Amazon FBM Updates 2026: New Delivery and Customs Rules
Amazon has announced a series of updates to Fulfilled by Merchant requirements on Amazon.co.uk, affecting delivery performance, handling time, and customs compliance for sellers shipping their own orders. Amazon says the changes are designed to increase conversion through more accurate delivery promises, ensure timely deliveries for business customers, and facilitate smoother customs clearance for cross-border shipments. The changes are being rolled out in stages between July and October 2026, and FBM sellers need to understand what is changing and when to avoid disruption to their listings.
New Business Hour Delivery Requirement From 30 September 2026
From 30 September 2026, Amazon expects FBM sellers to maintain a business hour delivery rate of 90 percent or higher for shipments to Amazon Business customers. This metric measures the percentage of FBM shipments delivered to Amazon Business customers within their stated hours of operation, and is intended to reduce delivery reattempts and ensure secure delivery for business buyers.
From 30 October 2026, sellers whose performance remains below this requirement risk having non-compliant listings deactivated for business customers specifically. Sellers can review their current business hour delivery rate through the Account Health Dashboard, and should do so well ahead of the September deadline to identify and address any performance gaps before the deactivation date takes effect.
Account-Level Handling Time Changes From 15 July 2026
Amazon reports that 90 percent of FBM orders in its UK store already ship within a one-day handling time. To reflect this, from 15 July 2026, account-level default handling time settings will only display 0-day and 1-day options. Sellers whose account-level handling time is currently set to two days will have this automatically changed to one day.
Sellers who genuinely require a longer handling time for specific products will still be able to set this at SKU level individually, even though the account-level default will no longer offer a two-day option. Sellers who rely on a two-day handling time across their catalogue should review their settings ahead of 15 July and adjust individual SKUs where a longer handling time is genuinely necessary.
Automated Handling Time From 1 September 2026
From 1 September 2026, Amazon will introduce Automated Handling Time for SKUs where the listed handling time is one or more days longer than the seller's actual performance for more than 30 days. Amazon describes this as making it easier for sellers to offer faster delivery promises that accurately reflect their real performance, rather than requiring manual adjustment.
In practice, this means that if a seller has been consistently shipping faster than their stated handling time suggests, Amazon will automatically shorten the displayed handling time for the affected SKUs. Sellers can monitor their SKU-level handling time through the Modify Handling Time tool in Seller Central, and should check this regularly to understand which products may be affected once automated adjustments begin.
New Customs Requirements for Cross-Border Shipments From 1 July 2026
From 1 July 2026, sellers shipping FBM orders from outside the EU to an EU address must comply with new EU Customs Reform regulations to ensure customs clearance. This is a separate and earlier deadline from the delivery and handling time changes, and applies specifically to cross-border shipments into the EU.
For shipments under €150 imported under the Import One-Stop Shop scheme, sellers must select an approved carrier that is authorised to provide correct customs documentation. Sellers must also supply their carrier with Amazon's IOSS number along with ASIN details for each product being shipped, to ensure shipments clear customs without delay or rejection.
What FBM Sellers Need to Do Now
Given the number of changes taking effect across a relatively short window between July and October 2026, FBM sellers should treat this as a priority review rather than something to address closer to each individual deadline. Start by reviewing your current business hour delivery rate in the Account Health Dashboard to understand whether you are already meeting the 90 percent threshold or need to make operational changes before September.
Review your account-level and SKU-level handling time settings ahead of the 15 July change, particularly if your business currently relies on a two-day handling time as standard, and identify which specific products genuinely require a longer handling time so you can set this at SKU level before the account-level default changes.
For sellers shipping into the EU from outside it, the 1 July customs deadline is the most time-sensitive of all the changes outlined here, and confirming that your carrier is approved and authorised to provide the correct documentation, along with ensuring your IOSS number and ASIN details are being supplied correctly, should be addressed immediately rather than left until closer to the deadline.