You’re probably here to understand how to sell pet food on Amazon, and how to not get suspended on this platform. But before that, let’s understand why selling pet products is a good idea and why you have to choose this path!
Reasons You SHOULD Sell Pet Products
First of all, pet products and pet food are one of the most demanded categories on Amazon. And you know why? Because people are obsessed with their cats, dogs and other pets, they even make gifts for them! For example, did you know that on February 14th, which is also the all-famous Valentine’s Day, almost 9 million pet owners create cards and make gifts for their furry friends? Yes, people are obsessed, and you can make the best out of it!
What’s more, you will be competitive enough to win the Buy Box. Especially if you choose the products that are unique and demanded at the same time, you will get the best of both worlds: your products will be selling like hotcakes and you will be on the top of Amazon search results!
How to Sell Pet Food
Just like everything else on Amazon, even this category is regulated by Amazon. Therefore, you will have to abide by the policies Amazon has established for you, and what’s more, you shouldn’t forget about the reality outside of Amazon. This means that you should follow all the federal, state, and local laws as well.
Requirement 1
Amazon wants you to comply with the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act. This means that selling animal foods is not that piece of a cake! The food should be “safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled.”
Amazon allows you to sell products like dry Pet Foods, canned wet Pet Foods, dehydrated foods and other products that do not fall under the so-called gated products.
Requirement 2
If you somehow decided to manufacture pet foods, the facilities that you use should also meet certain requirements and regulations/ More specifically, these are the regulations that we are talking about:
- 21 CFR 113 – Thermally Processed Low-Acid Foods Packaged in Hermetically Sealed Containers
- 21 CFR 507 – Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls For Food For Animals
- Official Publication from Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) as updated
Requirement 3
Let’s remember that Amazon is a professional selling marketplace. This means that if you’re just an individual who had an extra pack of dog food, Amazon won’t let you sell that. For this, you should have certain documents, and what is more important, you should submit compliance documents. Here are two possible options for compliance documents acceptable on Amazon:
- A Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certificate from an accredited certifying body
- A Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) recognized certificate
Imagine You Ignored These Requirements…
Oh, Amazon is very strict when it comes to policy violations! It can turn your life into a complete mess by taking away your seller account, removing listings, creating an Amazon suspension and even by taking this situation to a new, legal level! So, if you don’t want to have your life changed by a platform, you should always play by its rules, and you should play really well! And remember, Amazon is the platform that won’t won’t consider your excuses! (even if they are 100% true and factual!)
Now that you know how dangerous it is to violate or ignore Amazon policies, this is the list of measures that Amazon can take in case of policy violations:
- Remove the relevant product listings
- Suspend your ability to add new products and/or listing privileges
- Withhold any payments due to you
- Pursue legal action
Can you even imagine that Amazon can pursue legal action against you? Yes, Amazon takes care of its customers and their loved ones, so you’d better prepare all the paperwork before you do something here!
It’s Time to Defend Yourself
If you want to have a successful career on Amazon, you should be equipped with eCommerce knowledge and have professionals who will rally around you and help with challenging situations. If you feel that your store also needs to be equipped, just drop a line to us and we will guide you through when the times are rough and when you find your Amazon account suspended!
Hi, I am planning to import fish feed from China and they are FDA registered, however I am private labeling and selling on Amazon, what are the requirements?