List of Restricted Products on Amazon: An Essential Guide

Cosmetics

Certain products are subject to restrictions on Amazon. In many cases, Amazon only reflects the regulatory requirements, in the sense that certain products must comply with mandatory standards of substance restrictions. However, some products are subject to standards that are otherwise voluntary, or outright banned – due to Amazon policy.

In this guide, we only focus on products that Amazon either prohibits or restricts for sale on its US marketplace.

Methodology: We used the list of products listed on the Amazon Seller Central page titled “Restricted products” as the reference point. We have expanded on requirements that this page does not cover in detail. Notice that we do not cover all restricted products in this guide.

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Cosmetics Products

Amazon prohibits the listing of certain cosmetic products if they do not comply with their requirements. Their compliance checklist has several requirements; here are some examples:

a. Packaging – the product must clearly show the serial number

b. Labeling – The label must show the name of the product, and should not indicate that the product is “FDA approved”, unless this information is true

c. The products must comply with the FDA requirements

The FDA requires you to ensure your cosmetic products comply with requirements such as the following:

Cosmetic products should not contain banned or restricted substances
Cosmetic products must be safe for use
Color additives must be FDA-approved
Cosmetic products must be properly labeled (e.g. with warning or caution statements)
Products must be manufactured according to good manufacturing practice

Prohibited products

Amazon lists several cosmetic products that it prohibits from listing on its platform, which include:

Corrective and cosmetic contact lenses
Some skin-lightening products
Aerosol products that contain vinyl chloride

Prohibited ingredients

Amazon also lists some ingredients that are prohibited in cosmetic products, including the following:

Bithionol
Chloroform
Halogenated salicylanilides
Methylene chloride
Trichloroacetic Acid

Jewelry

The Amazon Jewelry & Precious Gems page states that such products must comply with the FTC’s Guides for Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries, which mainly set requirements concerning misleading claims and misused terms.

For example, it is deceptive to represent that an industry product is hand-made unless its final shape was accomplished by hand labor.

The page also mentions the following acts:

a. National Gold and Silver Stamping Act of 1906

b. Clean Diamond Trade Act

In addition, Amazon states that sellers must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and standards relevant to jewelry. While they do not mention specific regulations and standards, this could potentially include the following:

a. ASTM F2999 – Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Adult Jewelry

b. ASTM F2923 – Standard Specification for Consumer Product Safety for Children’s Jewelry

c. California Proposition 65

Additionally, Amazon bans the listing of certain types of of jewelry and precious gems, such as the following:

Gold or silver products that are not stamped in compliance with the National Gold and Silver Stamping Act
Unauthorized irradiated gemstones
Clarity-enhanced white diamonds

Jewelry products from certain sanctioned regions may be subject to import restrictions.

Recommended article: Jewelry Regulations in the United States: A Complete Guide

Composite Wood Products

Amazon specifically prohibits the listing of products that contain regulated composite wood that:

Do not comply with EPA’s formaldehyde standards
Do not carry individual labels per EPA’s regulation

Amazon’s page on composite wood products references 40 CFR Part 770 – Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products.

40 CFR Part 770 sets requirements such as the following:

Formaldehyde emission standards (e.g. particleboard should contain a maximum of 0.09 ppm of formaldehyde)
Certification
Labeling

Upholstered Furniture

Amazon mentions that you must comply with the US Law Label requirements, which must be applied to upholstered furniture in many US states. This label must include information about the products filling materials, and other details.

Amazon also requires upholstered furniture to comply with national and state level requirements. Even though Amazon does not mention the specific regulations or standards, this could include the following:

a. 16 CFR Part 1640 – Standard for the Flammability of Upholstered Furniture

b. California Technical Bulletin (TB) 117-2013

Finally, Amazon explains that you must obtain the required licenses and permits. It also references the following resources:

a. International Association of Bedding and Furniture Law Officials Labeling Guidance

b. A Guide to United States Furniture Compliance Requirements

c. FTC Business Guidance Down…But Not Out: Advertising and Labeling of Feather Down

Electronic Products

Amazon requires electronic products to comply with relevant national, state, and local rules and regulations. It explains that you need to comply with their “Radio Frequency Devices policy”.

Their page on “Radio Frequency Devices” explains that you need to comply with FCC – 47 CFR Part 15 – Radio Frequency Devices, which sets requirements such as:

a. Authorization procedure (SDoC or Certification)

b. Labeling

c. Technical documentation

d. Testing

Here are several examples of products that Amazon has prohibited from being listed on its platform:

Radar shifters meant for blocking traffic signals
Smart Card programmers
Software DSS emulators
Video game controllers meant to replace existing technology
Standard-size SIM cards modified into Micro SIM cards
Audiobook players produced as government property by the NLS

Batteries

As with other products, Amazon also mandates that you ensure that your batteries comply with its policies, as well as relevant federal, state, and local rules.

Although the Amazon page on restricted electronics does not mention any regulation that is specific to batteries, there are other Amazon guidance pages that explain what you need to comply with:

Relevant UL standards (e.g. UL 2054 – Household and Commercial Batteries)
Reese’s Law
16 CFR Part 1263 – Safety Standard for Button Cell or Coin Batteries and Consumer Products Containing Such Batteries
Hazardous Materials Regulation (HMR)

Amazon lists a few battery products that it prohibits you from listing on its platform. This includes the following:

Cylindrical lithium-ion cell battery types: 14500, 16340, 18650, 20700, 21700, and 26650
Expired batteries
Branded replacement batteries

Recommended articles:

a. Button Cell and Coin Battery Safety Standards and Regulations in the United States

b. Lithium Battery Regulations and Standards in the US: An Overview

Lighting Products

Amazon requires your lighting products to comply with its policies as well as federal, state, and local laws. Besides that, it lists several regulations under “related pages” or “useful information”. We provide two examples below.

16 CFR Part 305 – Energy and Water Use Labeling for Consumer Products Under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act

This regulation sets labeling requirements for consumer appliances such as:

Lighting products
Dishwashers
Water Heaters
Ceiling Fans

Appliance Efficiency Regulations – Title 20 (California)

These regulations set efficiency standards for energy and water consumption for some types of electronics and plumbing equipment, in California. Here are some examples of covered products:

Luminaries
Computer monitors
Air conditioners

Prohibited items

Here are some examples of products that are specifically prohibited by Amazon:

a. Adapters for incandescent lamps without medium screw bases

b. Light bulbs that do not comply with relevant energy efficiency standards

Recommended article: LED Lighting Regulations in the United States: An Overview

Children’s Products

Amazon’s Seller Central has pages covering requirements for children’s apparel and children’s footwear. Amazon generally requires compliance with federal and state requirements, such as the CPSIA. Amazon explains that children’s footwear and apparel must comply with the following CPSIA requirements:

Substance restrictions on lead limits
Flammability requirements
Tracking label requirements
Children’s Product Certificate (CPC)
Lab testing from a CPSC-accepted lab

Note that while Amazon only lists two product categories, all children’s products must comply with CPSIA requirements. Besides the requirements listed above, this may include items such as:

a. Compliance with the requirements of relevant standards, for example, ASTM F963 for toys

b. Registration card for durable infant products

c. Small parts requirements

d. Warning labels

Medical Devices

Amazon requires listings of medical devices to comply with its policies as well as federal and state requirements.

For example, medical devices for sale on Amazon must comply with FDA requirements, such as:

Being cleared by the FDA (Classes I and II non-exempt medical devices)
Properly using the “FDA cleared” or “FDA approved” claims
Not being subject to FDA warning letters
Being labeled with the company’s name, address, and product usage instructions

More in general, the FDA requires medical devices to comply with requirements such as:

Establishment registration
Medical device listing
Premarket notification 510(k) (if needed) or Premarket Approval
Quality System regulation
Labeling requirements
Medical device reporting

The list of medical products prohibited for sale on Amazon include:

Pre-owned diabetic test strips
Ear candles
Expired medical products
Unregistered Psoriasis lamps
Certain menstrual cups (e.g. Monzcare R-cup)
Class IIIB and Class IV lasers
Unapproved Class 1 devices that claim they can diagnose diseases (e.g. STD test kits)
Used medical devices

Recommended article: FDA Regulations For Medical Devices: An Overview

Products Containing Prohibited Claims

Amazon prohibits the listing of products that carry improper claims. Here are some examples of regulations that regulate claims:

16 CFR Part 260 – Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims
The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)

Here are some examples of prohibited claims listed by Amazon:

a. Claim that a product without FDA approval can, cure, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or treat diseases

b. Claim that a pesticide is “harmless”

b. Make environmental claims (e.g. ozone-friendly) without providing any proof that the claim is true