Selling products on Amazon.com? Your insurance requirements may have changed—even if your business generates only a small amount of sales.
From 2 November 2026, Amazon requires sellers with products in categories subject to enhanced safety listing requirements to maintain commercial liability insurance, regardless of sales volume. The change applies to both new and existing listings. For UAE businesses selling into the US through Amazon.com, this makes insurance an important part of marketplace compliance. sellercentral.amazon.com
What Has Changed?
Previously, Amazon’s standard requirement called for sellers to obtain commercial liability insurance within 30 days after exceeding USD 10,000 in gross proceeds in any month on Amazon.com.
That requirement remains. However, sellers in affected enhanced-safety categories must now maintain insurance even when their sales fall below that threshold. The minimum required limits are USD 1 million per occurrence and USD 1 million in aggregate. sellercentral.amazon.com
“Per occurrence” refers to the limit for an individual covered event. The aggregate is the overall limit available for covered claims within the relevant policy period, subject to the policy wording.
Which Product Categories Are Affected?
Amazon’s announcement identifies examples including:
- Children’s products.
- Cosmetic and ingestible products.
- Lithium battery products.
These examples are not the complete list. Sellers should check their individual product requirements rather than assume that every item within a broad retail category is treated identically. sellercentral.amazon.com
Amazon directs sellers to Account Health for requirements relevant to their products. Its category list can change, so reviewing older guidance alone may not be enough. sellercentral.amazon.com
What Is a Certificate of Insurance?
A Certificate of Insurance, commonly called a COI, summarises information about an insurance policy. It typically identifies the insured business, insurer, policy dates, coverage types and limits.
The certificate provides evidence of cover. It does not replace the policy wording or create protection for risks excluded from the policy.
Amazon instructs affected sellers to submit their COI through Business Insurance verification in Seller Central. Amazon reviews the insurance before enabling the relevant selling privileges once its requirements are met. sellercentral.amazon.com
What Should UAE Sellers Check Before Buying Insurance?
When requesting a quotation, provide your broker or insurer with your Amazon compliance notice and a clear description of your business.
Ask them to review:
- Your products: Disclose the actual goods sold, including children’s items, cosmetics or battery-powered products.
- Your sales markets: Explain that you sell to customers in the United States through Amazon.com.
- Territorial and jurisdiction limits: Confirm how the policy treats US sales and claims brought in US courts.
- Your business activities: Identify whether you manufacture, import, distribute, rebrand or resell products.
- Your insured business name: Check it against the legal business details registered in Seller Central.
- Amazon’s current criteria: Have the insurer review the full requirements, including any required endorsements.
An existing business insurance policy should be checked carefully before relying on it for an Amazon submission.
What If Amazon Has Removed Your Listings?
Start with the specific notification in Seller Central.
- Identify the affected listings and the reason given.
- Share the notification with your insurance adviser.
- Obtain or update suitable coverage and supporting documents.
- Submit the COI through the designated verification process.
- Monitor Seller Central for requests for further information.
Amazon states that products may be removed where liability insurance lapses or no longer meets its requirements. Insurance submission also does not replace separate product safety obligations: affected products may require third-party validation and ongoing testing. sellercentral.amazon.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the new requirement apply to small sellers?
Yes, if their products fall within the affected enhanced-safety categories. The new category-based requirement applies regardless of sales volume. sellercentral.amazon.com
Does this announcement apply automatically to Amazon.ae?
The announced change concerns Amazon.com. Sellers using Amazon.ae should check the requirements for that marketplace separately.
Will submitting a COI immediately restore my listings?
Submission is followed by Amazon’s review. Sellers should monitor their account for the outcome and any remaining compliance requests.
Can I use my existing insurance?
Possibly. Ask your insurer to compare the policy and endorsements with Amazon’s current requirements, including your products and US exposure.
Review Your Cover Before Your Next Sale
For UAE online sellers, international expansion should include an insurance review alongside shipping, pricing and product compliance.
Selling products internationally? Contact InsurancePolicy.ae to discuss product liability insurance for your business and target markets.
