Overview

Amazon maintains strict policies governing the sale of plants, seeds, and related products on its marketplace. Sellers offering live plants, seeds, fertilizers, or fresh-cut greenery must navigate a complex web of federal, state, and local regulations — and Amazon enforces compliance as a condition of listing. Understanding these requirements is essential for any seller looking to operate in this product category without risking account penalties or removed listings.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Federal and state compliance is mandatory — Sellers must follow all applicable federal laws as well as the specific regulations of both the state they ship from and the state they ship to.
• No international imports allowed — Plants, plant products, and seeds cannot be imported from outside the United States for sale on Amazon.
• Licensing and permits are the seller's responsibility — Amazon requires sellers to obtain all necessary licenses and permits, and sellers bear full liability for any penalties resulting from non-compliance.
• Shipping labels have specific requirements — Every shipment of plants or seeds must include the shipper's name and address, the recipient's name, the origin of the contents, and a statement describing what is inside.
• Certain products are strictly prohibited — Noxious weeds, quarantined species, plants that are toxic or fatal when touched or consumed, and products sold in violation of the Lacey Act are banned from the platform.
• FBA sellers face additional restrictions — Sellers using Fulfillment by Amazon should review the FBA prohibited products list, as additional product restrictions apply beyond the general plant policy.

Shipping and Labeling Requirements

Every shipment containing plants, plant products, or seeds sold on Amazon must meet specific labeling standards. At the federal level, packages must clearly display the shipper's name and address, the recipient's name, the country or state where the contents were grown, and a description of the contents. Many states impose additional requirements on top of these federal standards for both interstate and intrastate shipments. California, for example, has particularly detailed rules — any plant shipment entering the state must have all of the above information legibly and conspicuously marked on the package. Sellers operating in or shipping to multiple states should research each destination's specific labeling laws to avoid compliance issues.