This blog post covers the Amazon compliance topic around selling seeds and plants on Amazon. In late June, many sellers received a notice that your product has been identified as a live plant or seed listed outside of the SEEDS_AND_PLANTS or PLANT_SEED categories with the risk of product removal from the Amazon store. The goal of this post is to help you understand what action you need to take in order to comply with Amazon’s policies and retain active products and account for selling on Amazon. Amazon is enforcing the rules, laws, and guidelines outlined by the USDA and other government bodies around the selling of plant and seed products in order to maintain a healthy environmental ecosystem. We will cover an overview of the plant and seed products policy, requirements for selling plants and seeds on Amazon, and the performance notification and action required from seeds and plants on Amazon.
Overview of the Plant and Seed Products Policy on Amazon
The plant and seed products policy on Amazon articulates the rules around the requirements sellers need to follow in order to sell plant and seed products on Amazon. The plant and seed products policy is a part of the category, product, and listing restrictions for restricted products, which explains the additional requirements that sellers must follow to comply with applicable laws, regulations, standards, and Amazon policies related to selling products. Here is the high level specific policy from Amazon for plant and seed products:
Our policy: You must comply with all applicable federal laws when selling plant and seed products. You must also comply with state and local laws applicable to the jurisdiction into which your products are sold as well as the jurisdiction from which you ship. For example, many state laws have shipping label requirements when shipping a live plant. In addition, you are responsible for obtaining any required licenses and permits and are liable for any penalties resulting from non-compliance. Plants, plant products, and seeds may not be imported from outside of the United States.
It is important to not only review the Amazon policies for selling plants and seeds but be sure you are complying with all jurisdictions for selling your products. It is your responsibility as the seller to comply with these regulations and Amazon compliance and risk mitigation should be a regular activity for your company.
Requirements for Selling Plants and Seeds on Amazon
Amazon lists several requirements for selling plants and seeds on Amazon. This is not an exhaustive list but a helpful tool that you can apply to the products you sell. State and local governments may have additional requirements for both interstate and intrastate shipping. Here is an overview of some of the requirements:
Examples of Permitted Plants and Seed
Here is a non-exhaustive list of requirements for plants, plant products, and propagates and seeds that are permitted:
Sold by US residents
Not imported from outside of the US
Sold by licensed sellers
In compliance with all other legal, regulatory, and licensing requirements
Examples of Prohibited Plant and Seed Listings
Here is a non-exhaustive list of requirements for plants, plant products, and propagates and seeds that are not permitted to be sold on Amazon:
Designated by the USDA as “noxious” or similarly classified by applicable state or local government authorities
Subject to federal, state, or local government quarantines (such as the USDA’s citrus canker quarantine or the Washington state grape virus quarantine)
Taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of the Lacey Act
Dangerous or fatal when touched or consumed (such as the pong pong seed)
Sold by non-US residents
Imported from outside the US
Not in compliance with all other legal, regulatory, and licensing requirements
Shipping and Labeling Requirements for Selling Plants and Seeds on Amazon
Every shipped plant, plant product, or seed needs to contain the following information:
The name and address of the shipper or owner
The name of the person to whom the shipment is being sent
The name of the country, state, or territory where the contents were grown
A statement of the contents
California specific Shipping and labeling requirements for shipments brought into California:
The name and address of the shipper or owner
The name of the person to whom the shipment is forwarded or shipped to or the name of their agent
The name of the country, state, or territory where the contents were grown
A statement of the contents
Christmas Trees and Christmas Greenery
If you sell live fresh-cut Christmas trees or greenery such as fresh wreaths or garlands, you are required to request approval from Amazon before selling. Amazon is only allowing certified vendors to list live or fresh trees and greeneries on Amazon. If you plan on selling for the next holiday season, you should list your products early in order to ensure you have the proper documentation and approval from Amazon prior to the season starting.
Performance Notification and Action Required around Seeds and Plants on Amazon
On June 29th, 2024, many sellers received a performance notification or an Amazon notification of Restricted products removal indicating that immediate action is required with the risk of listings becoming removed from the Amazon store. The notification with the subject “Immediate action required: Listing(s) at risk of removal” may look something like this:
Hello,
This is to inform you that the following detail pages are at the risk of removal from our catalog. You must take remedial actions before 7/1/2024, UTC, else your listing(s) will be removed from our catalog. It is your obligation to ensure that the products you offer, comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and Amazon's policies.
ASIN: B00XXXXXX, SKU: XXX, Title: XXXXX
ASIN: B00XXXXXX, SKU: XXX, Title: XXXXX
Why is this happening?
This product has been identified as a live plant or seed product that is listed outside of the SEEDS_AND_PLANTS or PLANT_SEED categories. Please update the product_type attribute to either SEEDS_AND_PLANTS or PLANT_SEED values as a path to reinstatement. If you are unable to make the necessary changes, please work with Seller Support to change the category classification for your ASIN and then please apply for reinstatement. It is against Amazon policy to list live plant or seed product outside of these categories. For more information, see the help page at https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/help.html?itemID=201737480&language=en-US&ref=efph_201737480_cont_200164330.
What actions do I need to take?
- Please see policy information beneath the listing at issue in your Account Health page for any other relevant actions or information required to bring product into compliance.
- If you believe the product(s) listed above are permitted for sale on Amazon, you can submit a dispute by following these steps:
1. Go to "Account Health" in Seller Central.
2. Click "Appeal" next to the violation at issue.
To view your account performance, go to "Account Health": https://sellercentral.amazon.com/performance/dashboard?reftag=ah_em_rp or select "Account Health" on the home screen of the Amazon Seller app on your iOS or Android device. The Account Health dashboard shows how well your account is performing in light of the metrics and policy compliance standards required to sell on Amazon.
We're here to help.
If you have questions about our restricted products policy, refer to:
Restricted products: https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/G200164330
Listing restrictions: https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/G200832300
Restricted Products FAQ: https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/GCYAVS22E6CQKV2B
- We are expanding notifications that let you know about issues before they impact your ability to sell. If you have additional questions, contact Selling Partner Support: https://sellercentral.amazon.com/cu/contact-us.
Sellers need to first understand if they are in violation of the product. If you in fact sell a product that is a Plant, plant product, or seed and you are categorized outside of the appropriate category, then you need to update the product_type attribute to either SEEDS_AND_PLANTS or PLANT_SEED values to correctly categorize your product. There are certain situations where Amazon incorrectly applies the policy to your product. For example, if you sell a plastic toy plant, you could see how there could be confusion around why Amazon inadvertently provided you a performance notification for this product. If you find your listing down with an Amazon Page Not Found page and need to reinstate your Amazon listing then you can work through the appeal process to prove that you have a product that complies with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
Frequently Asked Questions on Amazon Plant and Seed Products Restricted Category Policy
What is the Amazon plant and seed products policy?
The Amazon plant and seed products policy is the Amazon restricted policy that outlines the rules and guidelines for selling plant, plant products, and seed related products on Amazon
What do I do if I get a performance notification for the Amazon plant and seed products policy?
If you have a performance notification for the Amazon plant and seed products policy, you need to thoroughly read the notification to understand the policy violation and the affected ASINs. From there, you can take the corrective action requested by Amazon or if you believe there was an issue you can appeal the policy violation.
What are the shipping requirements for selling a plant of seed product?
State and local governments may have different requirements but generally you will need: the name and address of the shipper or owner, the name of the person to whom the shipment is being sent, the name of the country, state, or territory where the contents were grown, and a statement of the contents.
Why do I need to take action for a performance notification?
If you do not take action on performance notifications, you run the risk of offer, listing, and account removal.
What is a noxious plant?
A noxious plant is one that is harmful or injurious to health or physical well-being. It is noted by Amazon that plants designated by the USDA as “noxious” or similarly classified by applicable state or local government authorities are prohibited from being listed on Amazon.
Do I need to be a licensed seller to sell plants on Amazon?
Yes, you need to be a licensed seller to sell plants and seeds on Amazon.
Can you import plants outside of the US and sell on the US Amazon store?
No, you cannot sell plants from outside of the US and sell on the US Amazon store
What can I do if I am not sure what action to take from a plants and seeds performance notification?
If you are not sure what to do from a performance notification, please reach out to Goat Consulting and we can help you understand what action to take.
Conclusion
The plants and seeds policy on Amazon is an important restricted product policy to understand. You may receive a performance notification that pulls your listing into this policy and it is important to understand the tools and actions you can take to resolve the policy issue or appeal an accidental violation. Risk mitigation and maintaining an active selling account is a foundational piece to successfully selling on Amazon. If you have any questions about a performance notification, please contact us through our Contact Us form.
About the Author - Reed Thompson
This post was written by Reed Thompson, the CEO at Goat Consulting. Reed helps lead the Goat Consulting team and their clients sell on Amazon by increasing sales, mitigating risk, reducing costs, and solving problems. Reed has experience and expertise in Amazon policies and reinstating downed listings that help Goat Consulting clients maintain a positive and active account health status. If you want help troubleshooting the Plant and Seeds compliance topic, or assist with other aspects of selling on Amazon, please reach out through our Contact Us form.
Additional Resources for Plants and Seeds on Amazon
National Plant Board (provides information on state plant regulations)
California seed law (includes, among other things, a requirement for authorization to sell seeds in California)
Disclaimer - The information provided in this article is informational advice, it is not legal advice, should not be relied upon as legal advice. We cannot guarantee that the content will always reflect the latest updates to Amazon policies, local, state, and federal legal advice. This information is not a substitute for reading and understanding policies and regulations.