The New Rules for Selling Supplements on Amazon
Sep 25, 2024
Amazon has a black belt in selling dietary supplements online. According to research published in 2022, Amazon accounted for 77% of all the supplements sold online in the US and it is looking likely to grab even more market share with each passing year. Selling supplements online used to be the Wild West. Amazon has had issues previously with tainted supplement products on the site leading to a series of FDA warning lettersbeing sent to the retail giant. So, to employ a little frontier justice to this market, Amazon took steps in 2021 to focus more on quality and compliance to ensure supplements were lawfully labeled with accurate claims. Supplements were required to have manufacturers audited for GMP compliance and to test products for label claims and environmental contaminants. Initially this was applied to all supplements with special requirements to test for a handful of pharmaceutical contaminants in sports nutrition, bodybuilding, sexual enhancement, weight loss, and weight management supplements.
Amazon has updated its dietary supplement compliance policy, on April 2, 2024, maintaining similar requirements but now outsourcing compliance activities to one of three Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) providers that include NSF, Eurofins, and UL. BSCG has continued to ensure that our banned substance testing menu includes the drugs Amazon requires in the different categories and that the label claim and compliance testing in our annual Certified Quality program designed for retail and consumer safety meets or exceeds the Amazon requirements.
A Closer Look at Amazon’s New Requirements
Amazon’s updated policy now applies only to sports nutrition, weight management, sexual enhancement, and bodybuilding supplements. Supplements must be produced in Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) audited facilities to comply with Amazon's sellers' requirements and they must undergo rigorous testing to verify label claims and check for heavy metals, pesticides, microbiological agents, and other potential contaminants in relevant products. The policy demands that products contain only the ingredients listed on their labels, with no undeclared active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Amazon has increased the number of drugs that are required to be tested in each category. BSCG has followed suit adding the drugs to our testing menu in order to provide a one stop shop for Amazon testing
Summary of Amazon’s Dietary Supplement Compliance Guidelines
Amazon’s guidelines specify several requirements for dietary supplements before they can be sold on their site.
GMP Compliance
Products must be manufactured in facilities that have been audited by a third-party for FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs) as outlined in 21 CFR 111/117 or equivalent standards.
Contaminant Screening
Products must be tested for heavy metals and microbial contaminants. Depending on the product’s components, additional testing for pesticides or other contaminants may be required, according to NSF/ANSI 173-2024 or USP standards.
Content Claims Verification
Products must accurately contain the dietary ingredients listed on the label within the tolerances specified in 21 CFR 101.36 and 101.9(g)(3) & (g)(4).
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Screening
Supplements in the sexual enhancement, weight management, and sports nutrition/bodybuilding categories must undergo testing for known adulterants as outlined in NSF/ANSI 173-2024.
Labeling Compliance
Product labels must include a Supplement Facts panel, ingredient list, identity statement, appropriate FDA disclaimers, and relevant product warnings. Illegal or unauthorized disease claims are strictly prohibited.
BSCG’s Response to Amazon: Comprehensive Testing and Certification
At BSCG, we have expanded our services to align with Amazon’s updated requirements. Our industry leading testing menu now includes more than 500 banned substances, which includes all the substances Amazon requires for sports nutrition and weight loss and weight management products. BSCG’s Certified Drug Free program tests every finished product lot, or monthly for ingredients, offering superior quality and anti-doping protection to athletes, military service members, first responders, and consumers and covering API compliance testing requirements in the process. Our annual Certified Quality program verifies GMP compliance and tests for label claims and contaminants in accordance with Amazon requirements. Let us help with your Amazon testing needs and earn the Certified Quality seal in the process. Whatever type of products you have BSCG can help you accomplish your Amazon testing requirements and add a new element to your marketing in the process.
Selling BSCG Certified Products on Amazon
For BSCG Certified Drug Free clients, your Amazon API testing needs are already covered. We can provide customized API reports that can be provided to your selected TIC. If you are looking to fulfil your label claim testing and contaminant testing requirements BSCG can help with that as well, and you can earn the Certified Quality seal in the process.
Choosing BSCG as your testing and certification partner not only ensures your compliance with Amazon’s stringent requirements but also enhances your brand’s reputation. Products that display the Certified Drug Free or Certified Quality seals are recognized for their safety and quality, which will set your brand apart in a highly competitive supplement marketplace. This recognition can increase consumer trust, reduce your supply chain risks, and open up new sales opportunities across many retail platforms.
For more information on how BSCG can help your products meet Amazon’s dietary supplement policies, contact us today. Let us guide you through the complexities of Amazon compliance so your brand continues to thrive in the competitive online marketplace.
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