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Listing Restrictions Required Statements
When listing products on Amazon, sellers must comply with Amazon’s policies, rules, and regulations. Some of these listing restrictions require statements by the seller, disclosing details that assure compliance with various legal standards.
Where Disclosure Is Required
| Animals, Furs, Skins | The Fur Products Labeling Act requires that the seller detail in his listing:
More information may be found in the Federal Trade Commission’s In-FUR-mation Alert: How to Comply with the Fur Products Labeling Act and the Fur Act Rules. |
| Appliances | The Appliance Labeling Rule requires EnergyGuide written disclosure for washing machines, refrigerators, and more. Key information is the appliance’s capacity, estimated annual energy costs, and how such costs are determined. EnergyGuide labels are required for large televisions, and disclosure is required for ceiling fans, pool heaters, specific light bulbs, and some plumbing products.More information may be found in the Federal Trade Commission’s Appliance Labeling Frequently Asked Questions. |
| California Air Resources Board | In California, several products are required to comply with air pollution rules and regulations. These products include: air cleaners, engines, catalytic converters, gas cans, auto parts, and other consumer products.Each product listing must include the Executive Order number/certification that allows sale of the item in California. More information may be found at the California Air Resources Board. Note: Products that do not comply with these regulations are subject to being removed by Amazon. |
| California Health & Safety Code | In California, products must be in compliance with Section 25982 of the California’s Health and Safety Code, found here. |
| California Proposition 65 | In California, sellers must link to this page for all products found on California’s list of chemicals known to cause reproductive toxicity or cancer.More information may be found at California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment Proposition 65. |
| Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) | The CPSIA requires that games and toys intended for children and include small parts, provide a formal statement about choking hazards. How to word the warnings may be found here. More information may be found in the CPSIA Labeling Rule. |
| Food, Dietary Supplements, and Over-the-Counter Drugs | The Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act Regulations require that food and dietary supplements listings may not claim effectiveness that has not been approved by the FDA. Claims made regarding the efficacy of over-the-counter drugs must also comply with the laws’ standards.More information regarding making claims about health may be found in the FDA’s Small Entity Compliance Guides. More information regarding dietary supplement marketing may be found in the Federal Trade Commission’s Dietary Supplements: An Advertising Guide for Industry. Note: Products that imply review by the FDA that have not undergone review must include the following disclaimer: “This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.” |
| Textile Descriptions (textile products include clothing, linens, towels, and tablecloths) | The Federal Trade Commission requires that textile product listings must explicitly put the item in one of the following four categories:
The product label should match the item’s country of origin.Listings and labels for textile products must also identify the generic fiber names as recognized by the FTC, as well as the weight percentages of fibers present, for all elements that amount to at least five percent of the item. The product label should match the total fiber content. More information may be found in Threading Your Way Through the Labeling Requirements Under the Textile and Wool Act, the Textile Act, and the Textile Act Regulations. |
| Wool Product Descriptions | The Federal Trade Commission requires that listings for products made from wool or recycled wool, including from sheep, lamb, camel, llama, alpaca, vicuna, Cashmere goat, or Angora, must explicitly put the item in one of the following four categories:
The product label should match the item’s country of origin.Listings and labels for textile products must also identify the generic fiber names as recognized by the FTC and percentages by weight of fibers present in the item, in descending order, including non-wool content. The product label should match the total fiber content. More information may be found in Threading Your Way Through the Labeling Requirements Under the Textile and Wool Act, the Wool Act, and the Wool Act Regulations. |
Sellers who need to add attribute fields to category-specific templates in order to include the obligatory disclosures should use the Additional Product Information in the Inventory File Template or XSD, or by using Add a Product.
In the Event of Non-Compliance
Sellers who do not adhere to Amazon’s policies for listing products are subject to the following actions, at Amazon’s sole discretion:
- Removal of listings.
- Limiting of seller’s listing privileges.
- Suspension of seller’s listing privileges.
- Cancellation of seller’s listing privileges.
Note: Sellers should enlist legal counsel for specific questions about Amazon’s regulations.