In short: Yes, for most export orders. Amazon FBA requires a suffocation warning on any poly bag with an opening of 5 in (12.7 cm) or more, and five US states require one on bags thinner than 1 mil (0.0254 mm). The safe spec: print the warning on every bag with a 12.7 cm+ opening and use film of at least 0.04 mm.
When a Suffocation Warning Is Required
There is no US federal rule. The triggers are opening width, film thickness and flat length + width.
| Rule | Bags covered | Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon FBA | Every poly bag sent to a fulfilment centre | Opening of 5 in (12.7 cm) or more, measured flat |
| California, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Virginia | Bags thinner than 1 mil (0.0254 mm) | Opening of 5–7 in in diameter, or length + width of 25 in (63.5 cm) or more, depending on the state |
| Retailer routing guides | Set by each retailer | Often every poly bag |
Minimum Print Size by Bag Size
Type size scales with flat length + width. These are Amazon’s tiers; the state laws step similarly.
| Length + width | Minimum type | Typical bag |
|---|---|---|
| Under 30 in (76 cm) | 10 pt | 30 × 40 cm T-shirt bag |
| 30–39 in (76–100 cm) | 14 pt | 35 × 45 cm hoodie bag |
| 40–59 in (102–150 cm) | 18 pt | 50 × 60 cm jacket or bedding bag |
| 60 in (152 cm) or more | 24 pt | 70 × 90 cm duvet or garment cover |
Warning Text and Placement
- Typical text: WARNING: Plastic bags can cause suffocation. Keep away from babies and children. Do not use in cribs, beds, carriages or playpens. This bag is not a toy. Have your compliance team approve the final wording.
- Position: a flat panel on the front or back, at least 2 cm clear of the zipper, adhesive strip and side seals.
- Colour: one solid contrasting colour: black on clear or frosted film, white on dark film.
- Languages: English for the USA; add French for Canada and local languages for EU markets in the same block.
Film Thickness and Other FBA Bag Specs
Amazon FBA does not accept poly bags under 1.5 mil (0.038 mm), and the state laws target film under 1 mil. Standard retail specs clear both (see our mil-to-mm thickness guide):
- Zipper apparel bags in frosted CPE or clear PE: 0.06–0.10 mm
- Self-adhesive PE bags: 0.04–0.06 mm
- Clear PE flat bags: 0.04–0.08 mm
- Co-extruded poly mailers: 0.05–0.08 mm
- Thin garment covers at 0.02–0.03 mm: below both thresholds, so move to 0.04 mm for FBA
FBA bags must also be fully sealed, carry a barcode that scans through the film or sits on an outside label, and leave no more than 3 in (7.6 cm) of excess film. Rules change, so check current Seller Central and state requirements before approving artwork.
FAQ
Is a suffocation warning on plastic bags required by US federal law?
No. The rules come from five states (California, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Virginia), cities such as New York City and Chicago, and Amazon and retailer packaging standards.
Does a poly bag thicker than 1 mil still need a suffocation warning?
For Amazon FBA, yes: the warning is required on any poly bag with an opening of 5 in (12.7 cm) or more. The state laws only cover bags thinner than 1 mil (0.0254 mm).
Can the suffocation warning be a sticker instead of printed on the bag?
Yes, a warning label attached to the bag is accepted. Printing it with the logo removes the labelling step at packing.
Does printing a suffocation warning add a print colour?
Not if it shares a colour already used in the design. On an otherwise unprinted bag, the warning is a one-colour print job.
Warning-Printed Poly Bags From Heyi Custom Bags
Heyi Custom Bags prints suffocation warnings in the same run as your logo on zipper bags, self-adhesive bags, flat bags and poly mailers, in 0.01–0.2 mm film with up to 10 colours and Pantone matching. Founded in 2016, we run three plants in Dongguan, China and one in Haiphong, Vietnam, and hold ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and GRS certification. MOQ is 5,000 pcs per design, as we supply brands and wholesalers buying at volume. Production takes 15–25 days after artwork approval, with direct shipping to the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and the EU. Send bag size, thickness and destination market through our quote form.