Animals & Animal-Related Products
This article applies to selling in: United States

Animals & Animal-Related Products

Important: If you supply products for sale on Amazon, you must comply with all federal, state, and local laws and Amazon policies applicable to those products and product listings.

Our policy: You must comply with all applicable federal laws when selling animal products and animal-related products. You must also comply with state and local laws applicable to the jurisdiction into which your products are sold. In addition, you are responsible for obtaining any required licenses and permits and are liable for any penalties resulting from non-compliance.

The following examples of permitted and prohibited listings are not exhaustive, but should be instructive in evaluating products for listing and sale.

Examples of permitted listings

  • Live shellfish and crustaceans
  • Live insects and worms used for agricultural purposes, bait, or pet food
    • Note: These are subject to geographic sales restrictions.
  • Products made to resemble prohibited animal parts or products, but which are not made from those animals. If the listing includes a clear title and description that the item is not genuine; for example, faux tortoise shell is permitted if the listing states the item is fake or artificial.
  • Animal parts or products that are not otherwise restricted, such as:
    • Shark teeth jewelry
  • Veterinary diets are dog and cat food products intended for the nutritional management of these animals in varying states of health, including those with illnesses and other related conditions as diagnosed by a veterinarian. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided guidance that veterinary diets should be sold under the direction of a veterinarian. See FDA guidance here. Amazon will request information from customers at check-out page to confirm that the product is being bought under the direction of a veterinarian. See Veterinary Diets FAQs here.

Examples of prohibited listings

  • Animals that are prohibited under the Endangered Species Act, animals that are injurious species under the Lacey Act, endangered animals and plants protected under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), or products that contain or are infested with the foregoing animals or their parts, eggs, or offspring
  • Parts or products, including fur and feathers, from federally endangered or threatened species, including but not limited to:
    • Cheetah
    • Jaguar
    • Leopard
    • Mountain zebra and Hartmann mountain zebra
    • Sable antelope
    • Tiger
    • Polar bear
    • Ocelot
    • Wolf
    • Indian python
    • Crocodile
    • Alligator
    • Sea turtle
    • Colobus monkey
    • Vicuna
    • Spanish lynx
    • Elephant
    • Pangolin
    • Sea otter
  • Animal feces
  • Live animals that are not insects, fish, shellfish, or crustaceans
  • Illegal wildlife products
  • Fish or wildlife that are taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of the Lacey Act
  • Birds’ nest products (inedible and edible) that do not comply with federal import permitting or certification requirements, including from USDA-APHIS and the US Fish & Wildlife Service
  • Food for pets or other animals that is not registered or licensed as required by law
  • Insects or other creatures designated as plant pests
  • Parts or products from bear or mountain lion; such as:
    • Bear bile
  • Parts or products from cat or dog
  • Parts or products made from seals and sea lions
  • Products prohibited for sale under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918
  • Products that do not comply with the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act (VTSA) of 1913
  • Products containing ivory from animals
  • Vaccines (including human and animal vaccines), such as:
    • Rabies
    • West Nile Virus
    • Distemper
    • Puppy CPV
    • Lyme Disease
  • Products that contain parts or ingredients derived from sharks, whales, dolphins, porpoises, or any other species that are prohibited under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. This includes but is not limited to:
    • Joint pain supplements containing shark cartilage
    • Shark fin products
    • Shark liver oil
    • Whale meat
  • Tools and kits for ear cropping, tail docking, declawing or any other removal or modification of a companion animal’s appendage
  • Products that contain foie gras may not be shipped to addresses within the State of California.
  • Parts or products made from certain species listed below may not be shipped to addresses within the State of California:
    • Cobra
    • Python
    • Kangaroo
    • Feral horse
    • Porpoise
    • Donkey meat or by products that are meant for human consumption
  • Parts or products prohibited under California State Fish and Game Code, including section 2023 relating to fur product prohibitions, may not be shipped to addresses within the State of California.
    • Fur means any animal skin or part with hair, fleece, or fur fibers either in its raw or processed state.
    • Fur product means any article of clothing or covering for any part of the body, or any fashion accessory. This includes but is not limited to, handbags, shoes, slippers, hats, earmuffs, scarves, shawls, gloves, jewelry, keychains, toys or trinkets, and home accessories and decor, that is made in whole or in part of fur.
      • Any activity expressly authorized by federal law.
    • Examples of prohibited fur products (this list is not exhaustive)
      • Mink fur
      • Fox fur
      • Otter fur
      • Rabbit fur
    • Examples of permitted fur products (the list is not exhaustive)
      • An animal skin or part thereof that is to be converted into leather, which in processing will have the hair, fleece, or fur fiber completely removed
      • Cowhide with hair attached thereto
      • Deerskin, sheepskin, or goatskin with hair attached thereto
      • The pelt or skin of an animal that is preserved through taxidermy
      • A used fur product, which means fur in any form that has been worn or used by an ultimate consumer
      • A fur product used for religious purposes
      • A fur product used for traditional tribal, cultural, or spiritual purposes by a member of a federally recognized Native American tribe or a non-federally recognized California Native American tribe.

Shipping and labeling requirements

Each shipment of animal and animal related products must have the following information:

  • Name and address of the shipper or owner.
  • Name of the person to whom the shipment is being sent.
  • Name of the country, state, or territory where the contents were sourced.
  • A statement of the contents.
State and local governments may have additional requirements for both interstate and intrastate shipment and labeling of certain animal products.

Examples of shipping and labeling requirements

Related Amazon help pages

Additional useful information

Last Updated: 04/10/2023

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Animals & Animal-Related Products

  • Veterinary Diets frequently asked questions for selling partners