Commingling Will End in 2026 — What Sellers Must Do Now
Amazon has announced a major operational change that will directly impact how FBA inventory is labeled and fulfilled. Beginning March 31, 2026, Amazon will officially end commingling practices across its fulfillment network.
While the goal is to improve inventory traceability and customer trust, this change introduces new compliance responsibilities for sellers—especially resellers and multi-channel operators. Understanding what’s changing now will help sellers avoid disruptions, relabeling costs, and inbound shipment delays later.
What’s New
Amazon is ending inventory commingling and updating barcode eligibility rules across FBA:
Commingling will no longer be used to fulfill customer orders, even for identical products.
Brand owners enrolled in Brand Registry (Brand Representative role) can use manufacturer barcodes (UPC, ISBN) without Amazon barcodes—no sticker application required.
Resellers not enrolled in Brand Registry must use Amazon barcode stickers for all products, even if they already have a UPC.
Products without manufacturer barcodes will require Amazon barcodes for all sellers.
The rules apply to inventory shipped on or after March 31, 2026.
Helpful Amazon resources:
Why This Update Matters
This change goes beyond labeling—it affects costs, workflows, and account health:
Reduced inventory risk: Ending commingling lowers the chance of counterfeit or damaged units being shipped under your ASIN.
Operational impact for resellers: Mandatory Amazon barcodes introduce extra prep steps and costs.
Inbound compliance risk: Incorrect barcode choices can lead to rejected shipments or stranded inventory.
Multi-channel complexity: Sellers using the same inventory across Amazon and other platforms must now plan barcode strategies more carefully.
Long lead time advantage: Sellers who adapt early will avoid last-minute operational bottlenecks in 2026.
Pro Tips from Xtended.GH
Audit barcode settings now: Review your current FNSKU vs manufacturer barcode configurations well before the deadline.
Separate workflows by seller type: Brand owners and resellers should not assume the same labeling strategy applies.
Align prep instructions with suppliers: Misaligned labeling at the source can cause costly inbound errors.
Track ASIN-level eligibility: Not all products will qualify for manufacturer barcodes—even within the same catalog.
Document changes centrally: Clear internal SOPs reduce repeat errors across shipments.
How Xtended.GH Can Help
As a backend operations support partner, Xtended.GH helps sellers navigate this transition with precision:
FBA barcode and commingling audits to ensure ASIN-level compliance before March 2026.
Seller Central configuration support, including barcode preference setup and validation.
Inbound shipment checks to reduce relabeling errors and warehouse rejections.
Catalog and inventory coordination for sellers operating across multiple marketplaces.
Ongoing operational monitoring to keep backend processes aligned with Amazon policy updates.
We focus on execution accuracy—so policy changes don’t become operational setbacks.
Get in Touch
If you sell on Amazon and want to prepare for the end of commingling without disrupting fulfillment, our team can help assess your current setup and guide the transition. Selling online? Let us handle the backend while you focus on growing your brand. Reach us at sales@xtendedgh.com.
Final Thoughts
Amazon’s decision to end commingling reflects a broader shift toward accountability and inventory transparency. Sellers who proactively adjust their labeling and fulfillment workflows will be best positioned to maintain smooth operations and avoid last-minute compliance issues.
Planning early isn’t optional—it’s operationally smart.