Amazon enforces strict age verification for electronic cigarette and vaping product sales. Compliance is mandatory for all sellers. Failure to adhere results in severe consequences, including account suspension.
Key Verification Requirements
- Legal Purchasing Age (21+): Buyers must be 21 years or older. No exceptions permitted.
- Third-Party Verification: Sellers must integrate Amazon-approved third-party age verification services at checkout. Reliance on buyer-provided information alone is non-compliant.
- Seller Declaration: Sellers must provide formal, legally binding declarations confirming adherence to all age-restricted sales laws during account setup and product listing.
- Restricted Product Types: Policy covers all vaping devices, components (e-cigarettes, mods, tanks), e-liquids (nicotine/non-nicotine), pods, and related accessories.
Recent Policy Enforcement Updates
- Enhanced Auditing: Increased proactive audits of seller listings and fulfillment processes. Evidence of compliant verification steps is required upon request.
- Stricter Penalty Enforcement: Violations trigger immediate consequences: ASIN suppression, selling privilege suspension, permanent removal of selling privileges, and withholding of funds.
- Global Harmonization: Sellers must meet the strictest applicable age verification standard (either local jurisdiction or Amazon’s 21+ policy). Verification processes must function globally.
- Post-Purchase Compliance: Responsibility extends throughout fulfillment; sellers must ensure verification holds even during shipping/delivery coordination.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
- Immediate ASIN removal or listing deactivation.
- Account suspension or termination.
- Withholding of funds in the seller account.
- Permanent loss of selling privileges on the marketplace.
Critical Action: Sellers must immediately review their age verification integration, ensure active compliance with approved third-party services for every order, and maintain auditable records. Regularly monitor Seller Central for policy change notifications. This policy supersedes all prior guidelines; implementation started September 2023.
