Key Points:

• Creators are not allowed to promote prohibited products in their TikTok Shop content.
• Creators can avoid prohibited product violations by reviewing TikTok Shop's Prohibited Product Policy.

Prohibited Products on TikTok Shop

TikTok Shop is all about creating a safe and positive shopping experience. To achieve this, we prohibit specific products on our platform because they are illegal or unsafe for our customers.
Sellers are not allowed to sell these prohibited products on TikTok Shop, and creators are not allowed to promote them in their content, including still images, videos, and LIVEs.
TikTok Shop also governs high-risk regulated goods in content. Creators must not show, use, or promote drugs and drug paraphernalia, or tobacco, nicotine products, and smoking-related tools, in both videos and LIVEs. This applies even when creators are not selling these products. To learn what is not allowed, review the Content Policy in TikTok Shop Academy.

Examples of Prohibited Product Promotion

You can find a complete list of prohibited products in TikTok Shop's Prohibited Products Policy. Here are some examples that may result in content violations:

• Vapes, Tobacco, Nicotine Products, and smoking-related tools/accessroies.
• Adult products.
• Live animals.
• Weight management products with misleading claims or before-and-after photos (learn more from Guidelines for Responsible Health-Related Content).

Drugs, tobacco, and smoking-related products in your content

TikTok Shop treats high-risk regulated goods as two separate groups:

• Drugs and drug paraphernalia. This includes cannabis, THC, and products infused with CBD, along with the tools and accessories used with them.
• Tobacco, nicotine products, and smoking-related tools and accessories. This includes vapes, e-cigarettes, cigars, and similar items.

You must not show, use, or promote these products in your videos or LIVEs. Enforcement can apply even when you are not selling the product. Your content can be actioned when it does any of the following:

• Shows the product or a person using it.
• Promotes the product, such as encouraging or praising its use.
• Suggests use through slang, on-screen behavior, or visible smoke or vapor that is linked to a person on screen.

Drugs and drug paraphernalia carry the most serious penalties. Tobacco, nicotine, and smoking-related products also lead to penalties when the product is the main focus of your content, when it appears for more than half of your video or LIVE, or when the person holding it fills more than half of the screen.

Best Practices

Creators can take proactive steps to ensure they are not promoting prohibited products in their content. Here are some best practices:

• Promote high-quality, safe products that are in line with our listing policies.

When in doubt, always review TikTok Shop's Prohibited Products Policy, and check back for new prohibited products on a regular basis.

• Review your creator notifications on the TikTok app.

We'll alert you when there are new requirements for prohibited content.

• Double-check your content.

Make sure there are no prohibited products being promoted in your content before you post or go live.

• Keep drugs, drug paraphernalia, tobacco, nicotine products, and smoking-related tools out of your videos and LIVEs, even when you are not selling them.

Do not use slang for drug use, and do not show smoke or vapor that is linked to a person on screen.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I know if the product I'm promoting is prohibited?

Creators are responsible for ensuring their content complies with the TikTok Shop's Prohibited Products Policy. Get to know the list of prohibited products in the policy and check it regularly for updates!.

What about restricted products? Can I promote them in my content?

Sellers need to get approval from TikTok Shop before listing and selling restricted products on our platform. Creators should be aware that they can only promote restricted products in their content if the seller has submitted the appropriate documentation and gotten approval. You can find a complete list of restricted products in TikTok's Restricted Products Policy.

What happens if I promote a prohibited product?

Creators who promote prohibited products in their content may receive violation points and have enforcement actions taken against them. These actions are described in the TikTok Shop Creator Performance Evaluation Policy. Enforcement actions may include: removal of e-commerce access, permanent account deactivation. However, creators can avoid prohibited product violations by reviewing the types of products that are not allowed on the platform.
When your content violates the high-risk regulated goods rules, TikTok Shop can remove your product links, show your content to fewer people, freeze your commissions, and lower your creator performance score. Drugs and drug paraphernalia lead to the most serious penalties, including a longer commission freeze. In a LIVE, your stream can also be stopped. You can appeal these actions, and you do not need to submit any supporting materials with your appeal.

Can I show tobacco, vapes, or drugs in my videos or LIVEs if I am not selling them?

No. TikTok Shop governs high-risk regulated goods in Creator's content separately from what you sell. Your content can be actioned when you show, use, or promote these items or when you suggest their use, even when there is no selling and no product link involved. This applies to both videos and LIVEs.

Can I appeal violations for prohibited product promotion?

Creators can appeal violations through Seller Center (the portal for managing your TikTok Shop) or the TikTok app by raising a ticket. TikTok Shop will investigate the appeal and make the necessary corrections if the violation was issued in error.