Selling products in restricted categories on Amazon?
Getting approval for these restricted products can be challenging, but it’s not impossible.
In this article, I will discuss how to get approval for restricted products on Amazon.
I will cover the criteria that Amazon uses to determine whether or not a product is eligible for sale and also provide tips on increasing your chances of getting through the approval process successfully.
Stay tuned for more on Amazon category approval as an Amazon seller!
How To Get Amazon Categories Approval
Here are steps to follow to get category approval to sell from Amazon:
Step 1: Sign in to your Amazon Seller Central professional selling account.
Step 2: Choose Inventory
Step 3: Click “Add a Product”
Step 4: Search for your product
Step 5: Click “Listing Limitations Apply link” if it comes up as restricted
Step 6: Click the “Request Approval” button.
Once you have submitted your request as an Amazon seller, Amazon will review it and determine whether or not to approve you.
If your request is automatically approved, you will be approved to sell products in the gated category.
If you followed the approval process and your request was denied, you can try contacting Amazon again through seller central and provide additional information about your business to get the category approval.
You can also look for other sub categories that might be a better fit for your product.
Checking Your Approval Status
Follow these instructions to check the product categories you are permitted to sell if you are uncertain of the status of your application process:
Step 1: Log in to your Amazon Seller Central Account
Step 2: Select Add Inventory
Step 3: Select Add Product
Step 4: Go to the Selling Application Status link and view your applications
What Are Amazon Restricted Categories?
Amazon’s restricted categories, otherwise known as “gated categories,” are those that require prior approval to sell from Amazon before you can list them for sale on the site.
Each category has different requirements you must meet to be approved to sell, so it’s important to know which category your product falls into.
One important thing to note is that Amazon no longer places restrictions across the board as it once did.
Rather, restrictions are only placed in specific sub-categories and sub-niches.
Because of this sub category change, the list of restrictions shows what seems to be a short list of restricted categories but a long list of restricted products.
Which Categories Are Restricted On Amazon?
Here is a list of restricted categories on Amazon where you need approval to sell:
- Postage stamps
- Collectible Coins
- Fine Art
- Holiday Selling Requirements in Toys & Games
- Jewelry
- Join Amazon Subscription Boxes
- Made in Italy
- Music & DVD
- Sports Collectibles
- Streaming Media Players
- Video, DVD, & Blu-ray
- Watches
- Sony PlayStation Requirements in Video Games
Other than Amazon’s restricted categories, there are also restricted products which include:
- Alcohol
- Animals & Animal-Related Products
- Art – Fine Art
- Art – Home Decor
- Automotive and Powersports
- Composite Wood Products
- Cosmetics & Skin/Hair Care
- CPAP Cleaning and Disinfecting Devices
- Currency, Coins, Cash Equivalents, and Gift Cards
- Dietary Supplements
- Drugs & drug paraphernalia
- Electronics
- Explosives, weapons, and related items
- Export Controls
- Food & Beverage
- Gambling & Lottery
- Hazardous and prohibited items
- Human Parts & Burial Artifacts
- Jewelry & Precious Gems
- Laser products
- Lighting
- Lock Picking & Theft Devices
- Medical devices and accessories
- Offensive and Controversial Materials
- Other restricted products
- Pesticides and pesticide devices
- Plant and Seed Products
- Postage meters and stamps
- Recalled products
- Recycling electronics
- Refrigerants: Ozone-Depleting Substances and Substitutes
- Strike anywhere matches
- Subscriptions and Periodicals
- Surveillance Equipment
- Tobacco & Tobacco-Related Products
- Warranties, Service Plans, Contracts, and Guarantees
- Upholstered Furniture, Bedding, & Other Quilted Products
Brand Restrictions On Amazon
There are numerous brands that are restricted on Amazon, which is done for various reasons.
There may be exclusive contracts between some businesses or the restricted brands and Amazon or one or more Amazon sellers.
Several brands are so extensively counterfeited that sellers must buy their products directly from the manufacturer.
This means that in order to list their products, you must first receive authorization from the manufacturer to sell their products.
It’s important to understand that just because a brand is listed here doesn’t mean all of its products are prohibited. Sometimes a specific product or product line within a brand is restricted, and other times the entire brand is.
The restricted brands on this list are identified to be restricted to brand new sellers, though occasionally all it takes to start selling is an application request approval to Amazon.
There are brand restrictions for these brands on Amazon:
- A World Of Deals
- Aden & Anais
- Adidas
- Aerobie
- After Inked
- Agfaphoto
- Ahava
- Air
- Akai
- Alpha
- Altec Lansing
- American Girl
- Amope
- Amovo
- Anastasia
- Andoer
- Angels Fancy Dress
- Angelsounds
- Anki
- Ann Williams group
- Ansr
- Apple
- Aquafina
- Aquapix
- Art Of Shaving
- Asantee
- ASOTV
- Audio Technica
- Audiotech
- Australian Gold
- Avon
- Baby Born
- Baby Bullet
- Baby Dumpling
- Babybjorn
- Babyliss
- Babyplus
- Babyplus Company
- Baggallini
- Balm Cosmetics
- Bamix
- Bandai
- Bargain Max Decals
- Bassbuds
- Bayer Advantage
- Beaba
- Beachbody
- Beats By Dre
- Beauty by Earth
- Beauty Pet
- Belkin
- Benchmade
- Benefiber
- Berwick
- Besdata
- Best Home
- Bestomz
- BH Costmetics
- Bic
- Billy Jealousy
- Biolite
- Birkenstock
- Black & Decker
- Black Diamond
- Bliss
- Blue Microphones
- Bodum
- Body Shop
- Boley
- Borghese
- Bose
- Boston
- Boston Acoustics
- Bpro
- Brach’s
- Bracoo
- Braggs
- Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar
- Bratz
- Braun
- Breville
- Britannia
- Britannia Games
- Britax
- Brookstone
- Buck
- Bulbhead
- Burberry
- Burt’s Bees
- Butter London
- Butterick
- Buxom Buxom
- Cable Matters
- Calphalon
- Calvin Klein
- Canary
- Cane & Austin
- Canon
- Capital Brands
- Carter’s
- Casio
- Caudalie
- Cel-Fi
- Chanel
- Chemex
- Chi
- Chico
- Chinkyboo
- Chloe
- Christian Dior
- Citizen
- ClicTime
- Clinique
- Cloud B
- Coach
- Cole & Mason
- Coleman
- Color WOW
- Columbia
- Comfylife
- Comic Concept
- Comic Images
- Comic Maker
- Comic-Concept
- Comtrex
- Converse
- Crabtree & Evelyn
- Craft-tastic
- Crayola
- Crocs
- Crosley
- Cross
- Crucial
- Cuddl duds
- Cuisinart
- Cult Cosmetics
- Dandy Blend
- Davey
- Davidoff
- DBPower
- Ddf
- Dead Sea
- Deborah Lippman
- Deejo
- Dell
- Delorghi
- Denon
- Deny Designs
- Deuter
- Dewalt
- Dickies
- Diesel
- Discovery Kids
- Disney Frozen
- DJI
- Dkny
- Dockers
- Dog & Bone
- Dolce & Gabbana
- Doterra
- Dove
- Dr. Brandt
- Dr. Denese
- Dr. Dennis Gross Skin Care
- Dremel
- Dunkin Donuts
- Easypix
- EB5
- Eco Defense
- Eero
- Elizabeth Arden
- Emile Henry
- Energizer
- Epilady
- Epson
- Ergobaby
- Escada
- Essie
- Estroven
- Eureka
- Excedrin Sinus Headache
- Eyeko
- Farberware
- Favorite Findings
- Felina
- Ferragamo
- Fifty/Fifty
- Fingerlings
- Finnlo
- Firstcom
- Fissler Gmbh
- Fitbit
- Fizz Creations Ltd
- Flexseal
- Flextape
- Fossil
- Franklin Electronics
- Fremantle Home Entertainment
- Frozen (Disney)
- Frye
- Funko
- Furminator
- Future Play
- Garnier
- GARUNK
- Gatco
- GE
- GEFU Spirelli Spiral Slicer
- Gel-a-peel
- Georgie Interactive Puppy
- Georgio Armani
- Gerber Baby Food
- Gibby & Libby
- Gigamic
- Gigen
- Gillette
- Ginna Rose Atelelier
- Giraffe Bath & Body
- Gn Netcom
- Go Extreme
- Goal Zero
- Godefroy Eyebrow Tint
- Goextreme
- Goldfaden MD
- GoldieBlox
- Google Chromecast
- Graco
- Green Mountain Coffee
- Griffin
- Grill Daddy
- Gucci
- Guess
- Guess How Much I Love You
- Gund
- Hallmark
- Hamilton Beach
- Hammer
- Hape
- Hape International
- Harry’s Razors
- Hatchimals
- Hauptstadtkoffer
- Havex Machines
- Hbo
- Helen of Troy
- Helle
- Hess
- Hilife
- Honest Baby
- Hoover
- Huion
- Hydro Flask
- Ikea
- Inkrite
- Inkwrite
- Inova
- Instyler
- Ion
- Ion Audio
- iPhone
- iRobot Roomba
- It Works
- It’s a 10
- Italkonline
- Ito Professional
- Jabra
- Jabra/Gn Netcom
- Jack Black
- Jane Iredale
- Jansport
- Japonesque
- Jennifer Lopez
- Jezebel And Paramour
- Jil Sander
- Jo Malone
- Jockey
- John Frieda
- Jordan – shoes
- Josh Bach
- Jouer
- Juice Beauty
- Juicy Couture
- Kaarvie
- Kaavie
- Kate Spade Watches
- Kaytee
- KEEN
- Kenneth Cole
- Kera Therapy
- Keter Ltd
- Keurig
- Kidsbo
- Kiehl’S
- Kilner
- Kind Bars
- Kitchen Aid
- Kitchenaid
- Kitsound
- Klean Kanteen
- Klipsch
- Koolatron
- Korres
- Kwick Sew
- Kylie Cosmetics
- L.O.L. Dolls
- L’Occitane
- L’oreal
- La Bella Donna
- La Roche Posay
- Lacosta
- Lalaloopsy
- Lamaze
- LaMode
- Lancome
- Lax
- Leatherman Tool
- Lego
- Leicke
- Leicke Gmbh
- Leicke Sharon
- Levi’S
- Lifeproof
- Linksys
- Linxor
- Little Green Men
- Little Tikes
- Livivo
- Lodge
- Logitech
- Lokai
- Lol Surprise
- Lorac
- Louis Vuitton
- Luga
- Lush
- Mac Cosmetics
- Macoon
- Madax
- Magformers
- Magic Bullet
- Magic tracks
- Majestic
- Marantz
- Marc Anthony
- Marc By Marc Jacobs
- Marc Jacobs
- Mario Badescu
- Mario Cosmetics
- Marubhumi
- Mary Kay
- Matrix Biolage
- Mattel
- Maybelline
- M-Digita
- Medela
- Mega
- Megagear
- Melissa & Doug
- MemorySoft
- Menaji Cosmetics
- Mensch on a Bensch
- Merrell
- Michael Kors
- Michele
- Miele
- Mirity
- MiroPure
- Mizuno
- Mlb
- Molton Brown
- Monsieur Bebe
- Monster Headphones
- Morning Pep
- Moulin Roty
- Mrs. Anderson’S
- Msi
- Munchkin
- Mustela
- MyLifeUNIT
- Nabisco
- Nanda Home
- Nars
- Native Union
- Nature Made
- Nature’S Sunshine
- Neato Robotics
- Neewer
- Nestle
- Neuragen Pn
- New Balance
- Nickelodeon
- Nikon Cameras
- Ninja Blenders
- Nite Ize
- No More Excess
- Norelco
- North Face
- NuBrilliance
- Num Noms
- Numark
- Nutranext
- NutriBullet
- Nuxe
- Obagi
- Ocean Pacfic
- Offray
- Olympus
- Onkyo
- oofoos
- Opinel
- Opinet
- Oral-B
- Orlane
- Oscar Blandi
- Otter Box
- Oxa
- Pabobo
- Panasonic
- Pandora
- Paper Magic
- Parker Pens
- Patagonia
- Pavilion
- Pecute
- Perfect Fitness
- Perfume Samples
- Perfume Testers
- Perricone Md
- Peter Thomas Roth
- Petsafe
- Philips Accessories
- Philips Consumer Electronics
- Philips Norelco
- Philipsc
- Phillip Mercier
- Phillips
- Phyto
- Picci
- Pioneer
- Pirelli
- PJ Mask
- Pjxj
- Playgro
- Playtex
- Pokemon
- Power Rangers
- Presonus
- Price Pfister
- Prince Lionheart
- Princeton Tec
- Proctor-Silex
- Project MC
- Protrack
- Pure Encapsulations
- Pure Inventions
- Rainbow Light
- Rainbow Loom
- Rainbow Sandals
- Ralph Lauren Perfume
- Rasyan
- Rayban
- Rayware
- Razer
- Razor
- Red Castle
- Redkin
- Reebok
- Relic
- Revlon
- Ripple Junction
- Rodan + Fields skincare
- Rode
- Rodial
- Roger & Gallet
- Rosetta Stone
- Rubbermade
- Rubie’S
- Sachajuan
- Safeguard
- Safety 1St
- Samsonite
- Samsung
- Sandisk
- Sandisk Enterprise
- Sanicat
- Saponificio
- Savfy
- Savfyâ®
- Scanpan
- Scentio
- Seastone
- Sensa
- Sephora
- Sheffield
- Shiseido
- Shopkins
- Showtime
- Silvertrade
- Siphotrol
- Sk Ii
- Skagen
- Sketchers
- Skip Hop Zoo
- Skullcandy
- Skyn Iceland
- Slendertone
- Smooshins
- Snake Brand
- Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine
- SodaStream
- Sodial
- Sol Republic
- Solar Brite
- Solio
- Somme Institute
- Spark Cafe Cups
- Speck
- Speedo
- Spigen
- Squeezoos
- srichland
- St. Tropez
- Stanley
- Star Wars
- Startech
- Steel Glo
- Steelseries
- Step2
- Stepping Stones
- Steripen
- Stickerfitti
- Stila
- StillCool
- Strivectin
- Stuff 4 Multiples
- Stuff4
- Sultra
- Suncast
- Sunwise
- Switchmate
- Taotronics
- Tapestry
- Tascam
- Tech.Bean
- Telebrands
- The Art Of Shaving
- Theraflu Caplets
- Thermopro
- Thinkfun
- Thirsty Milo
- Timberland
- Time2
- Tinosorb
- T-Mobile Prepaid Phones
- Tommie Copper
- Tommy Bahama
- Tommy Hilfiger
- TOMS
- TORRAS
- Toys Of Wood Oxford
- TP-Link
- Training Mask
- Transformers
- Trendykid
- Tribe
- True Religion Brand Jeans
- TRX
- Tummy Tucker
- Tumtum
- Typhoon
- Tzumi
- Uggs
- ULAK
- urpower
- Ust
- Vanra
- Vcube
- V-Cube
- Veggie Bullet
- Vera Bradley
- Vichy
- Victoria Secret
- Vinvent Longo
- Vionic
- Vogue Patterns
- Vtt
- Vulli
- Wacom
- Walkfit Platinum Orthotics
- Warner Brothers
- Weber
- Wedderspoon
- Wen
- Whitby
- Whitmor
- Wilson Sporting Goods
- Wolf
- Wolf Garten
- Wonder wallet
- Wusthov
- Yankee Candle
- Yeti
- Yiman
- Yongnuo
- Yookidoo
- Younique
- Zazu
- Zing Anything
- Zippo
- Zirh
- Zoku
- Zoom
- Zoom Entertainments
- Zoomworks Stuffies
- Zuru
- Zuzu
Why Do Amazon Have Restricted Or Gated Categories?
There are a few reasons why Amazon might restrict a product category.
In some cases, it’s because the product is regulated by government agencies or industry organizations.
For example, products that contain alcohol or tobacco will be under restricted categories because they fall under government regulation.
Other times, Amazon restricts a category because the products in that category pose a potential personal safety hazard.
For example, products in the health and beauty category come into direct contact with the human body which is why they are under gated categories. Or grocery and gourmet foods because they are sensitive and time-limited.
Amazon may also restrict a category because the products in that category are frequently counterfeit or pirated.
For example, designer handbags and watches are restricted because there is a high incidence of counterfeit being sold on Amazon.
Finally, Amazon may restrict a category because it has high demand and it wants to protect the customer experience.
For example, Amazon restricts the sale of toys during the holiday season because of high demand for these products.
Amazon wants to ensure that customers receive high-quality products in a timely manner which is why it places the category restrictions.
Before you start selling a restricted product on Amazon, you need to get approval to sell from Amazon.
This process is called “ungating.”
Ungating is when an Amazon seller gets permission from Amazon to sell products in a restricted category.
Is It Worth To Sell Restricted Categories On Amazon?
Yes, it is definitely worth it to sell restricted products on Amazon. Here’s why:
The first reason is that there is less competition in these restricted categories.
Because not everyone can sell these products, there are fewer sellers competing in these product categories.
This gives you a better chance of winning the buy box and making sales or improving your seller metrics.
The second reason is that you can charge more for these products.
Because there are fewer sellers, you can charge a higher price for your products and still be competitive.
This will help you to make more profit per sale.
Because these products are restricted, customers know that they are getting a high-quality product.
What Happens If You Fail To Comply With Restrictions?
If you fail to comply with the restrictions that are placed on these products, you could face serious consequences.
These include:
- Amazon will cancel your listing: If you list a restricted product before you get restricted category approval to sell from Amazon, your listing will be removed.
This applies to the listing itself, not just the product. So, they will all be removed if you have multiple listings for the same product.
- Amazon will suspend your seller account: If you repeatedly list restricted products without getting approved to sell, or if Amazon receives complaints about your products, your Amazon account could be suspended. This means that you will no longer be able to sell on Amazon. If that happens, check this guide on what to do if your Amazon account is suspended.
- You could be banned from Amazon: If you are repeatedly non-compliant, or if you sell a restricted product that is particularly harmful (for example, a counterfeit product), you could be banned from Amazon entirely.
In this case, you will no longer be able to have any presence on Amazon, including as a customer.
This means that you would lose your ability to sell any products on Amazon, which could devastate your Amazon business.
- Your listing privileges could be limited: If you only list restricted products, or if you are non-compliant with the category restrictions on these products, your listing privileges could be limited. This means that you would no longer be able to list new products on Amazon.
Therefore, it is very important that you comply with the restrictions that are placed on these products. Failure to do so could have serious consequences for your Amazon business.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Which Amazon Items Are Age Restricted?
There are a few items that are age-restricted on Amazon, such as:
- Alcohol
- Tobacco products
- E-cigarettes and vape pens
- Prescription drugs
- Gambling products
These are just some of the restricted items that require approval to sell from Amazon before you can list them. It’s important to check Amazon’s policies before listing any products to make sure you are compliant.
How Do I Know If An Item Is Restricted On Amazon?
There are a few ways to check if an item is restricted on Amazon. The first is to check the product listing itself. If you see any mention of age restrictions, it’s likely that the product is restricted.
Another way to check is to go to Amazon’s Restricted Products page. Here, you can search for products by keyword or category. If the product you’re interested in is restricted, it will be listed here. I have listed Amazon’s restricted products above in this article.
Finally, you can always contact Amazon directly to ask about a specific product. They will be able to tell you if the product is restricted and whether or not you need approval to sell it.
How Do I Become An Amazon Restricted Brand?
To become an Amazon restricted brand, you have to enroll to Amazon Brand Registry. This is a program for brands that want to protect their intellectual property on Amazon. Once you enroll, you will be able to list your products as restricted.
This means that other amazon sellers will not be able to list your products on Amazon unless they request approval from you to sell restricted items under your brand.
This is a good way to protect your brand and ensure that only authorized Amazon sellers are selling your products.
The Bottom Line
I hope this guide was helpful on how to get approval for restricted products on Amazon.
As you can see, it’s important to be aware of the restrictions placed on some Amazon products.
These products require approval to sell from Amazon before you can list them on the company website.
Failure to comply with these restrictions could result in serious consequences for your business, including having your seller account suspended or banned.
You should always check Amazon’s policies before listing any products to ensure you are compliant.
I’ve written another in-depth guide you may like about getting ungated on Amazon.
