Amazon’s Ships in Product Packaging (SIPP) program reduces Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) rates for certified products and allows vendors to ship sales in branded packaging. Some products of a certain size and weight require SIPP certification.
To apply for certification, the product in its packaging must pass the performance tests defined by the appropriate ISTA 6-Amazon standard. The test types include random vibration and drop shock. For fragile products or those that contain sharp items or liquids, the tests must be performed and documented by an Amazon Packaging Support and Supplier Network (APASS) approved lab. As such, many manufacturers outsource SIPP certification testing to a test laboratory.
Fulfillment by Amazon
FBA outsources e-commerce order fulfillment to an Amazon center. The program claims to cost less than other carriers, and vendors can save on FBA fulfillment fees by shipping certified products in their own packaging. Amazon has three SIPP certification tiers:
- Frustration Free Packaging (FFP)
- Ships in Own Container (SIOC)
- Prep Free Packaging (PFP)
Frustration Free Packaging and Ships in Own Container do not require additional preparation from Amazon as part of the order fulfillment process. Prep Free Packaging ships in an overbox but requires no additional preparation.
Two standards govern the certification process:
- ISTA 6-Amazon.com-SIOC: FFP and SIOC certification
- ISTA 6-Amazon.com-Over Boxing: PFP certification
According to Amazon, “packaging certification testing depends on the dimensions and weight of the item being tested, product type, and packaging type.”
Motivation for Vendors and Testing Labs
Products with packaging that exceeds 18″ x 14″ x 8″ or 20 lbs that do not fall into the excluded categories (such as hazmat and Amazon Fresh items) must be SIPP certified. Vendors that ship eligible packages without certification will incur a per-unit chargeback ranging from $1.80 to $4.40, depending on the shipping weight.
Who Performs the Testing?
Vendors have the option to perform testing in their own facility or outsource it to a third-party.
Self-test
Vendors with an in-house laboratory can self-test if the product is applicable. This option works for companies with pre-establilshed testing labs but is not a viable option for most vendors.
Outsource
Vendors can use the Amazon Packaging Support and Supplier Network to identify a compliant test laboratory. APASS labs are approved by Amazon to perform ISTA 6-Amazon tests and provide valid certification.
Ideally, a lab should work with a vendor during testing and the package design process and should report on multiple prototypes before final certification testing.
ISTA Standards
Amazon partnered with the International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) to define its physical perfomance tests. The ISTA 6-Amazon test standards are a standardized, repeatable test series that include drop shock and random vibration testing.
ISTA 6-Amazon vibration test PSD graph; frequency info omitted in deference to ISTA
ISTA 6-Amazon-Over Box
Defines a general simulation test for e-commerce fulfillment. An individually packaged product is placed into a master shipping container (overbox) with dunnage (kraft paper only) and possibly other products. The standard includes two sequences of drop shock testing and one sequence of random vibration testing with a single test profile.
ISTA 6-Amazon-SIOC
Defines a general simulation test for Ships in Own Container (SIOC) packaged products that are shipped through Amazon’s distribution system to final customer destinations. The standard includes nine sequences of drop shock testing and one sequence of random vibration testing with three test profiles. The test profile varies based on the product type.
The specifications for both these standards are available to ISTA members on the ISTA website.
NOTE: On August 1, 2026, submissions must use the 2026 version of ISTA 6-Amazon.com-Over Boxing for Prep Free Packaging (PFP).
ISTA 6-Amazon Vibration Testing
The VibrationVIEW software can perform random vibration testing and drop shock testing that meets SIPP requirements. All systems include a robust reporting package that automatically generates sophisticated, presentation-ready reports at the end of a test.
