How to Avoid Amazon Product Safety Recalls

Amazon acts on recall orders from the authorities in the countries and markets where it operates. Further, Amazon can also take action when it identifies unsafe products, sometimes resulting in recall orders.

This guide explains how Amazon manages product safety recalls and what you can do to both comply with these and reduce the risk of product recalls on Amazon in the first place.

Why do Amazon recall products for safety reasons?

Amazon is actively enforcing recall orders and carrying out its own product removals to ensure that non-compliant and unsafe products are not sold on its marketplace.

Case Study A: Amazon Product Removals

Amazon is actively monitoring the compliance and safety status of products sold by third-party sellers. There are a number of ways that such checks can take place:

Gated Product Categories

Certain products, such as children’s products and cosmetics, generally require the submission of test reports, labels and other information before listing. Sellers who cannot provide the required documents cannot list the product in the first place.

Routine checks

Amazon can request compliance documentation at any time. I am aware of cases where this has happened several years after a product was initially listed. If the seller fails to provide the required test reports, label files and other documentation, then the product will be removed.

This can also trigger additional product document checks.

Injury reports

Amazon also acts on injury reports from consumers, which generally results in a compliance check followed by a removal.

Case Study B: Amazon Acting on Recall Reports

Companies selling products in the US, EU, UK and other countries are generally obliged to report unsafe products to the authorities.

For example, EU companies must report unsafe products via the Safety Gate platform. Meanwhile, US companies may report unsafe products to the CPSC or other US government agencies.

This shall then, in most cases, be followed by a recall, which can involve the following steps:

1. Inform the consumers and retailers who purchased your product

2. Provide information about the affected product model and batch

3. Issue a press release or other public statement

4. Request that the product not be used, and either destroyed or returned

5. Compensate your consumers

The system is based on companies voluntarily reporting and managing the recall procedure. That said, the authorities can also order a forced recall when sellers fail to do so.

So, where does Amazon get involved? Amazon is actively monitoring recall orders and responding by:

1. Removing the recalled products listing

2. Informing the Amazon account holder

3. Issuing warnings

Case Study C: Amazon Reporting Recalls to Authorities

Note that Amazon can also trigger recalls. In the scenario that Amazon becomes aware of product safety issues, it reports this to the relevant authorities where the product is sold.

Do we need to inform Amazon if our product is recalled by the authorities?

Yes, it is generally the seller’s responsibility to self-manage the process and respond. Knowingly selling a non-compliant and unsafe product can result in more severe consequences than having your product removed.

A recall does not have to be, and usually is not, the end for the affected business. That said, it is essential that you do not delay taking action.

What can happen if we don’t inform Amazon of a recall?

Amazon receives information directly from Safety Gate in the EU and other sources in the countries it operates. They will eventually know if your product is subject to a recall order and act by removing the affected listings.

This could potentially trigger further investigations.

Ultimately, it is not in your interest to sell an unsafe product even in the hypothetical scenario that Amazon would not become aware of the recall order.

How often do Amazon recall unsafe products?

Amazon reports multiple recalls per day. Below follows a screenshot for the recalls listed for September 5th:

Note that this page is likely not listing the total number of product removals – many of which are initiated by Amazon without an external recall order being initiated.

The total number of product removals could potentially be in the hundreds on a daily basis.

How can we prevent Amazon product safety recalls?

You can only prevent recalls if you ensure that your product complies with applicable safety standards, substance restrictions, labelling and documentation requirements.

That said, even the best company can run into technical issues, resulting in compliance issues. This is also something that the authorities and Amazon understand. Hence, the importance of self policing and proactively reporting unsafe products instead of waiting for external parties to take action.

Where can I find a list of Amazon recalls?

Amazon reports recalls on its Recalls and Product Safety Alerts page. This list contains recalls dating back to 2024.