Amazon Listing Removal Due to Regulatory Violations – Jay Lee’s U.S. Report (133)

Product Delisting Due to Regulatory Violations in Amazon Exports – Jay Lee’s America Dispatch (133)

HACCP Not Recognized – U.S. GMP Required for Health Supplements

Listings Removed Without Explanation if Requirements Aren’t Met

Customs to Amazon Delivery Requires Expert Support

By Jongchan Lee, CEO of J&B Food Consulting

In recent years, exporting food products to the U.S. via the Amazon platform has become a valuable channel not only for large corporations but also for small and medium-sized businesses. However, with the increase in consumer lawsuits over product defects in the U.S., Amazon has started actively monitoring sellers for regulatory compliance and proper certifications. If any violations or non-compliance are detected, product listings may be deleted—so caution is necessary.

Previously, many Korean export products such as food, health supplements, and cosmetics sold on Amazon often failed to comply with U.S. regulations. Common issues included labeling that did not meet requirements or the use of ingredients not permitted in the U.S. For health supplements, misleading claims such as “treatment” (a term reserved for pharmaceuticals) were frequently seen. Some cosmetic products that should be classified as drugs under U.S. law were also marketed simply as cosmetics.

There are also cases where Korean products display HACCP or GMP logos, which are not recognized in the U.S. Some even include the FDA logo on their labels. This is problematic because in the U.S., dietary supplements are not registered with nor approved by the FDA, so displaying the FDA logo is prohibited.

In particular, dietary supplements must comply with the U.S. Dietary Supplement cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices), which are more stringent than Korea's GMP standards. Amazon now requires dietary supplements to be certified under U.S. GMP standards.

The problem is that when a listing is removed, sellers often don’t know what went wrong. Amazon typically provides no detailed explanation for delisting, so it’s difficult to identify the root cause or know what needs to be fixed.

For example, many Korean exporters use stickers with required information such as nutrition facts. While the FDA customs process may accept this as common practice, if the label includes both English and a foreign language, U.S. law requires that all information be displayed in both languages. In such cases, companies sometimes need to switch entirely to English packaging.

Often, sellers are left guessing, like blind men feeling an elephant, having to check various laws and regulations to ensure compliance with U.S. standards. Ultimately, even if one receives FDA consulting in Korea, the best approach is to work with an expert who understands the full export process—from customs clearance in the U.S. to final delivery to Amazon.

Moreover, when exporting to Amazon, companies must comply with the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) and designate an FSVP agent. FSVP is not a one-time certification but an ongoing legal requirement involving periodic monitoring and verification. While it is often referred to in Korea as an “FSVP certification,” it is not a certification system but rather a regulatory compliance obligation.

There seems to be a preference in Korea for terms like “registration” or “certification.” However, the FDA does not register or certify most food products. With the exception of certain categories such as low-acid or acidified foods, compliance with U.S. law is expected on a self-regulated basis.

Amazon may be an accessible export channel for small businesses, but regulatory compliance must never be overlooked.

Tag: #Amazon #FoodExport

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