This information is copied straight from Amazon Japan. You need to be logged into a Seller account to access this information, which is why it is copied here for you to read. (Correct at 16/02/2019)

Product detail page rules

Add a Product lets you create product detail pages for products that aren’t currently available in the Amazon catalog. Sellers with a Professional selling plan may also create product detail pages by uploading inventory files or sending XML file feeds.

Content-specific policies

• Comply with the style guide that applies to the product you’re listing. Some categories have additional guidelines; the full set of category-specific style guidelines can be found at Templates for Specific Categories.
• Do not include HTML, JavaScript, or other types of executables in your detail pages.
• The inclusion of any of the following information in detail page titles, descriptions, bullet points, or images is prohibited:
  • Pornographic, obscene or offensive content.
  • Phone numbers, physical mail addresses, e-mail addresses, or website URLs.
  • Availability, price, condition, alternative ordering information (such as links to other websites for placing orders), or alternative shipping offers (such as free shipping).
  • Spoilers regarding Books, Music, and Video or DVD (BMVD) listings (information that reveals plot elements crucial to the suspense, mystery or surprise ending of a story).
  • Reviews, quotes or testimonials.
  • Solicitations for positive customer reviews.
  • Advertisements, promotional material, or watermarks on images, photos or videos.
  • Time-sensitive information such as dates of promotional tours, seminars, lectures, and so on.
• Product title length must be within 50 double-byte characters including spaces in all categories. Some of the categories may have a different maximum title length than 50 double-byte characters. To know the accurate maximum title length for your respective category, please refer to your category specific style guide.
• Comply with Amazon listing standards for any product sold on Amazon. Failure to do so creates a negative customer experience and may result in your selling privileges being temporarily or permanently removed. This includes but is not limited to the following:
  • All products must be appropriately and accurately categorized. To learn more about the classifying your products correctly, see our help pages on Product Classifier and Browse Tree Guide.
  • Products cannot be classified incorrectly. Make sure to specify the leaf node for the specified browse node ID during Add Products via Upload. However, if you are unable to provide the corresponding leaf node, you may specify a branch node one level above the leaf node. If it is determined that an item is categorized inappropriately or inaccurately (including unspecified nodes), measures may be taken to temporarily suspend the account.
  • Product titles, product descriptions, and bullets must be clearly written and assist the customer in understanding the product.
  • All product images must meet Amazon general image standards as well as any applicable category-specific image guidelines. To learn more about Amazon’s image standards, see Product image requirements.

Detail page creation policies

• Use of Add a Product, inventory files, and Amazon Marketplace Web Services (Amazon MWS) listing APIs for any purpose other than listing products on Amazon is prohibited.
• The use of false product identification information—including UPC codes or publication dates—in product detail pages is prohibited.
• The creation of product detail pages is limited to products that do not already exist within Amazon’s catalog. Creating a product detail page for a product already in the Amazon catalog is prohibited.
• Using product detail pages to cross-merchandise or cross-promote a product is prohibited.
• For Books, Music, Videos, and DVDs (BMVD) a single detail page may not be used to advertise more than one product. BMVD-only product bundles must be defined by the publisher or manufacturer and have a single ISBN, UPC, JAN, or EAN that is different from the product identifier for any unique item in the bundle.
• Detail pages may not feature or contain Prohibited Products or Restricted Products.
• You should not update an existing listing for a new version of a product. This includes changes in color, size, material, features, and product name. You should create a new product detail page for new versions of products. For example, a manufacturer updates its streaming media player by introducing a new remote control with four buttons instead of two buttons on the old remote. This is materially different from the previous version and must be listed as a new ASIN.

Product image requirements

Every product on Amazon needs one or more product images. The primary image of your product is called the “MAIN.” The MAIN image displays for a product in the search results and browse pages, and is the first image customers see on product detail pages.

Images are very important to customers, so quality matters. Choose images that are clear, easy to understand, information-rich, and attractively presented.

Note: All image standards listed on this page apply as a base-level requirement. You will find a comprehensive list of Amazon’s image standards specific to your product category in the corresponding category style guides. Please read carefully, as the images you upload to Amazon must conform with these requirements.

Important: In case of overlaps or conflicts, the guidelines of each category takes precedence. We reserve the right to remove images that do not meet our image standards. You must always ensure that you have the necessary rights for the images you submit.

General image standards

You will find a comprehensive list of all Amazon’s image standards specific to your product category in the corresponding categorystyle guides. Please read them carefully as images you upload to Amazon must conform with these requirements. Note that in the case of overlaps or conflicts, the guideline of each category takes precedence.

• Images must accurately represent the product and show only the product that is for sale.
• The product and all its features must be clearly visible.
• MAIN images should have a pure white background (pure white blends in with the Amazon search and product detail pages—RGB color values of 255, 255, 255).
• Note: Some categories have exceptions. See listing guideline for more information.
• MAIN images must be professional photographs of the actual product (graphics, illustrations, mockups, or placeholders are not allowed). They must not show excluded accessories; props that might confuse the customer; text that is not part of the product; or logos, watermarks, or inset images.
• Images must match the product title.
• Images should be 1,000 pixels or larger in either height or width. This minimum size requirement enables the zoom function on the website. Zoom has been proven to enhance sales. The smallest your file can be is 500 pixels on its longest side.
• Note: For clothes, fashion & accessories, shoes & bags, watches, and jewelry, it is required that the longest side of the images to be at least 1001 pixels for the zoom function.
• Images must not exceed 10,000 pixels on the longest side.
• Amazon accepts JPEG (.jpg), TIFF (.tif) or GIF (.gif) file formats, but JPEG is preferred.
• Our servers do not support animated .gifs.
• File names cannot contain spaces.
• Only alphanumeric can be used for filenames; however, some non-alphanumeric characters are not supported in file names. These include: “[“, “]”, “*”, “<“, “>”, “?”, “:”, “|”.

Prohibited for MAIN image standards in all product categories

• Images with a non-pure white background (RGB less than 255)
• Text, logos, borders, color blocks, watermarks, or other graphics over the top of a product or in the background
• Multiple images of the same single product
• Product that occupies less than 85% of frame on limiting dimension of longest side
• Blurry, pixelated or jagged edges
• People in the main image/product on model with the exception of adult apparel
• Product images should not include any Amazon logos or trademarks, or variations, modifications or anything confusingly similar to Amazon’s logos and trademarks. This includes, but is not limited to, any words or logos with the terms AMAZON, PRIME, ALEXA, or the Amazon Smile design.
• Product images should not include any badges used on Amazon, or variations, modifications or anything confusingly similar to such badges. This includes, but is not limited to, “Amazon’s Choice,” “Premium Choice,” “Amazon Alexa,” “Works with Amazon Alexa,” “Best Seller,” or “Top Seller.”

Additional prohibited specifications for MAIN images in clothing, clothing accessories, shoes and handbags, luggage and jewelry

• Images with part of the product for sale cropped by a frame edge with the exception of jewelry (specifically necklaces)
• Excessive internal or external propping that covers/surrounds product or causes confusion to product for sale
• Models that are sitting, kneeling, leaning, or lying down (models must be standing)
• Images with product in packaging or brand or swing tags, except for stockings or socks
• Visible mannequins, except for stockings or socks
• Images of kids and baby underwear or swimwear that are photographed on a model
• Nudity or sexually suggestive images

Additional images

MAIN images should be supplemented with additional images showing different sides of a product, the product in use, or details that are not visible on the MAIN image.

If you are creating your own images, you may find our self-service imaging products or photography videos useful.

Prohibited for all images, additional and MAIN

• Images that do not match the product title
• Images that are blurry, pixelated, or have jagged edges
• Nudity or sexually suggestive images
• Images of kids and baby underwear or swimwear that are photographed on a model

Other errors or questions about images

Can I use a product image from Amazon?

Although you can copy the display and edit the image by Paint Tool or other image tools, the image itself cannot be downloaded directly. Reviewing or editing the image is not supported by Amazon.

How long does it take my registered product to be searchable on the site?

It may take about 7 to 21 business days for a product’s detail page to be searchable on the website.

A buyer wants to exchange a product because the image on the detail page was different than the received product. What should I do?

We will help you to provide an A-to-z Guarantee to buyers, or you can communicate with buyers in the Amazon Marketplace and respond to the issue by mutual agreement. For issues with the product image, contact technical support. There might be a problem on the detail page. You can click the Contact Us link at the bottom of each help page. Go to Inventory, click Wrong informationon product images, and describe the issue in detail.

Can I post an animated image to the detail page?

Amazon does not support the use of animated images by sellers.

How can I take an image of a product consisting of a set of items?

If you sell a set of 3 socks, all socks should be displayed on the MAIN image.

Example image of set product:

• The image must be on a pure white background.

Main image must not include multiple images of the same single product.

Product must occupy at least 85% of frame on limiting dimension of longest side.

Images must not be blurry, pixelated, or have jagged edges.

People must not be featured in the main image with the exception of adult apparel.

Images must not have excessive internal or external propping that covers or surrounds product or causes confusion to product for sale.

Models that are sitting, kneeling, leaning, or lying down (models must be standing) with the exception of babies.

Images with product in packaging or brand or swing tags, except for stockings or socks.

Visible mannequins, except for stockings or socks.

Images of kids and baby underwear or swimwear that are photographed on a model.