Introduction: List of Items Prohibited to Sell on Flipkart
In the ever-expanding world of e-commerce, platforms like Flipkart have revolutionized how we buy and sell products. With millions of users and a vast array of items available, Flipkart has become a go-to destination for online shoppers in India. However, to ensure a safe, lawful, and ethical marketplace, Flipkart enforces strict guidelines on what can and cannot be sold on its platform.
Understanding these restrictions is crucial for both sellers and buyers. Sellers must be aware of the prohibited items to avoid legal repercussions and ensure their store remains active. Buyers, on the other hand, can shop with confidence, knowing that Flipkart maintains rigorous standards to protect their interests.
In this blog, we will delve into the detailed list of items that are prohibited from being sold on Flipkart. We’ll explore the reasons behind these restrictions, the potential consequences for violating these rules, and provide some practical tips for sellers to ensure compliance. Whether you’re a seasoned seller looking to expand your online business or a new entrant to the e-commerce world, this guide will help you navigate Flipkart’s policies effectively and maintain a successful presence on the platform.
List of items Prohibited from Selling on Flipkart
| PI Code | Policy Groups | Non-compliance criteria / items |
| PI-1 | Alcohol and Liquor | Alcoholic beverages such as beer (including draught beer), spirits, wines, alcopop, liqueurs, other preparations in any form that are consumable as alcoholic beverages. |
| Empty collectible alcoholic container not identified as empty in the description. | ||
| Products promoting consumption of alcohol and smoking. | ||
| PI-2 | Animals and Wildlife Products | Animal vaccines |
| Animal medicines requiring a prescription | ||
| Animal organs or animal corpses that contain organs | ||
| Illegally hunted wild animal, animal trophy (skin, teeth, nails etc)or uncured trophy or meat derived from any wild animal. | ||
| Bear traps, steel jaw leg-hold traps and similar items | ||
| Animal Articles such as ivory or bone made items, cured or uncured trophies made out of animal parts, meat, and snake venom | ||
| Items made from marine mammals | ||
| Live animals, insects, and other wildlife | ||
| Items with feather(s) or other parts of protected birds | ||
| Parts or products from endangered or threatened species such as bears, mountain lions, cats, dogs, whales, sharks, dolphins, or porpoises | ||
| Natural fur products or products trimmed with natural fur | ||
| Products made from the hide of a donkey, tiger or animal skin | ||
| Real insects and products made of real insects not allowed as per “Wildlife ACT 1947” | ||
| Products containing Snake Oil | ||
| Products made out of Crustaceans, marine insects, coelenterates which include corals such as orange pipe coral, reef-building coral, fire coral, black coral, and sea fan, Molluscs, Echinodermata which includes all holothurians, are not allowed to be listed on the platform as per Schedule 1, Part 4, Wildlife act, 1972. Example: show pieces made out of Reef-building coral / Mollusca Shell/ Conch Shell/ Shankha/Sea Shell | ||
| Products made out of honeycomb | ||
| PI-3 | Content | Downloadable media (Unless expressly permitted by Flipkart) |
| Compilation & Information Media | ||
| Contact Information and User databases | ||
| Contracts and Copyrights | ||
| Incorrect Indian Map | ||
| Government IDs, Licenses, Coins/Stamps in Circulation including but not limited to verticals such as showpiece_figurine, coin_collection | ||
| Books with Nudity/Erotic Content and Disturbing Religious/Communal Harmony | ||
| Ringtones | ||
| Content violating copyright or trademark | ||
| Hacking and cracking materials which includes manuals, how-to guides, or information enabling illegal access to software, servers, watomites, or other protected property | ||
| Deceives or misleads the addressee about the origin of such messages or communicates any information which is grossly offensive or menacing in nature | ||
| Unauthorized reproductions | ||
| Content promoting competitor sites or any product | ||
| Product Image/content which are obscene, profane, lascivious, sexually explicit in nature | ||
| PI-4 | Cosmetics | Products containing Stem cell extracts in cosmetic products related to but not limited to verticals such as anti_ageing, attar, body skin treatments, facial_kit, fairness, hair serums, hair_treatment, scrub, vitamin_supplement |
| Any cosmetic products that require a prescription or a medical professional’s supervision or direction for their use | ||
| Any opened and used products | ||
| Any products with tampered packaging | ||
| Expired, misbranded, spurious or adulterated products as outlined in Drugs and Cosmetics act, 1940 | ||
| Products containing regulated (restricted, prohibited, controlled) ingredients such as, Arsenic, bithionol, mercury compounds, vinyl chloride, halogenated salicyclanilides, zirconium complexes, chloroform, hydroquinone,methylene chloride, chlorofluorocarbon propellants, hexachlorophene, methyl methacrylate monomers in nail polishes, phthalates in nail lacquers, fluoride content exceeding 1000 ppm | ||
| Beauty and fairness products with excessive “Mercury” or having “Lycopene”, “Hydroquinone” content. | ||
| Testers | ||
| PI-5 | Devices | Traffic devices which includes radar detectors/jammers, license plate covers, traffic signal changers, and related products |
| Cable descramblers and black boxes which includes devices intended to obtain cable and satellite signals for free | ||
| Pyrotechnic devices and hazardous materials which includes fireworks and related products; toxic, flammable, and radioactive materials and substances | ||
| Hacking and cracking materials which includes equipment enabling illegal access to software, servers, watomites, or other protected property | ||
| Electronic Surveillance Equipment (Unless permitted by law) | ||
| Copyright unlocking devices which includes mod chips or other devices designed to circumvent copyright protection | ||
| Car seat belt alarm stopper devices/products | ||
| PI-6 | Drugs and accessorial devices | Any misbranded or adulterated or spurious or counterfeit drug or a patent or proprietary medicine without the true formula or ingredients with their quantity. |
| Any illegally imported, unlicensed/banned or unsafe drug/cosmetic. | ||
| Controlled substances | ||
| Drug paraphernalia | ||
| Illegal drugs | ||
| Illegal drugs and morphed OTC drugs, falsely-claimed prescription-based OTC drugs | ||
| Products containing Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (eg- Cannabis, Cocaine, opium, morphine, heroin, codeine, or thebaine etc) | ||
| Any drugs that require quantity to be restricted or consumer purchases to be registered | ||
| Products that are subject to regulatory action or criminal enforcement | ||
| Drugs that require prescription and medical professional’s supervision for direction of their use. | ||
| Products that contain deer antler velvet or ingredients derived from sharks, whales, dolphins, or porpoises | ||
| Products that simulate the effects of any illegal drug | ||
| Products containing any prescription drugs or prescription label warning- e.g – Schedule E1 for Ayurvedic, Unani & Siddha, Schedule H, G, H1 and X for any allopathic drugs. | ||
| Veterinary prescription drugs and devices | ||
| Drug test circumvention aids which includes drug cleansing shakes, urine test additives, and related items | ||
| Miracle cures which include unsubstantiated cures, remedies or other items marketed as quick health fixes | ||
| Products containing more than 2mg of Nicotine for oral consumption. | ||
| Vitamin and Protein supplement products/drugs containing prohibited substances such as Sildenafil Citrate | ||
| Products falling under Schedule X, RX pills, Condom with Tablets (Combo) | ||
| Shilajit products listed in verticals other than ‘Ayurveda’, with FSSAI approval, or without a valid Ayush license. | ||
| Products such as Talisman, Mantra, Kavacha, Vashikaran claiming to have magical benefits or remedy. | ||
| Sexual wellness products with profane images, false/misleading claims for the maintenance or improvement of the capacity of human beings for sexual pleasure. | ||
| Sexual enlargement Cream, sexual wellness toys, condoms with vibrating rings,extended reusable condoms, condom sleeves | ||
| Any banned Medical devices and IVD kits e.g TB serodiagnostic kit & Antibody Malaria kit. | ||
| PI-7 | Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) | E – Cigarettes, Heat-Not-burn devices, Vape and Vape accessories – like Vape chargers, Vape refills, e-Sheesha, e-Nicotine, e-hookahs, Hookah Coal/ pipe/mouthpiece/mouth tip/Flavours/Crusher and devices that enable nicotine delivery. |
| Flavoured Hookah. | ||
| Threatens public health or safety; promotion of cigarettes or any other tobacco products or consumption of intoxicants including alcohol and Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) & like products that enable nicotine delivery except for the purpose & in the manner and to the extent, as may be approved under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules made thereunder; | ||
| PI-8 | Electronics | Any products not certified with the FCC |
| Jammers of any kind, including cell, GPS, radar, WiFi. Jammers or Radio frequency transmitters that are designed to block all radio communication on any device operating on radio frequencies within its range. Jammers are prohibited for private organizations or individuals as outlined in The Jammer Policy of Government of India, 2020. | ||
| Police cameras or other detection sources | ||
| Products designed to affect traffic signals or block detection by red light cameras | ||
| Fishing net buoys operating on radio frequencies assigned to Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) | ||
| Any device(s) that replace existing technology in a video game or game console | ||
| Modified game consoles and games | ||
| Any boot disk, card, emulator, or loader | ||
| Import converters | ||
| Power amplifiers compatible with CB radios | ||
| Satellite and cable TV descramblers | ||
| DVD duplicators that circumvent protections against copyright infringement | ||
| Blu-ray players altered to disable region coding | ||
| Cell phone unlocking devices | ||
| Jailbroken cell phones | ||
| Items prohibited by Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) in verticals including, but not limited to, Antenna_Amplifier, Router_Antenna_Booster, Router_signal_booster, and Router. | ||
| Wireless Telegraphy Apparatus such as Mobile Signal Boosters from a seller without a valid Dealer Possession License (DPL) to a person/entity without a ministry authorization to establish a wireless telegraph. This is in accordance with the Indian Mobile Signal boosters Regulation Act as followed by Flipkart. | ||
| Remotely Piloted Aircraft System(RPAS) or Drones which are non-compliant with the ‘Drone Regulation Policy in Flipkart’ based on the notification dated August 27, 2018, from the office of the Director General of Civil Aviation under Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) with the subject: Requirements for Operation of Civil Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS). | ||
| PI-9 | Explosives and Explosive Substances | Explosives include gunpowder, gun-cotton, picric acid, fog-signals, fireworks, fuses, rockets, percussion-caps, detonators and cartridges. |
| Flammable material like petroleum, natural gas, Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), acetone, wood naphtha, etc. | ||
| Risky items such as gas can with gas lighter bundles, Refrigerant cans | ||
| Equipment manufactured and sold for the purposes of LPG use such as Gas Refill transfer nozzle (Nozzle, Gas Transfer Nozzle, Gas Refilling Socket, and LPG Gas Transfer Machine) LPG Cylinder of all sizes | ||
| PI-10 | Games and Events | Gaming/gambling which includes lottery tickets, sports bets, memberships/ enrolment in online gambling sites, and related content |
| Manjha or Kite Flying Threads including but not limited to product verticals such as art_craft_kit, thread, outdoor_toy, kite_winder, and hair accessories | ||
| Hot air balloons / Flying Lanterns/ Kites | ||
| PI-11 | Hazardous Substances | Any chemical substance or compound that is intended for commercial, industrial, or professional use only and is not available for general consumer purchase including Corrosive acids(Gunja, Poppy, Crotons) known to be present in product verticals including but not limited to bubble baths, drain openers, laundry detergents, soaps stain removers and toilet cleaners. |
| Products prohibited from sale by the EPA or other regulatory agency due to its hazardous status. | ||
| Material possibly exposed to radioactive contamination. | ||
| Radioactive substances and everything exposed to or infused with radioactive substances. | ||
| Unregistered insecticides | ||
| Chemical fertilizers, insecticides, Pesticides (Banned Chemical Fertilizers – NPK, IFFCO etc), herbicides | ||
| Handheld UV Sanitizer Wand of all types such as portable UV sanitizer wand, handheld UV light sanitizer wand, UV light sanitizer travel wand, ion UV sanitizer UV wand, UV light sanitizer wand, Wand Disinfector, UV Light Sanitizer, Portable Disinfection Lamp Sterilizer, UV Sterilization Lamp and all restricted cellular products with UV Wands | ||
| Glue Pad,Glue Trap, Live Trap,Mouse Trap,Snap Trap,Rat Trap and other traps that inflict unnecessary pain and harm to animals | ||
| PI-12 | Illegal, Offensive, and Unsold Products | Illegal: Products which include materials, products, or information promoting illegal products or enabling illegal acts, Human Organs (parts and remains), and products violating any extant law. |
| Regulated: Products such as Air Bags, Batteries containing Mercury, Freon, or similar substances or refrigerants, chemical or industrial solvents, Government uniforms, Car titles or logos, Car Seat Belt alarm stopper, license plates, lock-picking devices, pesticides, postage meters, recalled items, slot machines, and other products regulated by government or specifications outlined by any of its agencies. | ||
| Offensive: Products or listings which includes book, pamphlet, paper, writing, drawing, painting, representation, figure, literature, products, images, or other materials that: – Defame or slander any person or groups of people based on race, ethnicity, national origin, political sentiment, religion, sex or other factors – Exhibit profane images, examples including but not limited to, see-through products under innerwear – Portray disrespectful representation of national flag, national emblem, or national symbols. – Encourage or incites violence, intolerance or hatred in any way – Harm minors or outrage the modesty of women – Threaten the unity, integrity, defense, security or sovereignty of India, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, causes incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence, prevents investigation of any offense, or insults any other nation. – Display as grossly harmful, harassing, blasphemous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, paedophilic, libelous, invasive of another’s privacy, hateful, or racially, ethnically objectionable, disparaging, relating or encouraging money laundering or gambling, or otherwise unlawful in any manner whatever. – Display the controversial Nazi Insignia and Memorabilia. – Display quotes such as ‘Ban China’, ‘Make in China’, ‘Boycott China’. – Contain unvalidated maps or incorrect geographic information. – Defames or makes fun of public figures/celebrities/national leaders of the present or past. – Include inter-religious images. | ||
| Unsold: Items such as Stamps, Flipkart/Amazon Packaging Materials, products with disclaimer ‘Not for online sale’, Holi Colors, Direct Selling Brands, Edibles without FSSAI mark, Real Estate, Stolen Property, Promotional Items, Travel, Used Clothing, Funeral Items such as caskets, urns and grave markers. | ||
| Products in verticals such as Mask, antiseptic, handwash, sanitizer, mask respirator, car tissue dispenser, glove, safety glove, facial tissue, toilet tissue aid, bath glove, medical glove with the word ‘Corona’, (the 2019-2020, pandemic ) listed to seek attention. | ||
| Masks with Tricolor imprinted in it. | ||
| Holy books tied to a keychain, Balidhan logo, Indian Army Logo, diety-face cut images present on case & cover, or similar blasphemous and disrespectful portayal of products that are against national/religious sentiments | ||
| Govardhan rock/holy soils claiming to have religious importance or magical effects. | ||
| PI-13 | Plant, Plant Products, Seeds,Pet Animals | Illegal plants, plant products, or seeds such as Cannabis/Hemp |
| Plants, plant products, or seeds subject to central, state or local government quarantine or other restriction. | ||
| Plants, plant products, or seeds that are considered to be a controlled substance. | ||
| Dogs, pups, or fish | ||
| PI-14 | Plastic and Thermocol | Plastic Carry Bags (with/without handle) |
| Polyethene, plastic banners, plastic buntings, flex | ||
| Plastic flags, plastic plates, plastic cups, plastic spoons | ||
| Cling films and plastic sheets (used for spreading on the dining table) | ||
| Plastic micro beads, plastic cover, plastic film, plastic tube for packing or covering any book including magazine and invitation card or greeting card | ||
| Plastic coated paper plates, plastic forks and spoons | ||
| Petro-based plastic carry bag/ films, plastic glasses, plastic containers | ||
| Disposable products manufactured from plastic & thermocol (polystyrene) such as Single use disposable dish, cups, plates, glasses, fork, bowl, container, disposable dish/ bowl used for packaging food in hotels, spoon, straw, non-woven polypropylene bags | ||
| Cups/ pouches to store liquid, packaging with plastic to wrap or store the products | ||
| Packaging of food items and food grain material | ||
| Plastic and thermocol for decoration purpose | ||
| Disposable Plastic Carry Bags | ||
| Single-use plastic/thermocol products except those used in Medical and Life-saving equipment – Respirator Cartridge, Gloves, Suits, Boots, and Face Shields | ||
| PI-15 | Police and Military Grade Products | Badges of any kind, whether real or reproductions, including concealed weapons permit, government agency or department, TSA, private security company, private investigator, special event, and movie prop badges |
| Badge patches, metal handcuffs (not permitted even in Toy category) | ||
| Law enforcement ID cards or credentials | ||
| Stun batons, Tasers, mace, and disguised stun guns | ||
| Tear gas | ||
| Weapons designed to be concealed | ||
| Bulletproof gear | ||
| Other Police, Army, Navy & Air Force related items | ||
| PI-16 | Tobacco & related products, and more | Cigars |
| Cigarettes and E-cigarettes | ||
| Pipe Tobacco | ||
| Cheroots | ||
| Beedis | ||
| Products containing tobacco | ||
| Products such as Pan Masala and Gutkha in any form | ||
| PI-17 | Weapons – Firearms, Arms and Ammunition | Ammunition that contains noxious liquid or gases, like rockets, grenades, bombs, missiles etc. |
| Knife (blade length greater than 9 inches) and Button/Spring operated knives | ||
| Semi-automatic firearms, guns, smooth bore guns having barrel of less than 20 inches in length, centre fire rifles of any barrel length (semi-automatic), rifles, pistols, revolvers or any weapons designed to discharge noxious liquid/gas. | ||
| Ingredients for ammunition including lead, sulphur, chlorates, perchlorates etc. | ||
| Firearms, Ammunition, Militaria & Weapons (including amongst other things, Swords, Decorative Swords, Metallic Pellets, Stun Guns, Air Guns Knuckles) | ||
| Firearms of any type or individual parts used to build, update, or enhance a firearm | ||
| Ammunition of any type or any product used to create ammunition | ||
| Speedloaders | ||
| Any firearm accessory used to enhance firepower including muzzle brakes, bump stocks, rails, barrel shrouds, forward pistol grips, and threaded barrels for semiautomatic pistols | ||
| Bayonets | ||
| Gunpowder and explosive targets | ||
| Firearm frames, receivers, firearm kits, assault weapon parts/accessories/instructions/blueprints (even if they can be used with non-assault weapons) | ||
| Any product associated with assault weapons | ||
| Grenades and grenade launchers of any type | ||
| Pistol conversion kits | ||
| Accessories used to conceal sound or sight of firearm shot including silencers, flash suppressors, muzzles, suppressors | ||
| Products commonly used to make silencers | ||
| PI-18 | Weapons – Game, Guns and Projectiles, Non-projectiles | Airsoft, air guns, BB guns, pellet guns, paintball guns, blow guns or dart guns, replica/imitation guns, or any part used to build, update or enhance a game gun |
| Blow guns or dart guns | ||
| Sling shots | ||
| Ammunition of any type (including pellets, BBs, darts, paintballs, slingshot ammunition) or any product used to create ammunition | ||
| Accessories used to enhance firepower | ||
| Any accessory containing a visual-spectrum laser | ||
| All varieties of clips and magazines | ||
| Grenades and grenade launchers of any type (including airsoft and paintball) | ||
| Golf ball launchers or toothpick crossbows | ||
| Handsaws / Chainsaw without guide bars, Axes and machetes marketed as weapons that are not purely ornament and are not designed for home improvement, hunting, camping, or other similar recreational use | ||
| Balisong, butterfly, gravity, automatic, out the front, paratrooper, push dagger, switchblade (and replica/imitation switchblades), stiletto, shobi-zue or slasher knives, boot knives or any knives that are hidden or disguised | ||
| Brass knuckles, leaded canes or other leaded sticks, nightsticks/billy clubs, nunchuks, saps/blackjacks, kunsari-fundo, sansetsukon, throwing stars | ||
| Claws or spikes that attach to the shoe, other clothing item, or any body part | ||
| Sword canes and swords that are not purely ornamental and are marketed as ready for use as a weapon | ||
| Weapons designed to be concealed | ||
| PI-19 | Infringing Products | Infringing & Counterfeit Goods under Intellectual Property Laws. Example: Popsockets with brand infringement issue |
| Infringing any patent, trademark, copyright or other proprietary rights | ||
| Impersonates another person, belongs to another person and to which the user does not have any right to. | ||
| Prohibited Products by Territory | Products or any of the products’ components/ingredients are grown, produced, manufactured, extracted, processed in, sourced from or transported through any of the following jurisdictions: Iran (Persia), North Korea, Cuba, Syria, Ukraine [Limited to the Crimean Peninsula, Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR), and Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR) regions] | |
| Food Products | Food products / ingredients that are prohibited or restricted by the Food safety and standards Authority of India (FSSAI) or Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) as applicable. Food that is deemed as unsafe i.e. adultrated,misbranded, expired, false or misleading Food that do not comply with appicable regulations for specified category Resources – Food Safety and Standards Authority of India – https://fssai.gov.in/cms/food-safety-and-standards-regulations.php. Bureau of Indian Standards – https://www.bis.gov.in | |
