General Amazon Listing Restrictions for Sellers

On July 31, 2024, Amazon announced new requirements for product bullet points, effective August 15, 2024. These updates include key changes to existing listing requirements, notably the prohibition of special characters, emojis, and certain phrases related to guarantees and claims.

Insights from Andrew Morgans and the Marknology team in Kansas City.

Read more: All About The New Amazon Bullet Point Guidelines

Among the banned phrases are terms such as "eco-friendly," "environmentally friendly," "ecologically friendly," "anti-microbial," "anti-bacterial," "Made from Bamboo," and "contains Bamboo." These restrictions extend to various categories, including children's clothing, jewelry, laser products, strong magnets and magnet sets, medical devices, food, drugs, and cosmetics.

All information is extracted from Seller Central, and here we outline all those restrictions so you can have the information at hand. Be sure to bookmark this page for quick access to essential guidelines.

 

Children's clothing

Prohibited: 

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• All children’s upper body clothing with drawstrings for sizes 2T to 12 (or equivalent) is not allowed.

Lower Body Clothing (Sizes 2T to 16 or equivalent): 

• Drawstrings must not be longer than three inches when the garment is expanded to its fullest width.
• Drawstrings must not have toggles, knots, or other attachments at the free ends.

Upper Outerwear (Sizes 2T to 16 or equivalent): 

• If a waist or bottom drawstring is one continuous string, it must be bar-tacked (stitched through to prevent the drawstring from being pulled through its channel).

More information is available on Seller Central.

Claims

Accuracy and Proof:

• Claims in listings must be accurate and provable.
• Misleading claims include those where relevant information is left out or if they suggest something untrue.

Health, Safety, or Performance Claims:

• Provide proof for claims, especially those related to health, safety, or performance.

Technical Specifications:

• You may need to provide evidence that your product matches the technical specifications and composition described on the product detail page.

Document Submission:

• Be prepared to provide Amazon with supporting documents for any claim in your listing if requested.
• Supporting documents should include scientific evidence, such as test results or research from experts in the relevant field.

Consequences for Unsubstantiated Claims:

• If you cannot substantiate claims made in your product detail page, images, or packaging, your listings may be removed.

Examples of Claims Requiring Proof:

• Claims that a product is:
• Anti-microbial
• Anti-bacterial
• Can reduce the risk of concussions
• Made of specific materials (e.g., cashmere, bamboo, leather)
• Contains specific filler materials (e.g., goose or duck down)
• Meets purity standards (e.g., 100% all-natural, organic ingredients)
• Meets quality standards (e.g., thread count on bedsheets, linens)
• Meets technical specifications (e.g., storage capacity of solid-state hard drives)

Regulation:

• Product marketing is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Environmental Marketing

Compliance with FTC Guidelines:

• Environmental claims must adhere to FTC marketing guidelines.
• The guidelines include the FTC Green Guides, which help avoid misleading or deceptive claims.

Problematic Terms:

• The FTC identifies terms like "environmentally-friendly," "eco-friendly," and "green" as potentially misleading or problematic.

More Information visit Seller Central:

• The Environmental Marketing Guidelines Help page
• FTC Green Guides
• FTC Environmental Claims: Summary of the Green Guides

Guarantees

Compliance Requirements:

• Listings must comply with the Guides for the Advertising of Warranties and Guarantees available on Seller Central.

Refund Policies:

• If using phrases like "satisfaction guaranteed" or "money-back guarantee" on Amazon:
• Be prepared to provide full refunds for any reason.

Additional Resources:

• For more information, visit Seller Central:
• The FTC’s A Businessperson's Guide to Federal Warranty Law
• Consumer Product Warranties and Advertising
• Marketing on the Internet: Rules of the Road

Jewelry

Compliance with FTC Guides:

• Listings for jewelry products, including glasses frames, pens, and flatware, must follow the FTC Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries.
• These guides regulate the use of terms like "pearl," "platinum," "noncorrosive," and "flawless."

Quality Checks:

• Amazon may check the quality of fine jewelry sold on the platform.
• Fine jewelry includes products containing gold, silver, platinum, palladium, diamonds, pearls, or gemstones.

Detail Page Requirements:

• Ensure that product detail pages for fine jewelry include accurate and complete information about the product's quality.
• Products listed as "silver" or "sterling silver" must contain at least 92.5% silver.
• Gold and platinum content must match the quality described on the detail page and the mark stamped on the product.
• Simulated gemstones must be clearly labeled as such.
• Disclose all treatments for treated diamonds or gemstones.

Compliance with Amazon Standards:

• Detail pages for fine jewelry must comply with both the Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries, and Amazon's Jewelry Quality Assurance Standards.
• Inaccurate or incomplete information on fine jewelry listings may result in the suspension or removal of your listings and selling privileges.

Additional Resources:

• Refer to the FTC's Jewelry Guides and Information page and Advertising and Marketing on the Internet: Rules of the Road.
• Also refer to Restricted Products: Jewelry & Precious Gems.

Laser Products

When listing laser products on Amazon, you must:

• State the laser hazard class.
• Provide the human-accessible power output (measured in milliwatts) on the product detail page.

Emission Limits:

• You cannot list laser products that:
• Exceed Class IIIA emission limits.
• Are children’s toy laser products that exceed Class I emission limits.

Safety Standards:

• The laser hazard class must be verified by an independent lab according to:
• 21 CFR 1040.10 standards.
• International Electrotechnical Commission 60825-1 standards.

Additional Resources:

• Refer to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance on:
• Laser Products and Instruments
• Minimizing Risk for Children’s Toy Laser Products

Made in the U.S.A.

"Made in the USA" Label:

• Any product labeled or described as "Made in the USA" must be:
• Made completely or mostly in the United States.

Compliance and Guidance:

• Refer to the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Enforcement Policy Statement on US Origin Claims and Advertising and Marketing on the Internet: Rules of the Road.
• For additional guidance on showing country of origin, see sections on:
• Animal Furs and Skins
• Textile Descriptions
• Wool Product Descriptions
• These can be found under Listing Restrictions That Require Statements or Disclosures.

Strong Magnets and Magnet Sets

Prohibited Novelty Magnets:

• Individual novelty magnets and magnet sets marketed or commonly used for:
• Puzzle working
• Sculpture building
• Mental stimulation
• Stress relief
• These magnets are prohibited for sale.

Specifically Prohibited Magnet Brands:

• Buckyballs
• Buck balls
• Buckybars
• Bucky Bigs
• Buckycubes
• CyberCube
• Dynocube
• Hurry Harris balls
• Magnicube (also called 'Mag Cube')
• Neocubes
• Neocubix
• Nanodots
• Neo spheres
• Puzzle Spheres (only if they are magnets or magnetic)
• Zen magnets set

Medical Devices, Food, Drugs and Cosmetics

Requirements for Listing Products Covered by the FFDCA:

• If you list any product covered by the US Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), you must provide the following guarantee:

Continuing Guarantee:

• All food, drug, medical device, and cosmetic products are guaranteed:
• Not to be adulterated or misbranded, as defined by the FFDCA, as of the date they are shipped.
• To be articles permitted for interstate commerce, as defined by sections 404, 505, and 512 of the FFDCA.
• This guarantee applies to:
• Every shipment you have made and will make in the future.
• Every shipment made on your behalf by another party.

Native American Products

Restrictions on Using Cultural Terms:

• Do not use the terms "Native American" or "Indian," or the name of an Indian tribe if it incorrectly implies:
• The product is an Indian product.
• The product is made by a tribal member or an Indian artisan.

Legal References:

• Refer to the following for more details:
• Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1935
• Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990
• Guidance from the Department of Interior, Indian Arts, and Crafts Board

Pesticides, and Antimicrobial, Antifungal, Antibacterial or Pesticide Claims

Pesticide and Antimicrobial Product Compliance:

• If you list products with claims of antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial, or other pesticidal properties, they must comply with the US Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
• You must guarantee that:
• You, or your business, are a US resident.
• Your FIFRA-regulated products on Amazon comply with FIFRA requirements.
• Products must also comply with state pesticide laws, which may include:
• Additional registration and labeling requirements.
• Ingredient prohibitions.

Further Information:

• Refer to the following resources:
• Environmental Protection Agency's overview of FIFRA
• California's Pesticide Regulations
• National Pesticide Information Center

Radio Frequency Devices

FCC Compliance for Listings:

• Listings must comply with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules for devices that can interfere with other devices’ radio frequency.
• You may need to obtain an FCC ID number or other authorization from the FCC.

Further Information:

• See the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology equipment authorization page.

Replacement Water Filters for Refrigerators

Certification Requirements:

• Replacement water filters for refrigerators must be certified to NSF/ANSI-42 or higher standards (e.g., NSF/ANSI-53 or NSF/ANSI-401).
• Certification must include:
• Material Safety
• Structural Integrity
• At least one NSF/ANSI-42 reduction standard or System Performance certification.

Independent Lab Verification:

• Certification must be determined by an independent lab accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), such as NSF, WQA, or IAMPO.

Display of Claims:

• Reduction claims must be accurately displayed on the product detail page.

Additional Resources:

• See NSF Guidance on Residential Drinking Water Treatment Standards for more information.

Replica Art, Coins & Stamps

For information on listing replica art, coins, and stamps, see the restricted products Help pages:

• Fine Art
• Currency, Coins, Cash Equivalents, and Gift Cards
• Postage Meters & Stamps

Testimonials, Endorsements, Feedback and Reviews

Compliance:

• Testimonials or endorsements must comply with the Guides Concerning Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Disclosure Requirements:

• Disclose any material interests between you and the endorser.

Prohibited Actions:

• Do not pay anyone to create a review.
• Do not offer gifts or refunds for the removal of reviews or feedback.

Additional Resources:

• See the FTC's Advertising and Marketing on the Internet: Rules of the Road.
• Refer to Prohibited Seller Activities and Actions.

 

Window Covers

 

Compliance Requirements:

• Listings for window covering products must comply with voluntary safety standards.

Standards to Follow:

• Adhere to the standards adopted by the Window Covering Manufacturers Association.
• Include the Voluntary Standard for Safety of Exposed Cord Window Covering Products (ANSI/WCMA A.100.1).

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