is a wide range of potential chemicals that the law covers and businesses need to understand their responsibility for properly labeling their products. For a full list of chemicals and more information about Prop 65, see California’s official website.
Since its start, Amazon has been committed to prioritizing customer satisfaction throughout the entire shopping journey. To ensure that customers can trust the quality and safety of the products they purchase, Amazon updates its policies to comply with all federal and state regulations. To ensure sellers are complying with all laws and safety regulations, Amazon has begun continues to update processes for providing product safety documentation. To avoid listing deactivation and lost sales, sellers need to understand the safety requirements that apply to their products and the actions needed to be compliant. The California Prop 65 policies are especially important to Amazon sellers as they can apply to a variety of product categories. This post outlines the requirements for selling a product with a Prop 65 warning on Amazon and what sellers need to know to comply with California laws and Amazon policies.
Understanding Amazon’s California Prop 65 Compliance Policy
Amazon’s California Prop 65 policy states, “You are responsible for compliance with all applicable laws, including the warning requirements mandated by California’s Proposition 65 (Prop 65).” What does this mean, and how can a seller ensure that they are compliant with California Prop 65? To comply with this law and avoid listing deactivation, sellers need to take the following actions:
Determine if Your Amazon Product Listing Needs a Prop 65 Warning
There is a wide range of chemical exposures covered by the Prop 65 Act, including lead, phthalates, cadmium, formaldehyde, mercury, and acrylamide. Manufacturers that are not sure if their product needs a warning label should get a Prop 65 exposure assessment. Sellers that don’t manufacture their products should coordinate with their suppliers and determine if an exposure assessment is needed.
Provide Amazon with the Correct Prop 65 Warning
Sellers need to provide the Prop 65 warning information by adding the details to the product listing. To do this, navigate to “Manage Inventory” and select “Edit listing” for each product that requires a label. Next, navigate to the California Proposition 65 section of the Safety & Compliance tab and add the warning type and chemical name information from the dropdown options. Also add the label warning information to the “Safety Warning” attribute.
Provide Additional Details to Seller Support
For custom Prop 65 warnings that are court-ordered, contact seller support. This step will not be necessary for every product, only for specific circumstances where a court requires a custom warning.
Add Warning Labels to Each Individual Unit
To comply with California’s Prop 65 Act, every unit needs to have the warning label applied. Amazon FBA fulfillment centers will not provide these labels or apply them for you. Do not send any of these warning labels to FBA fulfillment centers. Products that require a warning label need to be shipped to fulfillment centers with the label already applied to each unit.
Whether you are the manufacturer and brand owner or if you receive inventory from a supplier, it is your responsibility to know the labeling requirements for the products you sell on Amazon. Failure to provide the warning details or label inventory could result in deactivated listings or account suspension.
Prop 65 Label Requirements for Amazon Listings
Amazon sellers need to properly label products that need a Prop 65 warning in order to comply with California law and Amazon policies. Sellers can't restrict product sales to the state of California on Amazon. So, if a product requires the Prop 65 warning label to be sold in California, this label will need to be applied to all inventory before it is shipped to Amazon’s FBA warehouses. Amazon’s FBA labeling services do not cover warning labels and therefore will not apply these for you. Businesses are legally required to provide the chemical exposure warning to consumers in California, so the inventory must have the correct labels applied. Failure to apply the warning labels to each unit could result in heavy fines or even lawsuits, so sellers should take this responsibility seriously.
In addition to applying labels to physical inventory, Amazon sellers must also add the warning details to the listing’s Safety and Compliance attributes. There are 3 important listing attributes that should be provided for each ASIN:
Warning Label - This attribute displays at the top of the page of the Safety & Compliance tab. This attribute is a string of text that allows up to 500 characters. Use this product field to provide the warning label details and any information that is required.
California Proposition 65 Warning Type - Select the applicable category from the dropdown list. If unsure of which option to select, refer to the warning label and Prop 65 exposure assessment to identify the most appropriate category.
California Proposition 65 Chemical Name(s) - Select all applicable chemical exposures from the dropdown list. If unsure, check with the manufacturer or refer to the chemical exposure assessment.
Sellers are responsible for providing the Prop 65 warning details for all applicable products. Both the physical inventory units and the product’s detail page should include the Prop 65 warning details in order to be compliant. Sellers can add the information to product listings by manually editing each listing on the Manage Inventory page or by adding the details to a listing update feed and uploading the file.
Seller Central Product Safety Compliance Best Practices
As Amazon rolls out its streamlined processes for safety compliance, it’s important for sellers to understand the policies that apply to their products and prepare documentation that may be needed. Deactivated listings caused by compliance issues is every seller’s worst nightmare. Each day that a listing remains inactive results in lost sales and potential consequences to the account health status. To avoid these headaches and missed sales, we recommend the following best practices for Amazon policy compliance.
Stay Informed About Federal and Safety Regulations - Amazon’s safety and compliance policies are informed by the requirements set by applicable regulatory entities. For example, Amazon’s Prop 65 policies are based on the requirements set by California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. For products to be eligible for sale on Amazon, they must comply with the standards set by the Prop 65 Act. Sellers, especially manufacturers and brand owners, should closely monitor changes to laws and standards at both state and federal levels to stay proactive.
Prepare Safety Documentation in Advance - Even if Amazon hasn’t required safety documentation for your products yet, they likely will in the future. Review Amazon policies related to your product categories and determine what certifications or documentation could be required. Pay attention to details such as the exact type of documents or testing needed, the frequency of the testing (annual, every 3 years, etc.), and the required lab accreditations. Organize your documents and certifications so you can quickly provide them to Amazon if needed.
Check your Account Health Frequently - Check your account health at least once or twice per week to make sure there are no violations that need to be addressed. Make sure performance notifications are enabled and shared with the correct email address.
Reach out to Seller Support with Questions - Improvements to the compliance communication were announced at Amazon Accelerate 2025. Amazon is working to reduce confusion about their compliance policies and help sellers understand the steps needed to resolve violations. If you are unsure what documentation is needed to appeal a violation, open a case with seller support. If there is still not enough information to resolve your issue, reach out to an account manager at Goat Consulting.
Frequently Asked Questions on California Prop 65 Label Requirements for Amazon Listings
Can Amazon FBA add California Prop 65 labels?
No, Amazon FBA warehouses will not add California Prop 65 labels to inventory. Each individual unit must be labeled with the applicable California Prop 65 warning label before it is sent to Amazon FBA fulfillment centers. See this article for more information about preparing inventory for FBA fulfillment
Can I prevent my product from being sold in California?
No, sales cannot be restricted or prevented in specific states. Depending on the product category, Amazon may suppress your listing in certain states if the product is prohibited. For more information about prohibited products, see this Amazon help page.
Do I need to add Prop 65 labels to all inventory that I sell on Amazon?
A Prop 65 label needs to be applied to each individual unit when selling on Amazon. Amazon FBA labeling services will not add a California Prop 65 label, so this needs to be done by the seller before shipping inventory to fulfillment centers.
How do I know if the California Prop 65 warning is applicable to my products?
Information about the California Prop 65 requirements and impacted product categories can be found on the California Prop 65 website. If you are unsure if your product is compliant, review the requirements for your product and have a 3rd party lab run tests. See this list of Amazon-partnered third-party labs that can test for compliance with Prop 65 requirements.
How do I add Prop 65 warning details to Amazon listings?
To add California Prop 65 label details to an Amazon listing, login to Seller Central and navigate to “Manage Inventory.” Search for the SKU that you want to update and select “Edit Listing Details.” Under offer details, add the California Prop 65 information to the applicable fields. After 24 hours, check the detail page to ensure that the required details are displaying.
Which products does the California Prop 65 requirement apply to?
The California Prop 65 warning can apply to a variety of products sold on Amazon, including foods, furniture, cosmetics, and personal care. To see if your product requires a Prop 65 label, order a chemical exposure assessment.
Conclusion
We hope that after reading this post, you have a better understanding of the California Prop 65 Label Act and how it relates to selling on Amazon. It is a right and not a privilege to sell on Amazon, and it requires sellers to understand what certifications, labels, and policies to follow for Amazon listings. Amazon will continue to hold sellers to a high standard to ensure customer safety. By complying with Amazon policies and keeping an account healthy, you can set yourself apart from the competition by having customers trust that you are selling safe and compliant products. If you have any questions regarding Account Health or Amazon policies, please reach out to Goat Consulting, where we can help you navigate your situation.
About the Author - Stella Nelson
This post was written by Stella Nelson, an Account Manager at Goat Consulting. Stella helps her clients sell on Amazon by increasing sales, mitigating risk, reducing costs, and solving problems. Stella has experience and expertise in helping brands and manufacturers navigate California Prop 65 issues on Amazon. If you want help or assistance with other aspects of selling on Amazon, Stella is happy to lead your account.
Disclaimer - The information provided in this article is informational; it is not legal advice, and should not be relied upon as legal advice. We cannot guarantee that the content will always reflect the latest updates to Amazon policies, local, state, and federal legal advice. This information is not a substitute for reading and understanding policies and regulations.