Your suspension notice may say the action was taken "in accordance with Section 3 of the Amazon Services Business Solutions Agreement," but that alone doesn't tell you right away which clause this is or what caused the suspension. This article is for sellers who have received that kind of notice. We explain which part of the Agreement "Section 3" refers to and what it provides. We then walk through how to read the notice, how to work out what you need to prepare from the stated reason, the steps toward reinstatement, and what to watch out for while your account is suspended.
Which part of the Agreement is the "Section 3" in your suspension notice?
The Amazon Services Business Solutions Agreement (the "BSA") is the basic agreement under which sellers use Amazon's services. The BSA for Japan consists of the General Terms (一般条件) and a set of Service Terms, such as the Selling on Amazon Service Terms and the Fulfillment by Amazon Service Terms. The "Section 3" in a suspension notice refers to the third clause of the General Terms, "3. Term and Termination" (3. 期間および終了).
The Japanese text of the Agreement itself calls this clause 第3条 ("Article 3"); for example, Section 15 refers to terminating the Agreement "as described in 第3条." Suspension notices that have been made public, on the other hand, render it inconsistently, as 第 3 項 ("Paragraph 3") or セクション3 ("Section 3"), but all of these can be read as pointing to the same clause.
This article is based on the Agreement text and official guidance published in Seller Central Help as of September 2026. The wording of the Agreement and the screens can change, so please also check the latest versions.
"In accordance with Section 3" only shows where Amazon's authority to suspend or terminate comes from (its legal basis); it is not the cause of the suspension. The cause is written in the reason section of the notice. Reading the basis and the reason separately is the starting point for your response.
What Section 3, "Term and Termination," says
Under Section 3, the Agreement begins on the date you complete your registration for the selling services. You may terminate your use at any time, effective immediately, by notifying Amazon through Seller Central, by email, or by other means, and Amazon may terminate your use or terminate the Agreement for convenience by giving you 30 days' notice. What matters for suspension notices is the immediate suspension or termination described below.
Four grounds for immediate suspension or termination
| Clause | What it says (summary) | Response type |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | You materially breach the Agreement and fail to cure the breach within 7 days of a notice requesting cure (the cure period may be shortened or waived where Amazon is liable to third parties) | Corrective: fix the breach and show that you have fixed it |
| (b) | Amazon determines that your account has been, or may be, used for deceptive, fraudulent, or illegal activity | Explain and prove: explain the facts and back them up with documents |
| (c) | Amazon determines that your use of the services has harmed, or may harm, other sellers, customers, or Amazon's legitimate interests | Explain and prove: same as above |
| (d) | Your Account Health Rating falls below the suspension threshold published by Amazon | Score recovery: address unresolved violations and bring your rating back up |
The "response type" is our own way of categorizing these grounds based on the nature of each clause; it is not an Amazon classification. Amazon also has not officially explained which warnings count, in practice, as the "notice requesting cure" in clause (a). In addition, the Japanese text that sellers reposted on the forums around 2020 did not include clause (d) (when it was added is unknown), so older explanations need to be read against the current text.
Notice of the reason for suspension or termination, and the exception
When it suspends or terminates an account, Amazon is to promptly notify the seller of the reason and the options for appeal. However, this does not apply where Amazon has reason to believe that providing that information would hinder the investigation or prevention of deceptive, fraudulent, or illegal activity, or would enable the seller to circumvent safeguards. This may be one reason notices sometimes give only vague reasons, but whether a particular notice falls under this exception cannot be judged from the outside.
Reading a suspension notice by breaking it into eight elements
In the published examples of notices, the action taken was followed by explanations of the reason, how to reactivate the account, and other points, each under its own heading. The format varies depending on the time and the cause, but breaking a notice into the following eight elements makes it easier to sort out.
| Element | What to check |
|---|---|
| 1. Action | Whether your account was suspended or your listings were removed, and whether disbursements are being held |
| 2. Basis | The "in accordance with Section 3" part (not the cause) |
| 3. Reason | Which conduct, products, or documents were identified as the problem |
| 4. What you need to reactivate | The type and format of the documents or explanation requested |
| 5. How to submit | Where to submit and the deadline |
| 6. If you believe it's a mistake | How to tell Amazon you disagree |
| 7. If you don't submit | How your funds and other matters will be handled |
| 8. Affected ASINs | For product-related violations, the list of products under review shown at the bottom of the notice (some notices, such as those for identity verification, have no list) |
In addition to email, you can read notices under Performance (パフォーマンス) > Performance Notifications (パフォーマンス通知) in Seller Central. If you received a notice by email, don't use the links in the email; log in to Seller Central directly and check whether the same notice appears there. If you can't find it, don't open the links or attachments in that email. Check the status of your account under Performance > Account Health (アカウント健全性).
What to write down first when you receive a notice
- Whether the same notice appears in Seller Central
- The date and time you received it, and a copy of the full notice
- The names of the conduct, products, or documents cited as the reason
- The type, format, and submission deadline of the documents requested
- The list of affected ASINs and the names of the Help pages referenced
Identifying the response type from the reason section
In the published examples of notices, only the clause as a whole is cited ("in accordance with Section 3"); which of the grounds (a)–(d) applies is not indicated. Rather than trying to pin down the specific ground, it's more realistic to consider which type is closest based on how the reason is worded. The table below lists reasons seen in example notices, plus a reason that can be inferred from clause (d) (the list is not exhaustive).
| Example reason | Closest type | Main preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Additional documents needed for identity verification | Explain and prove | The specified documents (such as a business license or a utility bill issued within the past 90 days) |
| Suspected counterfeit (authenticity) | Explain and prove | Materials showing legitimate sourcing, such as supplier invoices |
| Relationship with another account that is not permitted to sell | Explain and prove | An explanation of whether a relationship exists and how it came about, plus supporting materials |
| Improper handling of buyer information | Corrective | How the information was actually handled, the corrective actions taken, and measures to prevent recurrence |
| Decline in Account Health Rating (inferred from clause (d); not confirmed in example notices) | Score recovery | Addressing unresolved violations |
Cases close to the explain-and-prove type
Notices in which Amazon says it has "determined" some fact can be considered close to clauses (b) and (c). The focus is on explaining the facts and backing them up with documents, and this type of suspension can happen even when your score is green. How to gather the documents is covered in detail in preparing additional documents for identity verification, organizing the documents requested for authenticity reviews, and sorting things out when Amazon says your accounts are related.
Cases close to the corrective type
When you've been told that something is out of compliance with the policies, the core of your preparation is "correction": stopping the problematic situation and showing that you've changed your systems so it won't happen again. For example, the handling of buyer information relates to Section 11 (Confidentiality) of the BSA, and buyers' personal information is always treated as confidential information. However, the 7-day cure period in clause (a) presupposes a "notice requesting cure," and you can't tell from the notice which clause this kind of suspension is based on (it could also fall under clause (c)). For how to review your practices, see reviewing how you handle buyer information.
Cases close to the score-recovery type
The Account Health Rating (AHR) is a score from 0 to 1,000: 200 or higher is green (Healthy), 100–199 is yellow (At Risk), and 99 or below is red (Unhealthy). Help explains that if your account was suspended because of your AHR, it will be reactivated once you address your violations or your appeals are approved and your score returns to the threshold (100). How to sort through your violations is covered in checking your Account Health score and setting priorities.
If you receive a notice saying your account will not be reinstated
There are also example notices stating that Amazon has decided not to reinstate the account because it found involvement in deceptive, fraudulent, or illegal activity, and that further emails may not receive a response. In that case, repeating an appeal with the same content won't necessarily change the situation. Work out whether there are any facts or materials you haven't yet shared, and then consider consulting a specialist.
Steps toward reinstatement
Based on official Help guidance and published example notices, we lay out the process from receiving a notice to getting a decision in four steps. For the overall picture, also see the process from account suspension to filing an appeal for reinstatement.
STEP 1. Keep a copy and confirm the facts
Save the full notice and (if there is one) the list of affected ASINs with the date, confirm the facts internally, and then decide whether to respond with a dispute (異議申し立て) or a reconsideration (申し立て). Amazon officially distinguishes the two: a dispute presents evidence that a violation was detected in error, while a reconsideration applies when a violation did occur but was unintentional and should be removed. Claiming "it was a mistake" when there actually was a problem may undermine the credibility of your entire explanation.
STEP 2. Gather documents in the specified format
Requirements differ from notice to notice, so start by checking your own. In one published example of an identity verification notice, the requirements included PDF, PNG, JPEG, or GIF format; authentic, unaltered documents; no screenshots; and a name and address that match the information registered in Seller Central. For invoices submitted in authenticity cases and similar situations, Help sets out the following main requirements.
- Issued within the 365 days before you received the Performance Notification, and showing quantities that cover your sales volume and inventory for the affected ASINs over the past 365 days
- An original, unaltered document showing product codes and the supplier's contact information (prices may be blacked out)
- Quotes, pro forma invoices, invoices issued by the seller itself, and editable formats (.xlsx, .docx) are not accepted
Amazon may also contact the supplier directly to verify the invoices.
STEP 3. Build your explanation around the facts
Official Help advises you to write clearly and concisely based on facts; leave out information about other cases and emotional language; set out the root cause and the actions you took, along with the dates they were implemented and related documents; provide evidence for every affected ASIN; and circle or highlight the key parts of your documents (ASINs, supplier names, and so on). Below is a sample written for a scenario in which an identity verification review revealed that your registered address was out of date. Whether you can change your registration information while suspended, and whether additional verification will be needed after the change, depends on the guidance in your notice and on screen, so follow those instructions. This is a hypothetical example, not a real case, so rewrite it to match your own business's facts.
We are submitting the requested identity verification documents. Our company moved its office in [month] [year], but our registered address in Seller Central was still the old one. This is why the address on our documents did not match our registered information.
On [month] [day], we completed the process to update our registered address, and we have attached a utility bill (issued on [month] [day]) showing our current address.
Going forward, we have established a procedure under which, if our address or contact details change, the person in charge will update our registered information within the same week.
The basic approach is to tie the cause, the actions taken, and the prevention measures to specific dates and documents. This is explained in more detail in how to structure a plan of action.
STEP 4. Submit from the Account Health page and wait for the result
- Go to Account Health in Seller Central
- Click "Reactivate your selling account" (出品用アカウントの再開) at the top of the page
- Follow the instructions on the page to create your appeal (you may be asked to answer a questionnaire or submit supporting documents)
- Click "Submit" (送信) and wait for an email with the result of the review
If your notice directs you to a different submission method (such as a linked page), follow those instructions instead. Help says it takes up to about 2 days to receive a response, but this does not indicate when, or whether, your account will be reinstated. If you're asked for additional information, submit it from "View Account Health requests" (アカウント健全性の要請を見る), after first checking what was missing last time.
Deadlines that keep running during a suspension: funds, inventory, and orders
Some things don't stop while your account is suspended. Separate what stops from what continues so that nothing falls through the cracks.
| Category | Item | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| Stops | Listings and disbursement of funds | Some examples involve removal of listings and holds on disbursements. Funds are generally withheld for 90 days. The hold may be extended, and funds may be withheld longer if Amazon determines there was deception, fraud, or similar conduct |
| Continues | Unshipped orders | Example notices asked sellers to ship all of them. Your obligations for transactions also remain under the Agreement |
| Continues | Management of buyer information | Confidentiality obligations continue for 5 years after the Agreement ends |
Withheld funds and a separate request for payment
According to the Help page "Policy on the release of withheld funds" (売上金留保の解除に関するポリシー), funds are generally withheld for 90 days, but the hold may be extended if the risk continues or an investigation is needed. If Amazon determines that your account is being used for deceptive, fraudulent, illegal, or similar purposes, funds are withheld until it is confirmed that no problematic conduct occurred, and Section 2 of the BSA also provides that Amazon may withhold disbursements permanently. If the hold is not lifted through a dispute, or if you choose not to file one, you can separately file an appeal requesting payment by contacting disbursement-appeals@amazon.co.jp once 60 days have passed since the funds were withheld. Some example notices use "90 days from receipt of the notice" as the reference point, so check both your notice and Help. You can check your balance in the Payments report (ペイメントレポート), but the timing of payment is not guaranteed, so plan your cash flow with a comfortable margin. This is explained in detail in how to check your funds after a suspension.
Deadlines for returning or disposing of FBA inventory
Section F-7.2 of the FBA Service Terms provides that if you don't give instructions to return or dispose of the units within 30 days (or within the period set by the Program Policies) after Amazon notifies you that removal is required because of a suspension or similar reason, Amazon may dispose of those units (the clause itself applies to "Unsuitable Units"). In some cases units may be disposed of immediately, so when you receive a removal notice, note the deadline and check the specific instructions.
What not to do
- Opening a new account to keep selling: Under the policies, you may maintain only one account per selling region, and the only exception is when you have a legitimate business need and all of your accounts are in good standing. If you have a suspended account, you don't meet this condition, so selling from a new account violates the policies, and all of your accounts may be suspended. On the Seller Forums, Amazon staff have also replied that creating a new account while suspended may make the situation worse.
- Altering documents or creating them yourself: Altered documents and invoices issued by your own company are not accepted. If you don't have a document on hand, ask the issuer for a legitimate reissue.
- Manipulating ratings or rankings, or directing buyers off Amazon: Both are prohibited and may result in actions such as removal of selling privileges or permanent suspension.
Mechanisms and safeguards to know about alongside your appeal
The Transparency Act and public consultation services
Amazon.co.jp is subject to the Act on Improving Transparency and Fairness of Specified Digital Platforms (the "Transparency Act"). For account suspensions and holds on payment of sales proceeds, the content of and reasons for the action must be disclosed, and when refusing all transactions with a seller, disclosure is in principle required at least 30 days in advance. However, there are exceptions, such as where repeated violations of the terms of provision are likely to disrupt the operation of the business, where the action is required by laws and regulations, and where it is necessary to respond to infringing conduct using fraud or other improper means. Depending on the type of exception, disclosure may only need to be made "without delay," or the reasons may not need to be disclosed at all. Please check with a lawyer whether a particular suspension falls under an exception.
The Digital Platform Transaction Consultation Desk for online mall sellers (デジタルプラットフォーム取引相談窓口), commissioned by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, has specialist counselors who give free advice on how to raise your concerns, and it also provides information about lawyers and a subsidy for consultation fees (once per business, up to 1 hour). It does not mediate or act as an intermediary, so it is not a substitute for an appeal but a supplementary place to seek advice.
Managing your contact information and Account Health Assurance
Under the BSA, sellers must keep their contact information current and accurate at all times. Also check, under Emergency Notifications on the Notification Preferences (通知設定) page, whether your phone number is verified (green). Account Health Assurance (アカウント健全性アシュアランス) automatically covers Professional sellers who have kept their AHR at 250 or higher for at least six months (with no more than 10 days below 250) and have a valid emergency contact phone number registered. Their accounts are not suspended as long as they get in touch within 72 hours of being notified of an issue and work to resolve it. However, if Amazon determines that a seller is involved in fraudulent, deceptive, illegal, or similar conduct, the seller may be excluded from the program and suspended immediately.
Keeping track of changes to the Agreement
Changes to the BSA are generally announced at least 15 days in advance, and continuing to use the services on or after the effective date means you accept them. On August 24, 2026, Section 18 was revised to state explicitly that sellers may not assign their rights and obligations, including receivables such as sales proceeds. New Sections 4.2 and 19 have also been announced, scheduled to take effect on October 28, 2026 (they have not yet taken effect and may change). No revision to Section 3 has been announced, but check the announcements regularly.
Frequently asked questions
Q. My notice doesn't say which of clauses (a)–(d) applies.
A. Published example notices don't specify the clause either, so use the reason section to decide which direction to take in your preparation. If you're a Professional seller, you can also contact a specialist from the Account Health page.
Q. My account was suspended without 30 days' notice. Isn't that a breach of the Agreement?
A. The 30 days' notice applies to Amazon terminating "for convenience"; the Agreement provides that Amazon may suspend or terminate immediately if it determines that any of clauses (a)–(d) applies. Note that the Transparency Act in principle requires disclosure at least 30 days in advance when refusing all transactions, but as mentioned above, there are exceptions. Whether a particular suspension counts as a total or partial refusal, and whether an exception applies, are legal questions, so if you have concerns, consult a lawyer or a public consultation service.
Q. Why was I suspended even though my score is green?
A. The FAQ on the Account Health Rating states that an account may be suspended regardless of its score where required by law, where fraudulent, deceptive, illegal, or otherwise harmful activity (including circumventing Amazon's systems) is suspected, or where a policy not covered by the rating has been violated. Some suspensions have reasons unrelated to the score, such as those requesting identity verification documents, so check the reason section first.
Q. If I terminate the Agreement while suspended, will my obligations and the issue with my funds go away?
A. Section 3 states that sellers may terminate their use at any time by giving notice, but even after termination, your transaction obligations, liabilities, and confidentiality obligations remain, and Section 2, which covers matters such as withholding of funds, also stays in effect. Official Help doesn't say whether you can complete the termination process while suspended, so check your notice and the relevant Help pages before deciding.
Summary
- "Section 3" is the basis for the action, pointing to "3. Term and Termination" in the BSA General Terms, not the cause. Check the cause in the reason section of the notice
- Section 3 provides for termination by the seller, termination for convenience with 30 days' notice, and immediate suspension or termination under clauses (a)–(d)
- Read the notice by breaking it into eight elements, and prepare after considering from the reason section whether your case is closest to the corrective, explain-and-prove, or score-recovery type
- Even during a suspension, the clock keeps running on unshipped orders, the management of buyer information, and deadlines for funds and FBA inventory
The vaguer the wording of the notice, the more important it is to check, one by one, the facts stated in the reason section and the documents requested. If it's hard to decide on your own, consider organizing your situation and consulting a specialist.
Need help responding to an Amazon review email?
We'll assess your prospects for reinstatement at no cost. Consultations are free, as often as you need.
Free consultation, 24/7 *This article provides a general explanation. The appropriate response in individual cases depends on the circumstances.
Further reading
From Amazon account suspension to an appeal: reviewing the notice and planning your response Read article → 
Distinguishing Amazon seller account suspension from closure: notices and reinstatement inquiries Read article → 
Building an Amazon Plan of Action: root causes, corrective steps and prevention Read article →