Quick answer. Amazon’s Animals and animal-related products policy permits some animal goods, such as shark teeth jewelry, live shellfish and crustaceans, and faux items that clearly say they are not genuine. It prohibits products containing animal ivory, parts or products (including fur and feathers) from federally endangered or threatened species, species protected under CITES, the Endangered Species Act or the Marine Mammal Protection Act, wildlife handled in violation of the Lacey Act, and products banned under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Violations lead to listing removal and can lead to suspension, inventory destruction without reimbursement and withheld payments. Before listing, name the species and material, check Amazon’s page and US Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA sources, and keep records. If you are flagged, remove what cannot be sold, then appeal with a root cause and proof of fixes.

Most sellers caught by this policy are not wildlife traffickers. They sell home decor, vintage finds, accessories, craft supplies or supplements, and somewhere in the catalog sits a knife handle described as “ivory”, a feather bundle from a supplier who never named the bird, a rabbit fur keychain, sunglasses called “tortoise shell”, or a supplement with shark cartilage. Amazon’s systems match the listing to the restricted list and remove it. Enough of these and the account follows.

For restricted products in general, start with our overview of Amazon restricted products you cannot sell.

What Amazon’s animal products policy says

The policy sits in Amazon’s Restricted Products pages under Animals and animal-related products. The core rule is that you must comply with all applicable federal laws when selling animal products and animal-related products, plus the state and local laws of the place you sell into. Amazon adds that you are responsible for obtaining any required licenses and permits and are liable for any penalties resulting from non-compliance.

The examples are not a complete list

Amazon says its examples are not exhaustive. Its guidance warns sellers not to assume a product is permitted because it is missing from the examples or already has an ASIN, and says that when in doubt, do not list it. Amazon also notes that some legal products are still prohibited by its policies, and several items covered by narrow federal exceptions are flatly prohibited on Amazon.

What Amazon prohibits

Protected species. Animals prohibited under the Endangered Species Act, injurious species under the Lacey Act, species protected under CITES, and products containing them or their parts, eggs or offspring.
Endangered and threatened species parts. Parts or products, including fur and feathers, from federally endangered or threatened species. Named examples include cheetah, jaguar, leopard, tiger, polar bear, wolf, crocodile, alligator, sea turtle, vicuna, elephant, pangolin and sea otter.
Ivory. Products containing ivory from animals.
Marine products. Parts or ingredients from sharks, whales, dolphins, porpoises or species prohibited under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, such as shark cartilage supplements, shark fin, shark liver oil and whale meat, plus seal and sea lion products.
Birds. Products prohibited under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and birds’ nest products lacking required USDA-APHIS and Fish and Wildlife Service permits or certification.
Other items. Wildlife handled in violation of the Lacey Act, bear and mountain lion parts, cat or dog parts, most live animals other than insects, fish, shellfish or crustaceans, unregistered pet food, certain vaccines, and kits for ear cropping, tail docking or declawing.

What Amazon permits

The permitted examples are narrow. Live shellfish and crustaceans, live insects and worms for agriculture, bait or pet food (with geographic limits), animal parts not otherwise restricted such as shark teeth jewelry, veterinary diets sold with a check-out step confirming veterinary direction, and faux items made to resemble prohibited animal parts, if the title and description clearly state the item is not genuine. Amazon’s example is faux tortoise shell. Prescription pet medications must be sold by a licensed pet pharmacy. For pet consumables, see our guide to selling pet foods on Amazon.

Amazon’s animal products policy sorted into six product families. Open each to see what triggers a flag, what decides it and what to do.

The federal laws behind the policy

Whether an animal product is legal depends on the species, its origin, how it entered the country and where it is going. Each law below answers one of those questions and points to the official source to check. This section is educational information, not legal advice.

Endangered Species Act

The US Fish and Wildlife Service describes the Act as protecting fish, wildlife and plants listed as threatened or endangered. For a seller, the only question is whether the species in your product is listed. Amazon treats parts and products of federally endangered or threatened species as prohibited.

CITES

CITES governs international trade in protected species. The Service’s guidance for importers says you must have a valid CITES document for covered international trade unless an exemption applies, that it must be issued before the trade occurs, and that the Service may ask a foreign management authority to verify it. Amazon prohibits species protected under CITES.

Lacey Act

The Service says the Lacey Act prohibits importing, exporting, transporting, selling, receiving, acquiring or purchasing fish or wildlife taken, possessed, transported or sold in violation of any law, treaty or regulation of the United States, and requires authorization to import injurious wildlife. Provenance matters, because a common species can still be illegal if the animal was taken or moved unlawfully.

Migratory Bird Treaty Act

The Service says the Act prohibits the take of protected migratory birds without prior Service authorization, and take includes killing, capturing, selling, trading and transport. Permits are governed by 50 CFR part 21. Feather, nest, egg and mounted bird products from native wild birds need species-level verification before listing.

Marine Mammal Protection Act

NOAA Fisheries is responsible for whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions. The Fish and Wildlife Service covers walrus, manatees, sea otters and polar bears. Walrus ivory falls under both Amazon’s ivory rule and this law.

The federal ivory rules, and why Amazon still prohibits ivory

The Service’s elephant ivory guidance describes a near-total restriction on interstate commerce in African elephant ivory, with exceptions for qualifying antiques and de minimis items. De minimis items must, among other conditions, contain less than 200 grams of ivory that is not raw and is not more than 50 percent of the item’s value or volume, and must have been made before July 6, 2016. An antique must be 100 years old or older and not repaired with listed species after December 27, 1973. The Service says the seller must demonstrate that an item qualifies.

None of that applies on Amazon, whose page prohibits products containing animal ivory with no antique carve-out. An appeal arguing the federal antique test answers a question Amazon did not ask. The appeal that works accepts the prohibition and shows the item is gone.

Our Amazon suspension team can take this case from first review to final submission.

How listings get removed and accounts get suspended

Listing-level removal

Amazon says it continually adjusts the systems it uses to detect prohibited products. Titles, bullets, descriptions, keywords and images all feed detection, so “ivory” as a color name, “tortoise shell” without “faux”, or “shark cartilage” in an ingredient field can each trigger a match. Amazon also states its systems may remove permitted products when information is incomplete or inaccurate, or when they misidentify a product. That false positive has its own fix, covered below.

Account-level consequences

Amazon’s Restricted Products page says that when a seller supplies a product in violation of the law or its policies, it may suspend or terminate selling privileges, destroy inventory in fulfillment centers without reimbursement, return inventory and permanently withhold payments. Illegal products can also lead to civil and criminal penalties, and listings purposefully inaccurate, miscategorized or deceptively described to get around restrictions can lead to immediate termination. Renaming ivory “bone-colored resin” or deleting a species name from a fur listing turns a listing problem into an account problem.

How Account Health scores these violations

Amazon’s Account Health Rating runs from 0 to 1,000. Green (Healthy) is 200 to 1,000, yellow (At Risk) is 100 to 199, and red (Unhealthy) is 99 or lower, meaning the account is eligible for deactivation or already deactivated. Violations carry points by severity (critical, high, medium, low), and Amazon weighs whether a violation contravenes laws. Point values rise each time the same policy is violated. Amazon says an account may face immediate deactivation risk at the maximum number of repeat violations of one policy within 180 days, which can be as low as two for higher severity violations. Regardless of score, Amazon may deactivate immediately if it suspects illegal or harmful activity. For reading notice wording, see our guide to deciphering Amazon suspension codes.

What happens across the 180 days after an Amazon restricted product flag. Step through each point to see what matters and what to have ready.

How to verify an animal product before you list it

The method is the same for one SKU or two thousand. Name the animal, name the material, find the rule that covers it, and document what you found. If any step comes back “unknown”, the product does not go live.

The verification order used in this guide. A stop at any check means the product does not go on Amazon until the gap is closed.

Step one. Identify the species and the material

Write down the common and scientific name of every animal in the product and the part used, whether fur, feather, shell, bone, tooth, leather, oil or cartilage. Trade names hide species. “Tortoiseshell” may be sea turtle shell or acetate, and “ivory” may be elephant, walrus, bone, resin or a color. Get the species from your supplier in writing. If they cannot name it, you cannot verify the product.

Step two. Check Amazon’s page first

Compare the species and material against the current prohibited and permitted examples, including the California section. A match with a prohibited example stops the listing, because federal legality does not change Amazon’s rule. A permitted match still has conditions, such as the faux wording.

Step three. Check listing status with official sources

Search the species on the Fish and Wildlife Service ECOS site, which lists threatened and endangered species. Use NOAA Fisheries or the Service for marine mammals, the Service’s CITES document requirements for anything imported, and its migratory bird program for native bird products.

Step four. Check the import and shipping path

The Service defines wildlife to include any part, product, egg or offspring, alive or dead, whether bred in captivity. Its importer guidance says wildlife must be declared on Form 3-177, which can be filed through eDecs, and must enter or exit through a designated port unless a Designated Port Exception Permit is obtained before shipping. Amazon adds that each shipment must show the shipper’s name and address, the recipient, the country, state or territory where the contents were sourced, and a statement of contents. If you import animal goods and cannot see this paperwork, your sourcing has a gap.

Step five. Decide and record

Record a yes, no or hold decision with the date, reviewer, sources read and documents on file. A hold keeps the product offline until the missing fact is found, and the record proves the control works.

The checkpoints every animal product passes before it goes live on Amazon. Tap each station to see what it answers and what stops the product.

Where to check each question

Question	Where to check	What to look for
Is it prohibited on Amazon?	Seller Central, Restricted Products, Animals and animal-related products	Any prohibited example match, the California section, conditions on permitted items
Which listings were removed?	Account Health, Product Policy Compliance tab. Manage Inventory. Performance Notifications	The ASIN, the policy named, listing or account level
How serious is my position?	Account Health Rating	Score band and repeat violations within 180 days
Is the species listed?	Fish and Wildlife Service ECOS search	Status of the exact species, not a related one
Is it a marine mammal?	NOAA Fisheries. The Service for walrus, manatee, sea otter, polar bear	Coverage under the Marine Mammal Protection Act
Was it imported properly?	Service CITES and importer guidance. Your Form 3-177 records	CITES document issued before import, declaration, designated port

Worked examples

These examples are hypothetical, to show the method.

The vintage dealer with piano keys

A seller with 120 vintage items lists four sets of piano keys as “genuine ivory keytops”, and all four are removed. The seller wants to argue the federal antique exception, which is the wrong appeal. The right response is to delete the four, search the other 116 for “ivory”, “tusk” and “scrimshaw”, remove anything else containing ivory, and appeal on the basis that the product type cannot be sold on Amazon and is gone.

The craft supplier with mixed feathers

A supplier sells 35 feather SKUs from one importer whose invoices say “assorted natural feathers”. Two listings are removed, and all 35 go on hold until the importer names the birds in writing. Documented domestic poultry feathers can return with accurate descriptions. Anything unidentified stays off. The root cause is no species-level sourcing rule, and the control is that no feather product is listed without a named species.

The sunglasses brand with “tortoise shell” frames

Acetate frames titled “Tortoise Shell Cat Eye Sunglasses” are removed. The product is permitted as faux tortoise shell if the listing says so, so the fix is content. Retitle as “Faux Tortoiseshell Acetate”, state there is no animal material, then follow the false positive path.

Three hypothetical Amazon animal product cases as first listed and after correction. Compare each row to see what was flagged and what fixed it.

What to do when a listing is removed or your account is suspended

Diagnose. What was flagged, and is it truly prohibited

Amazon’s appeal page says to look for a removed listing in the Product Policy Compliance tab in Account Health, then in Manage Inventory for inactive listings, then in Performance Notifications. Record the ASIN, policy and date, then decide honestly whether the product is prohibited or Amazon’s system misread it. A prohibited product cannot be argued back. A misread one can be corrected.

Contain. Close the listing properly

Amazon says out of stock does not make a restricted listing compliant. If you believe the flag was an error, Amazon says to close the listing immediately while you appeal. If the product is prohibited, delete it. Then sweep the whole catalog, including feed and tool uploads, for the same species, material and keywords.

If it was a false positive

Amazon says to contact Selling Partner Support if you believe a product was removed in error, and that it will review the product and adjust its systems and your account as applicable. Fix the content first, then send the supplier’s written material statement. Never strip accurate species information to get past the filter. Amazon treats deceptive descriptions as grounds for termination.

If the product was prohibited

Accept it. Delete the listings, decide what happens to FBA units, and stop buying the product. Never obtain or create paperwork to make a prohibited item look permitted. If you hold inventory you now believe was imported or handled unlawfully, speak to a qualified attorney.

Four Amazon notices a seller of animal products might see after a flag. Open each to see what it asks for and how we answer it.

Animal products pulled from your catalog?

Send us the case and we will tell you plainly whether the product can come back and what the appeal needs.

Submit Case →Book a call

Building an appeal Amazon can act on

Amazon says a restricted product appeal needs proof of compliance and an in-depth explanation of what led to the violation. It must answer four questions. What was the violation and which product violated which policy. What caused it. What reactive steps you took. What proactive steps prevent it. Our guide to writing a plan of action that will not be ignored covers structure.

The violation

Name the ASIN, product, species and policy. “A set of piano keytops containing elephant ivory, which violated the Animals and animal-related products policy prohibiting products containing animal ivory.” Amazon warns against generic apologies that do not identify the product.

The root cause

Amazon calls two root causes invalid. “I did not create the ASIN, I just listed against a product already on the website” and “I have listed a restricted product”. The first shifts blame and the second restates the violation. A real root cause names the process gap, such as listing estate items without checking material, or buying feathers with no species information and no rule requiring it.

Corrective actions already taken

Amazon’s examples include deleting a prohibited listing, updating the detail page, providing compliance information and fixing a technical issue. Give each action a date and proof, covering listings deleted, SKUs swept and the FBA inventory decision.

Preventive controls, with an owner and a date

Amazon’s examples include training staff on its restricted product policies, revising an internal process, completing a full listing review and consulting a legal expert. It also suggests assigning employees with current knowledge of the products and laws to review each product before listing. Name the owner and start date of each control.

Amazon names two controls that do not count. One is asking Selling Partner Support to approve products before listing, because it will not pre-screen listings or give legal advice. The other is setting questionable listings to inactive, because that will not prevent deactivation if the product is prohibited.

Evidence standards

Attach genuine, specific documents. The supplier’s written species and material statement, invoices naming the product, import declarations and CITES documents where they apply, screenshots of corrected listings, an export of your catalog sweep, and your written approval procedure. A document for a related product or species proves nothing about your ASIN. If a genuine document does not exist, say so and remove the product. Amazon asks for factual, direct and accurate appeals.

Appeal part	Weak version	Version Amazon can act on
Violation	“We listed a restricted item by mistake.”	ASIN, product, species, material and named policy
Root cause	“The ASIN already existed.”	The process gap. No species check before listing
Corrective	“We will be more careful.”	Listings deleted on a date, catalog swept, FBA units removed
Preventive	“We will ask Seller Support first.”	Named reviewer, written species check, records, training
Evidence	Generic certificate for a related product	Supplier species statement, invoices, corrected listing screenshots

A readiness check for an Amazon animal products appeal. Toggle the checks you have finished to see whether the appeal is ready to send.

Mistakes that keep sellers suspended

Arguing federal law instead of Amazon policy

A legal antique or farmed hide is still not permitted on Amazon if Amazon’s page prohibits it. Amazon names alligator and crocodile among species whose parts or products are prohibited. “This is legal” does not answer “this is prohibited”.

Relabeling instead of verifying

Changing “ivory” to “bone” or deleting a species name is what Amazon calls a deceptive description meant to circumvent restrictions. Use accurate words only.

Fixing one ASIN and leaving its siblings

Amazon advises regular catalog reviews, including feed uploads. Repeat violations of one policy carry rising points, so a second flag from an unswept sibling listing hurts more than the first.

The evidence file behind an Amazon animal products appeal. Open each tab to see which documents prove something and which one proves nothing.

A repeatable routine for animal-derived products

Intake. Get a written supplier statement naming species, part and origin before purchase.
Policy check. A named reviewer compares the product to Amazon’s current page, including California, and notes the page’s last updated date.
Official check. Check ECOS, NOAA Fisheries for marine mammals, CITES needs for imports and the migratory bird program for native birds.
Content check. Title, bullets, keywords and images name the true material and say “faux” where required.
Shipping check. Import declarations and labeling are on file, and state limits are configured.
Monthly sweep. Search the catalog for animal terms and recheck Amazon’s page. Amazon advises sellers to monitor listings for legal and regulatory changes.

Animal products often raise safety questions too, especially supplements and pet items. See our article on safety issue suspensions. To review a flagged catalog with us, see our product safety and quality compliance service.

For a closely related case, read Selling Adult Products on Amazon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sell antique ivory on Amazon?

No. Amazon prohibits products containing animal ivory and its page has no antique exception, whatever federal rules allow elsewhere.

Can I sell real fur on Amazon?

Fur from endangered or threatened species is prohibited. Fur products covered by California’s rule, such as mink, fox, otter and rabbit, may not ship to California addresses.

Are feathers allowed on Amazon?

Not from endangered or threatened species or where the Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibits sale. Get the species in writing before you decide.

Can I sell faux tortoiseshell or faux fur?

Yes, if the title and description clearly state the item is fake or artificial.

Are shark products allowed?

Shark fin, shark liver oil and shark cartilage supplements are prohibited. Shark teeth jewelry is Amazon’s named permitted example.

My listing was removed but it is not real animal material. What do I do?

Correct the content, close the listing while you appeal, and contact Selling Partner Support with the supplier’s material statement.

Does setting a listing to out of stock protect my account?

No. Amazon says it does not make a restricted listing compliant or prevent deactivation if the product is prohibited.

What happens to FBA inventory of a prohibited product?

Amazon says it may destroy inventory without reimbursement, return it or permanently withhold payments. Decide on removal early and document the decision.

How long does Amazon take to answer an appeal?

Amazon says to expect a reply to a deactivation appeal within two days, which may be a request for more information. See how long appealing on Amazon takes.

Get Help With Animal Product Restrictions on Amazon

If an animal-derived product has cost you listings or your account, our team can diagnose it, sweep your catalog and build an appeal on genuine evidence and working controls. Submit your case or book a consultation.

This article is educational information, not legal advice. Wildlife laws are complex, vary by state and change. Amazon’s policies can change without notice, so check current Seller Central pages and consult a qualified attorney about legal questions involving your inventory. No outcome or timeline is guaranteed.

You can also see all our marketplace suspension services.

Sources

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Product Safety & Compliance

Selling Animal Products on Amazon Under Ivory, Fur, Feathers and Wildlife Rules