Policy AdvisorPolicyTikTok Source

FBT Packaging, Shelf-Life, and Meltable Inventory Policy

Captured: TikTok page date: Hash: 0418342bdf4b

Creator TL;DR

AI-generated from the captured TikTok policy text. Verify against the TikTok source before acting.

This policy sets packaging, labeling, shelf-life, lot code, meltable inventory, and drop-test rules for products sent to Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT). Non-compliant inbound shipments may be rejected, delayed, returned, disposed of, or charged fees, and enforcement can affect listings or selling privileges.

Key points

  • Use packaging that safely protects each FBT product.
  • Do not use loose-fill, large staple pins, nylon fiber-based tape, or bundle cartons with elastic/tape/straps.
  • Label special-handling items clearly, including perishables, fragile goods, hazardous materials, liquids, and batteries.
  • Bundle sets must stay together, use a unique barcode on the bundle, and be labeled “Sold As A Set” and “Do Not Open.”
  • Expiration-dated products need a clear expiration-related date on the outer packaging.
  • Products must arrive with enough shelf life for full use plus a 90-day buffer.
  • Certain ingestible and select personal care/beauty items need lot codes on product packaging and in the Merchant Portal.
  • FBT only accepts meltable inventory between October 16 and April 14.
  • Meltable inventory must withstand 75°F-155°F conditions.
  • Some products must pass drop testing in all five orientations; failed items may need poly bags, over-boxing, or double-wall corrugated boxes for items over 10 lb.

Say / show

  • Check packaging, labels, expiration info, lot codes, and seasonal rules before sending inventory to FBT.
  • Use protective materials such as bubble wrap, air pillows, corrugated cardboard, kraft paper, foam inserts, or similar dunnage as needed.
  • Make sure carton labels, product packaging, and Merchant Portal lot code entries match.
  • Submit meltable removal requests by April 15 if needed; disposal of unclaimed meltable inventory begins May 1.
  • Keep certification for required drop tests available on request.

Do not say / show

  • Do not assume non-compliant inbound shipments will be accepted.
  • Do not send meltable inventory outside the accepted seasonal window.
  • Do not leave individual item barcodes visible or scannable on bundled sets.
  • Do not rely on weak sealing, visible wear, poor internal protection, or perforated/open packaging for fragile products.
  • Do not claim a specific appeal outcome; the source only says appeals are available through the Seller Enforcement Policy.

Violation risks

  • Shipment rejection
  • Return of inventory
  • Disposal of inventory
  • Delayed processing or shipment
  • Additional service fees
  • Blocked future shipments
  • Products deemed unsellable
  • Breach of inbound SLA
  • Removal of product listings
  • Violation points
  • Removing selling privileges

Who it affects

  • Sellers using Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT)
  • Sellers sending expiration-dated products
  • Sellers sending meltable inventory
  • Sellers sending bundled sets
  • Sellers whose products require drop testing
  • Sellers managing lot-coded inventory

Source notes

  • Verify all packaging, labeling, shelf-life, meltable, and drop-test requirements directly against the TikTok source before acting.
  • This summary uses only the provided source text and does not add any requirements beyond what is stated there.
  • For pricing details and appeals steps, the source points readers to the FBT Pricing section and Seller Enforcement Policy.

Confidence: high · Model: gpt-5.4-mini · Prompt: creator-policy-summary-v1

Readable Policy Copy

Captured policy content rendered without TikTok navigation, scripts, tracking markup, or page chrome. Source: article-html.

Key Points:
  • All products shipped using FBT must meet specific packaging requirements to ensure safe and efficient fulfillment.
  • Improper packaging may result in shipment rejection, delays, additional fees, or disposal of inventory.
  • You are responsible for following requirements related to product protection, labeling, expiration dates, lot codes, and seasonal limitations like meltable inventory.
This policy outlines the product packaging requirements sellers must follow when using Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT) services on TikTok Shop.

Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT) Product Packaging

FBT is a warehousing and shipping service that helps you deliver products efficiently to TikTok Shop customers. To ensure smooth and safe fulfillment, all products sent to FBT must meet specific packaging requirements.

Requirements for FBT Product Packaging

TikTok Shop reserves the right to inspect any inbound shipment. If you do not follow FBT packaging requirements, your shipments may be rejected, returned, disposed of, or delayed. Non-compliant shipments may also incur additional service fees or result in blocked future shipments.These requirements apply to all products shipped to FBT facilities. You must:
  • Use appropriately sized and types of packaging that securely contains each product.
  • Include protective materials such as bubble wrap, air pillows, or whole sheets of paper.
  • Do not use:
    • Loose-fill like Styrofoam peanuts or shredded paper
    • Large staple pins or nylon fiber-based tape.
    • Bundling multiple cartons with elastic, tape, or straps.
  • Seal packages securely using tape, glue, or other reliable methods.
    • Alternative sealing methods must keep packages fully closed and durable during shipping.
  • Clearly label packages that require special handling (for example, perishables, fragile items, hazardous materials, liquids, batteries).

Carton Packaging

Cartons must be used if required by the Logistics Service Provider (LSP) or if other packaging does not offer sufficient protection. You must ensure:
  • Cartons have minimal empty space inside.
  • Items are packed securely to prevent movement.
  • Cartons are sealed using strong tape.
  • Protective dunnage is included as needed (for example, foam inserts, air pillows, corrugated cardboard, kraft paper, plastic or rubber mats).

Bundled Sets

Bundled sets—multiple items sold as a single unit—must be packaged together securely and clearly labeled. You must:
  • Pack all items in the set together to prevent separation.
  • Apply a unique barcode to the bundle (not to individual items).
  • Ensure individual item barcodes are not visible or scannable.
  • Use strong, sealed packaging that protects items from pressure and damage.
  • Add the following labels to the outer packaging:
    • "Sold As A Set"
    • “Do Not Open”

Expiration-Dated Products

FBT requires any product with a shelf life—or that loses effectiveness over time—to be treated as expiration-dated. This includes food, personal care, and pet products.
  • All expiration-dated products must have the expiration date clearly printed on the outer packaging.
  • Products that do not meet these requirements may be refused.

Minimum Shelf Life by Category

At the time of arrival at the FBT warehouse, products must have enough remaining shelf life for full use plus an additional 90 days. The table below outlines the minimum required shelf life by category, factoring in full use time and a 90-day buffer.Note: This is not an exhaustive list and is intended as a guide only.
Product CategoriesMinimum Shelf Life
  • Snacks
90 days
  • Non-Dairy Creamers
180 days
  • Baking
  • Drinks
  • Instant Food
  • Shelf-stable Milk and Dairy
  • Pantry Food
  • Staples and Cooking Essentials
  • Bird Supplies
  • Dog and Cat Food
  • Fish and Aquatic Supplies
  • Beauty and Fitness Supplements
  • Vitamins, Minerals & Wellness Supplements
270 days
  • Bath and Body Care
  • Hand, Foot, and Nail Care
  • Skincare
  • Diet and Nutrition
  • Personal Care Products with Drug Labeling
  • Dog and Cat Grooming
  • Dog and Cat Healthcare
  • Reprtile and Amphibian Supplies
  • Small Animal Supplies
365 days

Expiration Date Formatting Requirements

All products that require expiration labeling must display one of the following:
  • An expiration date
  • A best before date
  • A production/manufacturing date along with the total shelf life
The date must be in one of these formats:
  • Month, date, and year
  • Month and year
The month may be written as a number, full word, or abbreviation.Disposable medical devices must use the YYYY-MM-DD format.

Product Lot Code

For certain product categories, you must include lot code information on each unit and during the inbound shipment process to FBT warehouses.Lot code requirements apply to the following categories:
  • Ingestible products for human or animal consumption
  • Select personal care and beauty products, including but not limited to:
    • Sunscreen
    • Acne treatments
    • Hand sanitizers
You must ensure the following:
  • Each item must have a clear and readable lot code printed on its packaging by the manufacturer.
  • When creating inbound shipments in the FBT Merchant Portal (your central hub for managing FBT operations), you must enter the correct lot code for each item.
  • Each carton may contain only products with the same lot code.
  • The lot code printed on the carton label must match both the individual product packaging and the information entered in the Merchant Portal.
FBT warehouses will store products with different lot codes separately to ensure proper inventory tracking.Failure to follow lot code requirements or submit accurate information may result in delayed processing times or a breach of your inbound service level agreement (SLA).

Meltable Inventory

Meltable inventory includes any heat-sensitive products that can soften, melt, or change state when exposed to high temperatures. Examples include, but are not limited to, chocolate, gummies, wax, and certain cosmetics.
  • FBT only accepts meltable products between October 16 and April 14
  • Meltable items received or stored between April 15 and October 15 may be considered unsellable and may be returned or disposed of for a fee

Meltable Inventory Packing Requirements

You are responsible for packing meltable products to withstand temperatures ranging from 75°F-155°F. These temperatures may occur in storage at FBT warehouses or during transit, especially in warmer seasons.

Removing Meltable Inventory

You may submit removal requests for meltable inventory by April 15 via the Exit Inventory section of the FBT Merchant Portal.
  • Removal is subject to a fee
  • Disposal of unclaimed meltable inventory begins May 1 and may also incur a disposal fee
For pricing details, refer to the FBT Pricing section in the FBT Merchant Academy, our online learning resource for sellers.

Drop Testing

Drop testing evaluates the durability of packaged products by dropping them from a height of 3 feet onto a hard surface in the following five orientations:
  • Flat on the base
  • Flat on the top
  • Flat on the longest side
  • Flat on the shortest side
  • On a corner

When Drop Testing Is Required

TikTok Shop may require drop testing at our sole discretion based on product type, packaging quality, or shipping history. You must perform drop testing if the product:
  • Has perforated sides or openings
  • Is wrapped only in bubble wrap
  • Is fragile or prone to transit damage
  • Has questionable packaging integrity, such as weak materials, poor sealing, inadequate internal protection, or visible wear/damage

Certification

You must certify that applicable products pass drop testing in all five orientations. Certification must be available upon request.Products that fail may be repackaged, delayed, or rejected.

Failed Drop Tests

If a product fails the drop test, you must:
  • Place the unit in a poly bag with a suffocation warning (for lightweight items)
  • Use over-boxing (especially for fragile, hazardous, or heavier items)
    • Over-boxing means placing the product’s existing package inside an additional outer box.
    • For items weighing more than 10 lb, a double-wall corrugated box is required.

Enforcement Actions and Appeals

We regularly review your shop’s compliance with this policy and other policies, such as Product Listing Policy, Prohibited Products Policy, and Restricted Products Policy. If any violations are identified, TikTok Shop may take enforcement action at our sole discretion. This may include removing product listings, assigning violation points, or removing selling privileges. For more information on enforcement actions, refer to our Seller Enforcement Policy.If you'd like to appeal an enforcement action, visit the Appeals section of our Seller Enforcement Policy for guidance on how to proceed.

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