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 you 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—and may 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 (e.g., 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 doesn’t 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 (e.g., 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 don’t 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.

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, 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.

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).

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.

---

Product Prep Reference Guide

Some products require extra prep to ensure safe handling and shipping. The table below outlines categories, examples, and packaging guidance.

Note: These are reference guidelines only and do not guarantee that a product will be accepted, as requirements may vary based on specific circumstances or product types.

Visual Reference Examples

The following examples are provided to help illustrate proper and improper packaging practices for specific product types. Use these visuals as a guide to understand packaging expectations under this policy.
Fragile ItemsCushioning MaterialsPolybag Sealed PackagingThe following is an example of a well-sealed granular product that passes the Vigorous Shaking (VS) test.
The following shows a polybag being used for larger products, like clothing:
Aluminum CansMakeup PowderDouble Sealing