Why Should You Care About The Amazon Advertising Prohibited Products?
If you want to be an Amazon seller, the first thing you do after launching a product is to promote it. Not just for the new sellers but for the matured sellers as well, advertising is a major source of promotion for attracting customers on the platform through running ads.
Just imagine if you have launched a product that is not allowed by Amazon for advertising. Well, that’s a disaster for your product and you will probably end up discarding or under-selling it.
Amazon Restricted Products List For Advertising
The purpose of making a list is to spread awareness among existing and upcoming sellers about the products that do not have permission from Amazon for running ads.
Keeping these items in mind, you will get a pretty good idea of which products and services to refrain from when you are thinking of building a profitable business on Amazon, expecting exponential growth.
We have compiled the following list of 42 products and services that cannot be promoted on Amazon:
1. Aerosol Paint
Aerosol paint is useful for quick, semi-permanent marking on construction and surveying sites. Many aerosol sprays contain highly toxic chemicals like xylene and formaldehyde. The aerosol sprays are not allowed to be promoted on Amazon.
2. Airsoft/BB guns, paintball guns
BB guns are air guns that are specifically made to fire metallic spherical projectiles known as BBs. On the other hand, paintball guns, paint guns, or markers, which are also air guns, are the primary equipment used in the paintball sport.
3. Alcohol recovery or hangover cures or treatments.
Alcohol recovery systems on Amazon are products designed to help individuals recovering from alcohol addiction.
These systems can include things such as books on recovery and self-help, support groups, counseling, and therapy services.
Hangover cure products may include supplements, vitamins, and other over-the-counter remedies like Hangover relief supplements, etc.
4. Alcohol: products intended to disguise or conceal alcohol
Products that are intended to disguise or conceal alcohol including flasks to conceal alcohol and beer pouches etc. are not allowed to be advertised on Amazon.
5. Anti-radiation products
Anti-radiation products include electromagnetic field protection and radiation neutralizing or shielding products, devices such as phone and laptop cases, stickers, and shields, and radiation blocking clothing and fabrics, Anti-radiation glasses can not be advertised on Amazon.
6. Bows and arrows, slingshots, and other projectile weapons
Bows and arrows, slingshots, and other projectile weapons are not allowed to be advertised on Amazon.
7. Chewing gum (Singapore only)
Chewing gum is banned in Singapore since 1992, it is illegal to import, sell, or distribute chewing gum in Singapore. Hence, it is also prohibited to be advertised on Amazon.
8. Coupon sites
Coupon sites are not allowed to be advertised on Amazon because Amazon generates its own coupons for customers and does not allow a third-party coupon website to be promoted on its platform.
9. Cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies are digital or virtual currencies that operate on the blockchain, a digital public ledger that records all transactions. Cryptocurrencies are not allowed to be promoted on Amazon till date.
10. Escort services, adult dating, sex toys, and merchandise
Escort services, adult dating apps, sex toys, and merchandise are strictly prohibited to be advertised on Amazon.
11. Etching creams
Etching creams provide a chemical substance that quickly etches permanent designs onto various surfaces such as windows, mirrors, or glassware. The etching creams can not be advertised on Amazon.
12. Fat burners, fat freezers, and fat blockers
Fat burners, fat freezers, and fat blocker products reduce fat deposits in certain areas of the body through various procedures. Fat burner products are not allowed to be promoted on Amazon.
13. Fertility clinics and research.
Fertility clinics are medical facilities that help couples, and sometimes individuals, who are unable to conceive naturally due to medical reasons, to become parents through assisted reproductive technologies. Amazon does not allow such procedures to be promoted on its platform.
14. Free non-Kindle e-books
Free e-books that are not available on Kindle are not allowed to be promoted on Amazon.
15. Get-rich-quick and pyramid schemes
Get-rich-quick and pyramid schemes deceive individuals by giving the illusion that it is easy to make a large return with minimal effort, skill, time, and risk, such as the lottery, phony job listings, etc.
These types of schemes can not be promoted on Amazon.
16. Handgun safety certificates
The Hand Safety Certificate is earned by successfully completing a written test, which can be taken at authorized firearms dealerships and private firearms training centers only. These services can not be advertised on Amazon.
17. Drugs-related products
Illicit and recreational drugs, drug paraphernalia, drug testing equipment, or products to beat drug tests are strictly prohibited to be advertised on Amazon.
18. Illegal or sensitive pharmaceutical products
Illegal or sensitive pharmaceutical or medical device products and services such as electrical stimulation devices are not allowed to be promoted on Amazon.
19. Imitation tobacco products (Singapore only)
Imitation tobacco products such as toys that resemble cigarettes, or fake tobacco packaging are prohibited to be advertised on Amazon.
20. Oils, supplements, or ingestible
Oils, supplements, or ingestible that are derived from or contain hemp, cannabidiol (CBD), THC, or otherwise related to cannabis are not allowed to be promoted on Amazon.
21. Medical procedures and research
Basic medical research includes animal testing, cell studies, genetic, biochemical, and physiological investigations, and examination of the characteristics of drugs and materials. Amazon does not allow such procedures to be promoted on its platform.
22. Tobacco or tobacco-related products, including e-cigarettes
Tobacco products such as vapes, vaporizers, vape pens, hookah pens, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or e-cigs), e-cigars, and e-pipes, are prohibited to be advertised on Amazon.
23. Knives
Knives except for kitchen knives, cutlery, and general multi-purpose camping knives such as throwing knives are not allowed to be promoted on Amazon.
24. Lethal and non-lethal weapon sales
Lethal and non-lethal weapon sales including guns, gun parts, kits, gun racks, mace, black powder, and ammunition can not be advertised on Amazon.
25. Loyalty/affinity/rewards and related content
Amazon does not allow you to promote your own website, email address, or contact number of your own brand as you are selling on their platform. You can not offer brand membership and such activities to the customers.
26. Malware, scareware, or spyware
Malware or Spyware is a file or a code, designed to cause damage to a user’s personal computer and network. Scareware is malicious code designed to trick a user into buying and downloading unnecessary and potentially dangerous software, such as fake antivirus protection. Such acts are illegal and Amazon does not allow such activities to be advertised.
27. Online pharmacies
Online pharmacies are prohibited to be advertised on Amazon because of the risk of operating illegally by selling medications without a prescription, not having a license, or falsified prescription drugs.
28. Pre-natal gender selection and determination test products and services
Pre-natal gender selection and determination test products and services are prohibited to be advertised on Amazon.
29. Premium pay-per-call services
Pay-per-call is the inverse of a premium telephone number in which, the advertiser is charged for the service, not the caller. Such as 900 numbers in the US. These services are not allowed to be advertised on Amazon.
30. Intellectual property infringement or Illegal activity
Amazon does not allow the promotion of Products, services, technology, or website content that:
- i) Infringes, encourages, or enables the infringement of the intellectual property or personal rights of others
- ii) Promotes any illegal or dangerous activity, including false document services, counterfeit designer goods, cable descramblers, fireworks, or websites that promote hacking or evading law enforcement.
31. Psychics and related content
Psychics and related content such as physics lab equipment, experiments kits are prohibited to be advertised on Amazon.
32. Products that are ineligible for sale
Products that are ineligible for sale or do not comply with Amazon’s Category, Product, and Listing Restrictions such as Illicit and recreational drugs and escort services etc. are not allowed to be promoted on Amazon.
33. Religious or spiritual services
Religious or spiritual services works on a set of organized beliefs and practices, usually shared by a community or group. Such communities or groups can not be promoted on Amazon.
34. Shock collars
Shock collars including pet training collars with any type of shock function and pinch or choke collars are prohibited to be advertised on Amazon.
35. Short-term high-interest loans
Short-term high-interest loans with a repayment period under 12 months and an APR of more than 50% (or 25% in Denmark) are not allowed to be promoted on Amazon.
36. “Stripper” or dancing poles
Stripper dancing poles are not allowed to be advertised on Amazon.
37. Spy cam or Voice bug (Germany only)
Any spy cam and/or voice bug disguised as an everyday item that is capable of transmitting video/audio via WIFI/GRMS/IP/GSM/Bluetooth to someone else, without the person knowing they are being recorded are prohibited to be advertised on Amazon Germany.
38. Tattooing and body branding products and services
Tattooing and body branding products and services such as tattoo machines, tattoo needles, and tattoo stencils are not allowed to be advertised on Amazon.
39. Testosterone boosters
Testosterone supplements can enhance energy levels, boost your sex drive, improve mood and emotions, and positively impact body composition. Amazon does not allow the promotion of these supplements.
40. Ticket resellers (Australia and New Zealand only)
Ticket resellers are individuals or companies that purchase tickets to events, such as concerts, sports games, or theater performances, with the intention of reselling them at a higher price.
Ticket reseller services can not be promoted Amazon in Australia and New Zealand market.
41. UV tanning services and equipment
UV tanning services and equipment such as tanning machines, tanning lamps, and tanning beds are not allowed to be advertised on Amazon.
42. Weapons
Weapons such as revolvers, axes, swords, blade knives and throwing knives etc. are prohibited to be advertised on Amazon.
Important Update for UK sellers
As a result of changes in UK law, the retail search placements for high fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) foods are no longer allowed in the UK.
This prohibition also applies to onsite advertisements on Amazon.co.uk promoting identifiable HFSS products.
Conclusion
According to this list of products and services, you can easily refrain from choosing such products that are Amazon-prohibited items for advertising.
Our goal is to help sellers around the globe in building a great online business empire. We hope you have enjoyed the experience and learned something useful for your business.