Amazon Meltable FBA Inventory: 2025 Seller Guide

If you sell chocolate, gummies, or other heat-sensitive goods, the Amazon FBA meltable policy is about to shape your Q4 playbook. Starting September 22, 2025, sellers can once again send meltable FBA inventory into U.S. fulfillment centers ahead of the selling window. Amazon will resume filling customer orders on October 13, 2025, and, as in previous years, meltables are only considered sellable at FBA from October 13 through April 15. Outside that window, temperature-sensitive goods risk being marked unfulfillable or even disposed of.

As a freight forwarder supporting thousands of Amazon shipments from China to the U.S., Forest Shipping wrote this practical guide to help you plan inbound timing, packaging, and contingency options for temperature-sensitive products shipping—so you arrive in Q4 ready, compliant, and profitable.

What Counts as “Meltable” (and Why It Matters)

Amazon defines meltable as consumable products with a high risk of melting when exposed to 155°F for extended periods. Typical examples include:

• Chocolate bars and coated snacks
• Gummies, jelly-based items
• Select wax-based products (e.g., certain chews or supplements)

Amazon maintains a meltable ASINs list and can suppress offers that fail to meet quality standards (e.g., customer complaints that goods arrive melted). If your ASIN appears on that list, the rules in this guide apply to you.

2025 Timeline at a Glance (U.S. Marketplace)

• Sept 22, 2025: Inbound opens—pre-position meltable inventory at FBA.
• Oct 13, 2025 – Apr 15, 2026: Amazon treats meltables as sellable inventory and fulfills customer orders.
• Apr 15, 2026: Anything arriving or stored may be marked unfulfillable; plan removals.
• By May 1, 2026: Remaining meltable inventory at FBA may be disposed of for a fee.
• Apr 15 – Oct 13: Amazon waives the Low-Inventory-Level fee for meltables (helpful while you’re out of FBA’s sellable window).
• May 1 – Oct 13: Meltables on the list are not fulfilled by Amazon—use seller-fulfillment with cold-pack capability or appropriate carriers.

What's Changing—and What Isn't

• Change: Amazon is lifting the extra restrictions it announced in March 2025, allowing inbound from Sept 22 (pre-positioning before orders resume).
• Unchanged: The classic sellable window remains Oct 13–Apr 15. Outside it, FBA storage/arrival can lead to unfulfillable status or disposal fees.

Inventory Strategy: How to Win Q4 Without Waste

1. Back-plan from your peak demand weeks. Work backward from mid-November through December to determine how many days of cover you need at FBA once sales resume on Oct 13.
2. Create shipments via Send to Amazon early. Book pre-positioning slots for meltable FBA inventory starting Sept 22 to avoid October inbound congestion.
3. Stagger arrivals. If your brand peaks late in Q4, consider two waves: (a) a smaller Oct 13–Halloween wave; (b) a replenishment timed for early November.
4. Align prep and packaging. For meltables, superior unit-level packaging (sealed inner bags, rigid outers, appropriate dunnage) reduces heat transfer and breakage.
5. Watch storage cut-offs. Don’t let meltables sit past Apr 15—plan removal orders in March to avoid May disposal fees.
6. Run a quality checklist. Temperature indicators, intact seals, and production dates (for expirables) help you pass FC checks and prevent seller-fault suppressions.

Is Your ASIN Misclassified? How to Request a Review

If you believe an ASIN is incorrectly marked as meltable, submit documentation before April 15 to Selling Partner Support. The manufacturer letter should include:

• The specific ASIN
• Explicit confirmation it can be stored at 155°F for extended periods
• The temperature at which integrity is lost
• Contact details for verification

Note: Even with documentation, Amazon may suppress offers if customers report melted arrivals. Only request reclassification when your data is rock-solid.

Plan Your Spring Removal (and Avoid the May 1 Surprise)

• Target March for removals. Lead time gives you room to process and relist via FBM if needed.
• Account for fees. After Apr 15, meltables may be deemed unfulfillable and disposed by May 1 (with fees). A timely removal order beats disposal every time.
• Leverage the fee waiver. The Low-Inventory-Level fee is waived for meltables between Apr 15 and Oct 13, which can ease costs while you reposition inventory.

Selling Meltables via Seller-Fulfillment (May–Oct)

From May 1 to Oct 13, FBA won't fulfill meltables, but you can keep selling via FBM/SFP if you can control temperature risk. Best practices:

• Use insulated mailers or liners plus gel cold packs sized to transit time.
• Right-size the service level. Faster transit lowers thermal exposure; avoid routing through hot hubs when possible.
• Pack to prevent condensation damage. Barrier bags help protect labels and cartons as cold packs warm.
• Communicate delivery expectations. Signature options, “Do not leave in heat,” and clear tracking reduce porch-heat incidents.
• Document your SOP. Include packout diagrams, pack temp, ambient temp, and time stamps; data loggers on trial runs help validate your method.

Packaging & Shipping SOP for Temperature-Sensitive Products

1. Pre-chill inventory (if compatible) to near room temperature—not freezing—to maximize cold-pack effectiveness without condensation shock.

2. Insulate properly. Use tested kits (insulated shippers or liners) that match lane transit times; avoid oversized cartons that waste cold mass.

3. Calculate the “cold budget.” Match gel-pack weight to expected hours in transit + a summer safety buffer.

4. Stabilize the unit. Keep pouches upright; add void fill to prevent friction heat and crushing.

5. Thermal labeling. Apply “Keep from heat” notices; use scannable shipment IDs that won’t smear if condensation forms.

6. Pick the right carrier service. Prioritize predictable, short-haul options; avoid multi-stop consolidations in heat waves.

7. Pilot before scaling. Send test orders to hot-weather zips (e.g., AZ, NV, TX, FL) and review product condition and customer feedback.

8. Monitor and iterate. Track melt-related tickets and refunds; adjust packout, service level, or blackout dates where needed.

How Forest Shipping Can Help

As a global freight forwarder based in China, Forest Shipping supports meltable FBA inventory strategies end-to-end:

• Q4 routing plans that hit Sept 22 inbound and Oct 13 sellable windows.
• FBA-ready prep coordination with vetted partners (labeling, protective inner packs, outer cartons, and insulation requirements).
• Mode selection (express/air/sea-air) to fit your thermal risk and margin structure.
• Seller-fulfillment setup for summer: we can help source insulated packaging, cold-pack solutions, and choose carriers with predictable transit in hot lanes.
• Removal & repositioning from FBA to your 3PL or back to your warehouse before Apr 15 to avoid disposal fees.

If you need a lane plan, packout checklist, or booking to match your category’s heat profile, we’re ready to help.

FAQ

1) When can I send meltable goods to FBA?
You can pre-position starting Sept 22, 2025; Amazon resumes filling orders Oct 13 and treats meltables as sellable inventory Oct 13–Apr 15.

2) What happens if meltables arrive after April 15?
They may be marked unfulfillable and are at risk of disposal by May 1 (fees apply). Submit removal orders well before April 15.

3) How do I challenge an incorrect meltable tag?
Submit a manufacturer letter to Selling Partner Support before April 15 with the ASIN, storage tolerance at 155°F, failure temperature, and a verification contact.

4) Can I still sell in summer?
Yes—via seller-fulfillment (FBM/SFP). Use insulated packaging, gel packs, and short-transit services to control heat exposure.

5) Will Amazon waive any fees during the off-season?
Amazon waives the Low-Inventory-Level fee for meltables Apr 15–Oct 13.

With inbound reopening on September 22, 2025, the winners will plan inventory waves, lock packaging SOPs, and align lanes to the October 13–April 15 sellable window. Treat Amazon FBA meltable policy details as hard constraints, engineer your temperature-sensitive products shipping around them, and use pre-positioning to hit Q4 demand without melt claims. Forest Shipping can design the routing, prep, and contingency plan you need to get meltable FBA inventory in place—on time, compliant, and ready to sell.