Some product categories — including tobacco, e-cigarettes, legal firearms accessories, adult content, and certain financial services — require you to get Shopify's written permission before you can sell them, and selling without approval can get your store shut down immediately.
This analysis describes what Shopify's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
The provision creates a pre-authorization requirement for specific product categories, establishing Shopify's gatekeeping role over merchant product offerings. This mechanism enables Shopify to conduct categorical review and risk assessment before permitting sales of regulated or high-risk product types on its platform.
Consumers may find that certain lawful product categories are unavailable through Shopify stores simply because merchants have not yet obtained Shopify's approval, limiting consumer choice and access to legal goods through the platform.
How other platforms handle this
You must not, and must not allow others to: Create content, products, or services using any part of the End User Services
You agree not to post, upload, publish, submit or transmit any content that: (i) infringes, misappropriates or violates a third party's patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret, moral rights or other intellectual property rights, or rights of publicity or privacy; (ii) violates, or encourages any ...
You may not use our Services for any illegal purpose or in violation of any laws or regulations. You may not use the Services to send money to sanctioned countries or individuals on government watchlists. You may not use the Services for gambling, illegal drugs, weapons, or any other prohibited acti...
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"Certain products and services may be sold on Shopify only with prior written approval, including but not limited to: tobacco and e-cigarettes, certain firearms and accessories that are otherwise legal, adult content and services, certain financial services and money transmission, and pharmaceuticals. Selling these products without prior approval may result in immediate account suspension.— Excerpt from Shopify's Shopify Acceptable Use Policy
(1) REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: The restricted products list engages multiple regulatory regimes simultaneously: FDA regulations on tobacco (Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, 21 U.S.C. § 387) and e-cigarettes (deeming regulations, 21 C.F.R. Parts 1100–1185); FTC Act Section 5 and CFPB authority for financial services and money transmission; state money transmitter licensing laws (all 50 states) for payment facilitation adjacent to Shopify Payments; FDA drug approval requirements (21 U.S.C. § 355) for pharmaceuticals; and FTC/state AG enforcement for adult content marketing. PMTA (Premarket Tobacco Application) requirements create independent merchant obligations beyond Shopify's AUP. (2)
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The provision creates a pre-authorization requirement for specific product categories, establishing Shopify's gatekeeping role over merchant product offerings. This mechanism enables Shopify to conduct categorical review and risk assessment before permitting sales of regulated or high-risk product types on its platform.
Consumers may find that certain lawful product categories are unavailable through Shopify stores simply because merchants have not yet obtained Shopify's approval, limiting consumer choice and access to legal goods through the platform.
No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Shopify.