Guide to Amazon Restricted Products And Categories
Beating competitors on Amazon is like getting beaten up. Selling on Amazon is easy, given the success and enthusiasm of the seller community. These are not just gated or other restricted products. However, any market (physical or digital) is only as reliable as the regulations put in place to protect its customers.
As a seller, it is essential to be aware of the products and categories that Amazon restricts. These restricted products require approval from Amazon before they can be sold. Some examples include weapons, hazardous materials, and prescription drugs. To avoid any problems, educate yourself about Amazon’s policies and guidelines.
However, Selling restricted products on Amazon can be one of the pillars of your marketing strategy, as the lower the competition in gated categories, the higher the potential profit margin.
Today, this guide will help you learn about Amazon restricted products and categories. You will also learn how to sell gated products on Amazon.
What does ‘Amazon Restricted Product’ mean?
Amazon Restricted products are those products that Amazon prevents sellers from selling or requires approval to list.
There are many restrictions on Amazon. They may be due to legal restrictions on selling goods; For example, alcohol is prohibited in Saudi Arabia. Others relate to safety or quality requirements. For example, in the US, toys sold for children up to 12 years must meet federal safety standards. Another example is product page limits that specify claim compliance. If you state in your listing that the item is “Made in the USA,” you must prove that it was produced in the United States.
Also, the list of banned products on Amazon varies from country to country. This is because the law is in different parts of the world. Therefore, you will need to check the restrictions for each market.
Does Amazon Restrict a Specific Product in the First Place?
Yes, Amazon sometimes restricts a specific product in the first place because the eCommerce giant wants to make it easier for new entrepreneurs to run their businesses. Also, their priority is to make the Amazon Marketplace a safe and reliable shopping experience for customers.
Amazon is a large marketplace, and such a large (and rapidly growing) platform requires security, reliability, and legal and regulatory brand restrictions. Twenty-six years ago, Amazon services would have created an experience something more like the “Wild West.” However, in 2020, the Amazon Terms of Service protected buyers and sellers from potentially dangerous legal implications and security risks.
Difference Between Prohibited And Restricted Items
Well, prohibited items can’t be sold on Amazon in any case. This includes illegal drugs, weapons, and other items explicitly banned by law. On the other hand, restricted products can be sold on Amazon, but only under certain conditions. For example, individual products may require approval from Amazon before they can be sold, or they may be subject to specific regulations or guidelines.
Amazon has a product policy and FBA-specific product restrictions. These are illegal, dangerous, dangerous, and other similar products. Restricted products are those that you are not allowed to sell at all. It regulates what sellers can sell, what they cannot, and what requires approval.
A restricted product and category doesn’t always mean banned. Sometimes, you can sell restricted products and categories on Amazon by providing additional documentation, demonstrative evidence, and other qualifications. Additionally, Amazon may ask you to include additional warranties as well. Some restrictions mean additional commission.
What are Amazon Restricted Categories?
Product categories on Amazon that require special permission to list and sell are known as restricted or gated categories. These are the most expensive categories and require additional proof of their validity in the form of Invoice, UPC, and ASIN numbers.
The following gated categories are determined by Amazon, which means you’ll need to take additional steps to go through the approval process. Amazon is excellently instilling hope for sellers swimming in these pools. According to Amazon, this category approval process “may involve additional fees, performance checks, and other qualifications.”
List of Amazon Restricted Categories
| Category Type | Description |
| Automotive and Powersports | Includes vehicles, parts, and accessories |
| Collectible Coins | Includes coins, currency, and stamps |
| Fine Art | Includes jewelry, watches, and other personal accessories |
| Toys & Games | Includes toys and games (temporarily suspends during the holiday season) |
| Jewelry | Includes jewelry, watches, and other personal accessories |
| Join Amazon Subscription Boxes | Includes Amazon subscription boxes |
| Made in Italy | Includes products that are made in Italy |
| Music & DVD | Includes music, movies, and TV shows |
| Postage stamps | Includes new and old postage stamps |
| Personal Safety and Household Products | Includes products such as pepper spray, stun guns, and home security systems |
| Services | Includes travel services, event tickets, and home improvement services |
| Sports Collectibles | Include sports memorabilia, such as trading cards, autographs, and jerseys |
| Sony PlayStation | PlayStation Requirements in Video Games |
| Streaming Media Players | Include devices such as Roku, Fire TV, and Chromecast |
| Video, DVD, & Blu-ray | Including movies, TV shows, and video games |
| Watches | Includes classic, vintage watches |
If you plan to sell Amazon FBA Private Label products, you should take extra precautions when shipping items to fulfillment centers. Most of the time, violating Amazon’s policies can be costly. For example, Amazon can dispose of dangerous products without paying anything to the seller.
The following Amazon gated categories may also require separate pre-approval:
- Hoverboards and personal electronic mobility (e-mobility) devices
- Laser pointers and other laser products
- Certain types of software
Note approval for these gated categories will require upgrading to a higher-level Amazon seller plan, subject to additional charges.
What are Amazon Restricted Products?
Amazon restricted products are specific products that cannot be sold on the Amazon platform due to safety concerns, legal restrictions, or other reasons. These products may include hazardous materials, counterfeit items, weapons, and drugs. However, some products can be sold from your Amazon storefront but only after getting approval from Amazon.
Sellers must know Amazon product policies to avoid listing restricted products and risking account suspension. Amazon regularly updates its restricted products list, so sellers should stay informed to ensure compliance.
Amazon wants to protect its customers from illegal, dangerous, low-quality products, which is the first reason for the prohibition. Therefore, Amazon’s terms of service specify that sellers are responsible for product compliance with all industry standards and security regulations. They must have all the necessary permissions and warranties. For example, this applies to health and beauty products, toys, etc.
Another reason for the restriction is that the marketplace wants to keep buyers happy and should refrain from claiming any of the products listed. Hazardous products inevitably increase this risk. To avoid this, Amazon wants to ensure that non-restricted products offered by sellers receive positive feedback.
List of Amazon Restricted Products
| Product Type | Description |
| Alcohol | Includes beer, wine, and liquor drink |
| Animals and animal-related Products | Include live animals, their products, and parts |
| Art – Fine Art | Includes paintings, sculptures, and other works of art |
| Art – Home Decor | Includes home decor items such as paintings, sculptures, and other works of art |
| Automotive and Powersports | Includes vehicles, parts, and accessories |
| Composite Wood Products | This includes composite wood products such as plywood, fiberboard, particleboard, MDF |
| Cosmetics & Skin/Hair Care | Includes various cosmetics, beauty care, skincare, and hair care products |
| CPAP Cleaning and Disinfecting Devices | Includes CPAP Cleaning machine and Disinfecting devices such as Steam cleaners |
| Currency, Coins, Cash Equivalents, Gift Cards | Includes coins, currency, gift cards, and stamps |
| Dietary Supplements | Include vitamins, minerals, and other dietary supplements |
| Drugs & drug paraphernalia | Include prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and drug paraphernalia |
| Electronics | Includes Hoverboards and personal electronic mobility devices |
| Explosives, Weapons, and Related Items | Includes firearms, ammunition, explosives, and other weapons |
| Export Controls | Includes products that are subject to export controls, such as military equipment and technology product |
| Food & Beverage | Include food and drinks high in fat, salt, or sugar (HFSS) |
| Gambling & Lottery | This includes lottery tickets, gambling chips and other gambling items. |
| Human Parts & Burial Artifacts | Includes human body parts, and burial artifacts |
| Hazardous and Dangerous Items | Includes poisons, flammable items, flammable liquids, and other hazardous materials |
| Jewelry & Precious Gems | Includes jewelry, watches, and other precious gems |
| Lock Picking & Theft Devices | Includes lock tools, picks, other theft devices. |
| Lighting | Includes light bulbs, fixtures, and other lighting products |
| Laser products | Include laser pointers, laser engravers, and other laser products |
| Medical devices and accessories | Include medical devices such as pacemakers, insulin pumps, and other medical devices |
| Offensive and Controversial Materials | Include military equipment and products |
| Pesticides and Pesticide Devices | Includes pesticides, herbicides, and other pesticides |
| Plant and Seed Products | Includes plants, seeds, and other plant-related products |
| Postage meters and stamps | Includes postage stamps, meters, and other postage products |
| Recalled Products | Includes manufacturer recalled products |
| Recycling electronics | Includes recycled electronics such as TVs, laptops, computers and other electronics. |
| Refrigerants: Ozone-depleting substances and Substitutes | This includes ozone-depleting electronics like ACs, refrigerators, fire extinguishers, aerosols |
| Subscriptions and Periodicals | Includes magazines, newspapers, and other subscriptions. |
| Surveillance Equipment | Includes cameras, microphones, and other surveillance equipments. |
| Tobacco & Tobacco-Related Products | Includes cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products |
| Warranties, Service Plans, Contracts, and Guarantees | Includes warranties, service plans, contracts, and guarantees |
| Upholstered Furniture, Bedding, & Other Quilted Products | Includes sectionals, sofas, loveseats, bed coverings, home furnishings, garments, and wall hangings |
Each product has limitations that must be followed to sell on Amazon without putting pressure on your business. Some are more obvious than others. For example, a restricted category of products is listed as lock-opening and anti-theft devices. All items under the Amazon product category are banned, except for blank keys, which many people would not expect to find in such a sinister-sounding category.
As another example of Amazon restricted categories, “Dietary Supplements” has a detailed compliance checklist with a specific list of “Known Prohibited Products.”
Experts highly recommend understanding the do’s and don’ts of Amazon’s policy restrictions regarding your product. The best course of action is always to be proactive regarding seller account suspension and potential ban.
Specific Product Safety Concerns that Commonly Surface on Amazon
To sell any of the following products, a seller may required to submit additional documentation to prove their safety. The products that require additional safety documentation are-
- Amazon Device Accessories
- Amber teething jewelry
- Bassinets and Cradles
- Selling mountaineering carabiners in the US
- Amazon’s Policy on Selling Infant Walkers in the United States
- Children’s Jewelry
- Children’s Products
- Children’s School Supplies
- Drawstrings in children’s clothing
- Eclipse glasses and filters for solar viewing
- Fidget spinners
- Fire & Smoke Masks
- Fire and other safety products
- Infant-inclined sleep products
- Infant sleep positioners
- Invisible Ink Pens
- Magnetic putty
- Magnetic building tiles
- Mobile Phone
- Laptop or Computer Batteries and Chargers
- Paint Removal Products
- Personal Electronic Mobility (E-Mobility) Devices
- Personal flotation devices (PFDs)
- Power Banks
- Portable Automotive Jump Starters
- Portable generators, inverters, and related gadgets
- Selling Toys in the US
- Squishy Toys
- Seasonal and Decorative Lighting Products
- Children’s Toys (Need Product Assurance)
- Infant Bedside Sleepers
- Children’s Sleepwear
- Full-size and Non-Full-size Cribs
On Amazon’s “Recall and Product Safety” page, you can see details for each of these products, including things like-
- Product Description and examples.
- Step-by-step instructions on how to request approval to sell a product.
- Sellers must meet specific Amazon testing requirements.
- Applicable links to security commissions and other regulatory information.
Products You Can’t Sell Directly Through Amazon FBA
What are the products that a seller can not sell directly through Amazon FBA? Following are the Amazon FBA-restricted products:
- Alcoholic beverages (including non-alcoholic beer).
- Vehicle tyres.
- Gift cards and certificates.
- Products with unauthorized marketing including pamphlets, price tags, or other non-Amazon stickers.
- Products that require preparation but have not been prepared by FBA packaging and preparation requirements
- Loose Packed Batteries.
- Damaged or defective units (“used condition” products may be damaged as long as the product is labeled with the proper condition).
- Products with labels that were not properly registered with Amazon before shipment or that do not match the registered product.
- Items that do not comply with any agreement between Amazon and the seller.
- Illegally copied, reproduced, or manufactured products.
- Products that Amazon determines otherwise are ineligible.
How to Sell a Gated Product on Amazon (7 Easy Steps)
Just because your product falls into the Amazon gated category doesn’t mean it’s time to give up and start afresh. If you’re trying to list your products on Amazon and you receive a notification that listing limits apply. try the following in Seller Central to sell a gated product on Amazon:
- Step 1: Log in to your Seller Central Account.
- Step 2: In your Inventory menu, click “Add Product.”
- Step 3: Find the product you want to sell.
- Step 4: Click the link for the “Enforce listing limit” badge next to that item.
- Step 5: To start the approval process, click “Request Approval.”
- Step 6: Apply for approval to sell gated products.
- Step 7: Provide the required documentation.
- Final Step: Wait for approval.
Once you are approved to sell gated products on Amazon, the rest of the process is simple: List your product for sale >> Receive orders >> Deliver orders or ship your product to Amazon >> Provide customer service.
Tips for selling gated products on Amazon:
- Make sure you have all the required documentation.
- Be patient, it can take some time to get approved to sell gated products.
- List your product at a competitive price.
- Provide excellent customer service.
- Respond to customer inquiries promptly.
- Ship your products on time.
- Offer returns and refunds if necessary.
Is it good to sell gated products on Amazon?
Whether or not it is good to sell gated products on Amazon depends on several factors, including the type of product, the competition, and your business goals.
Gated or restricted products require additional verification processes to sell on Amazon, such as providing documentation or passing a certification process. This can be a barrier to entry for some sellers, but it can also be a way to ensure that only high-quality products are sold on the platform.
If you are considering selling gated products on Amazon, it is essential to do your research and understand the risks and rewards involved. You should also ensure you have the necessary resources and Amazon expertise to meet the requirements for selling gated products.
Selling gated products on Amazon can have both advantages and disadvantages. Here are some points to brief you on this:
Advantages of Selling Gated Products on Amazon
- Gated products meet specific standards and are thoroughly tested before being available to customers.
- Selling gated products helps to reduce competition, as Amazon allows only few sellers to sell gated products.
- Gated products often have higher sales potential than non-gated products.
- Helps to build a reputation for selling high-quality products.
- Ensures product quality and safety.
- Increase sales and profits.
- Helps to attract more customers who are looking for specific types of products.
Disadvantages of Selling Gated Products on Amazon
- Strict guidelines and requirements.
- Despite the high demand, selling gated products takes time and effort.
- Gated products are more expensive to sell.
- It takes a long time to gain approval.
- Time-consuming and complicated processes.
- Limit the size of the customer base.
- Sales and profits are limited.
- Require more resources to market and promote products.
How To Increase Your Chances Of Approval For Selling Gated Products?
While it may seem like you’re at Amazon’s mercy for permission to sell within gated categories, there are some areas you can work on before applying for approval to increase your chances of approval.
- Check if Amazon’s professional seller plan is viable for you. Because creating a seller account to sell Amazon gated products costs $40 per month.
- Amazon will verify your supplier invoices (more than 90 days before your application). So, save your receipts and maintain a record of the latest supplier information (including your manufacturer’s address and website) to prove the authenticity of your products.
- Find the best products to list on Amazon. If your product listings don’t comply with Amazon’s guidelines, they won’t reflect quickly on the search result page. Also, consider following the Amazon branding guidelines.
- Create catchy bullet points and great product descriptions. Improve your product page content with Amazon Enhanced Brand Content and Premium A+ Content.
- Improve your customer’s shopping experience. The main reason for restricting specific categories and products is to build credibility among buyers. Amazon prioritizes sellers who provide a trustworthy shopping experience.
- Monitor key performance indicators such as order defect rate (must be less than 1%), pre-fulfillment cancellation rate (must be less than 2.5%), and final shipment rate (must be less than 4%).
Considering and working on all these factors can increase your chances of getting approval to sell gated products on Amazon.
Conclusion
As you can see, Amazon has more restricted products and categories than non-restricted ones. Consider following the above-mentioned policies, regulations, and guidelines in detail before investing money in a winning product idea. Also, now that you know Amazon’s restricted products and categories, you can save thousands of dollars from the risk of wasted inventory, suspended listings, and banned accounts.
It’s important to note that Amazon takes the sale of restricted items very seriously, and sellers who violate these rules can face serious consequences. So, if you’re considering selling on Amazon, do your research and follow all of the rules and guidelines carefully.
