Flagged for a restricted products policy violation? This guide gives a sample Amazon restricted products Plan of Action, explains the most common triggers, and lists the approvals and documents Amazon expects to see.
Quick answer
An Amazon restricted products Plan of Action must name the ASINs and the specific restricted products rule, explain how the listing broke it, and show what you changed. Common triggers are listing items that need approval, banned ingredients, unsupported health or antibacterial claims, and hazmat items without a Safety Data Sheet. Remove or correct the listings first, attach approvals or documents where they exist, and describe the check you now run before listing.
Key takeaways
- Find the exact restricted products rule named in the notice.
- A single word in a listing, like “antibacterial”, can trigger a violation.
- Remove or correct every affected listing before you appeal.
- Attach approvals, Safety Data Sheets or certificates where they apply.
- Our appeals team reads your notice for free.
Restricted products violation?
Send us the notice. We tell you honestly whether the product can come back and what Amazon needs.
Common restricted products triggers
| Trigger | Example | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|
| Category approval missing | Listing in a gated category without approval | Remove, then apply for approval if eligible |
| Unsupported claims | “Antibacterial”, “kills 99% of germs”, “cures” | Remove the claims from title, bullets and images |
| Banned ingredients | Supplements with ingredients Amazon doesn’t allow | Remove the product from Amazon |
| Hazmat or dangerous goods | Batteries, aerosols, flammable liquids | Provide a Safety Data Sheet and correct details |
| Recalled or unsafe items | Products under a recall | Remove and confirm stock is withdrawn |
Rules differ by marketplace. A product allowed on Amazon.com may be restricted elsewhere, so check each store you sell in.
Weak vs strong restricted products Plan of Action
Weak response
Our product is legal and safe. We have removed the listing. Please reinstate our account.
Doesn’t name the rule, the cause or any change to stop it happening again.
Strong response
ASIN B0XXXXXXX was flagged under Amazon’s pesticide policy because the title and two images said “kills 99.9% of germs”. The product has no pesticide registration, so we removed every germ-killing claim and added a keyword check before listing.
Names the rule, the exact wording and a real process change. Details are illustrative.
Not sure which rule your product broke? Tap the green WhatsApp icon on your screen and send us the notice. Reading it is free.
Full sample Plan of Action (restricted products)
Use this for structure only. Your appeal must use your own ASINs, policy name, dates and changes.
Root causeOn [date], Amazon removed ASINs B0XXXXXXX and B0YYYYYYY under its [policy name] policy. We found that both listings described the products as “antibacterial” and showed germ-killing claims in the images. These products are not registered for such claims, and we did not check our listing wording against Amazon’s restricted products rules before publishing.
Corrective actions
- We removed all antibacterial and germ-killing wording from the titles, bullet points, descriptions and images of both listings.
- We reviewed all [number] active listings for similar claims and corrected [number] more.
- We asked our supplier to remove the same claims from the product packaging for future stock.
Preventive measures
- Before any listing goes live, a named team member checks it against Amazon’s restricted products pages for that category.
- We use a list of restricted words, including health, pesticide and medical claims, and screen every title, bullet point and image.
- We audit all active listings each month and keep a record of each check.
For the general structure, see our Amazon Plan of Action template.
Evidence to attach
- Screenshots of the corrected or removed listings.
- Category approval confirmation, if you have one.
- Safety Data Sheet from the manufacturer for hazmat items.
- Certificates or registrations that support any claim you keep.
- Supplier invoices, if Amazon asks. See what Amazon accepts.
- Your listing check as a short written procedure.
A simple pre-listing check
- Search Amazon’s restricted products pages for your category.
- Check whether the category or brand needs approval.
- Screen titles, bullets and images for health, medical and pesticide claims.
- Get a Safety Data Sheet for batteries, aerosols and chemicals.
- Check ingredients against Amazon’s lists for supplements and cosmetics.
- Check each marketplace separately.
Restricted products violations show up on Account Health, so watch it weekly.
Real reinstatement results
These are reinstatement emails from client cases we handled, including listing and product policy cases.
How our fee works
Reading your notice is free. If we take the case, you pay a small part to start and the rest only when you are selling again.
Complex cases are Section 3, counterfeit, linked accounts, review manipulation and dropshipping.
Frequently asked questions
Why was my product flagged as restricted when it is legal?
Amazon’s rules are stricter than general law in many categories. A legal product can still need approval, or be flagged because of a word in the listing, such as a health or antibacterial claim.
Can I relist the product after the appeal?
Sometimes. If the product is allowed with approval or corrected wording, you can relist once the issue is fixed. If it is prohibited in that marketplace, it should stay off Amazon.
What is a pesticide claim on Amazon?
In the US, words such as antibacterial, antimicrobial or kills germs can make a product count as a pesticide, which needs registration. Removing unsupported claims is often part of the fix.
Do I need a Safety Data Sheet?
For products Amazon may treat as hazardous, such as some batteries, aerosols and chemicals, Amazon often asks for a Safety Data Sheet. Get it from the manufacturer.
How much does your help cost?
Reading your notice is free. Standard cases are $150 to start and $350 only after reinstatement. Complex cases such as Section 3, counterfeit, linked accounts, review manipulation and dropshipping are $200 to start and $400 after reinstatement.
Send us your notice
Our appeals team reads it free and tells you honestly whether we can help.
Need help? See our restricted products suspension service.
Get Amazon account-health alerts
New policy changes, common deactivation triggers and how to avoid them. Occasional emails from our appeals team, no spam.
By subscribing you agree to receive emails from SellerReinstatement. Unsubscribe anytime. See our Privacy Policy.
Leave a Reply