Summary
Selling on Amazon is no walk in the park, and when it comes to product claims, there’s a strict “no funny business” policy. From supplements claiming to cure cancer to e-cigarettes with dodgy awards, Amazon’s prohibited product claims policy is a minefield sellers need to navigate carefully. One false move and your listing could vanish. Let’s break it down so you can keep your business compliant and thriving.
Amazon’s Crackdown on Disease Claims
If you’ve ever thought about marketing your supplements as the cure for acne or a quick fix for arthritis, stop right there. Amazon, in line with EU law, prohibits any product claims that suggest curing, treating, mitigating, or preventing diseases. This isn’t just about being a stickler for rules; it’s about protecting consumers from misleading information.
Here’s the big no-no list: everything from Alzheimer’s to Syphillis. Think cardiovascular disease, cancer, depression, diabetes, and even public lice (‘crabs’). The rule applies not just to the obvious descriptions but also to sneaky mentions in your keywords, bullet points, or product descriptions. The message is clear: no medical promises, no exceptions.
Prohibited Claims
- Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
- Addictive substance withdrawal
- ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Attention Deficit Disorder (also known as ADD or ADHD
- Autism
- Bronchitis
- Blood Clots
- Cancer or Tumours
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Celiac
- Chancroid
- Chlamydia
- Coronaviruses (including detail page references or keywords related to SARS, MERS and COVID-19)
- Crohn’s
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- Dementia
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Ebola
- E. coli
- Epilepsy
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Gonorrhea (‘The Clap’)
- Gout
- Hepatitis (A, B & C)
- Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 (HSV1 & HSV2)
- Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
- Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
- Influenza
- Kidney cirrhosis or disease
- Liver disease
- Lupus
- Lymphogranuloma Venereum (LGV)
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
- Meningitis
- Mononucleosis (‘Mono’)
- Multiple sclerosis
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Mycoplasma Genitalium
- Nongonococcal Urethritis (NGU)
- Parasites
- Parkinson’s/ Parkinson
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
- Pneumonia
- Pubic Lice (‘Crabs’)
- Respiratory tract infections
- Salmonella
- Scabies
- Seizures
- Stroke
- Syphilis
- Trichomoniasis (‘Trich’)
- Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE)
Beyond Diseases: Other Prohibited Claims
Amazon’s restrictions aren’t limited to health-related claims. There’s a slew of other rules that sellers must follow to stay compliant:
- Environmental Claims: If you’re selling “eco-friendly” products, make sure your claims are backed by hard evidence. Misleading or vague terms like “green” or “sustainable” won’t cut it unless you can prove it.
- Self-evident Claims: Bragging about obvious or legally required characteristics is off-limits. For example, marketing your product as “CE certified” (when it has to be) doesn’t impress anyone—least of all Amazon.
- Test Logos and Awards: Love slapping “award-winning” on your listings? Be careful. Claims must relate to the exact product tested, be up-to-date, and fully verifiable. Otherwise, it’s a no-go.
- Health and Nutrition Claims for Food: Food and supplement sellers, take note, only claims listed on the EU Register of nutrition and health claims are allowed. So unless your product is actually authorised to lower cholesterol, keep that claim off your page.
- E-cigarettes and Components: Marketing e-cigarettes and their parts is restricted on Amazon. For the full lowdown, check out Amazon’s dedicated pages on Tobacco, E-Cigarettes and Related Products and their related Listing Guidelines.
- Country of Origin Claims: Labelling your product as “Made in [Insert Country]”? Make sure your claim isn’t misleading. Origin-related claims need to reflect the actual place of manufacture—no creative liberties allowed. Check out the filter here.
Staying Ahead of the Compliance Game
Navigating Amazon’s rules might feel like a full-time job, but getting it wrong can be catastrophic. From suspended listings to account shutdowns, the risks are all too real. Here are some tips to keep your listings squeaky clean:
- Know the Rules: Familiarise yourself with Amazon’s Prohibited Product Claims guidelines and EU laws. Ignorance won’t save you from compliance disasters.
- Be Transparent: If you’re making any claims, ensure they’re substantiated with proper documentation. Whether it’s lab results, certificates, or third-party verification, have your proof ready.
- Keep Keywords Compliant: Don’t sneak prohibited terms into your keywords. Amazon’s bots are smarter than you think, and they’ll catch on. Since Rufus, Amazon’s AI, arrived on the scene, it can now scan your graphics for prohibited content too.
- Update Regularly: The rules evolve, and so should your listings. Keep an eye on Amazon’s policies and adapt to stay compliant.
Why Sitruna’s Got Your Back
Amazon compliance doesn’t have to be your next headache. At Sitruna, we’ve mastered the art of navigating Amazon’s labyrinth of rules so you don’t have to. From ensuring your listings follow the letter of the law to providing actionable insights for optimising your content, we’re your ultimate e-commerce sidekick.
So go ahead, keep your listings sparkling clean and your business thriving. With Amazon’s rules and our support, you’re all set to conquer the marketplace—and maybe even enjoy the process a little. Who said compliance couldn’t be fun?
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