Amazon’s Seller Policies for Laboratory Screening for Banned Ingredients In Sports Nutrition Dietary Supplements
If you list products on Amazon, you must comply with all federal, state, and local laws and Amazon’s seller policies applicable to those products and product listings. As of December 2020, Amazon introduced a number of lab testing requirements for Dietary Supplements including potency assay and safety testing. Amazon also introduced some specific testing requirements for dietary supplements falling in the sexual enhancement, weight loss and weight management and sports nutrition. These tests are intended to screen for undeclared ingredients. Vivariant presently performs this testing for clients to help them be compliant with Amazon’s requirements.
For supplements falling in the sports nutrition category, Amazon’s seller page states that the product must be tested for the following banned ingredients:
Appendix 1 lists the following test targets for sports nutrition supplements:
- Ostarine (Enobosarm)
- Ligandrol (LGD-4033)
- 4-DHEA (4-androstene-3α/β-ol-17-one)
- Sibutramine
- Desmethylsibutramine
- Didesmethylsibutrmine
- DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine)
Sellers are required to submit the certificate of analysis from the testing lab to Amazon in order to keep their listing in good standing.
Why?
Sports nutrition supplements have become increasingly popular among athletes and fitness enthusiasts, but unfortunately, some manufacturers have been known to adulterate their products with undeclared ingredients in order to increase their effectiveness or profitability. Here’s a brief historical summary of sports nutrition supplement adulteration with the following compounds:
Ostarine (Enobosarm): Ostarine is a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) that has been found in sports nutrition supplements despite not being approved for human use or listed on the label. In 2017, the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) issued a warning to athletes about the presence of ostarine in dietary supplements, and since then, many additional products have been identified as containing the drug.
Ligandrol (LGD-4033): Ligandrol is another SARM that has been found in sports nutrition supplements despite not being approved for human use or listed on the label. In 2018, the USADA issued a warning to athletes about the presence of ligandrol in dietary supplements, and since then, many additional products have been identified as containing the drug.
4-DHEA (4-androstene-3α/β-ol-17-one): 4-DHEA is a prohormone that can convert into testosterone in the body, and it has been found in sports nutrition supplements despite not being approved for human use or listed on the label. In 2018, the USADA issued a warning to athletes about the presence of 4-DHEA in dietary supplements, and since then, many additional products have been identified as containing the compound.
Sibutramine and its analogs desmethylsibutramine, and didesmethylsibutramine: Sibutramine is a weight loss drug that was withdrawn from the market in 2010 due to safety concerns, but it has been found in some sports nutrition supplements. Its analogs, desmethylsibutramine and didesmethylsibutramine, have also been found in sports nutrition supplements despite not being listed on the label. In 2017, the FDA issued a warning about several products that contained undeclared sibutramine or its analogs.
DMAA: DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine) is a stimulant that has been found in some sports nutrition supplements despite not being approved for human use or listed on the label. In 2013, the US Department of Defense issued a warning about the potential health risks of DMAA, and the FDA subsequently issued warning letters to several manufacturers of DMAA-containing dietary supplements.
Remember
When your dietary supplement falls in the sports nutrition category, testing for these compounds is an additional requirement on top of the core label claim testing Amazon requires for dietary supplements.
We’re Here To Help!
If you are looking to screen a sports nutrition dietary supplement for Ostarine (Enobosarm), Ligandrol (LGD-4033), 4-DHEA (4-androstene-3α/β-ol-17-one), Sibutramine, Desmethylsibutramine, Didesmethylsibutrmine and DMAA to comply with Amazon’s seller requirements contact us to see how we can help provide you with compliant testing and documentation