Selling Supplements on TikTok Shop: Rules & Risks

TikTok Shop has exploded as a sales channel for beauty, food, and wellness products. But for supplement brands, the rules are more complex. Unlike clothing or skincare, supplements are ingested, which makes safety, labeling, and compliance non-negotiable.

Whether you’re just launching your brand or already scaling on Amazon and Shopify, TikTok Shop may look like an exciting new growth lever. But before you dive in, you need to understand TikTok’s dietary supplement policy and what it means for your business.

Key takeaways

• TikTok Shop does allow supplements, but only with specific documentation.

• Requirements vary by role — resellers face lighter checks, while brand owners, importers, and repackers face stricter ones.

• FDA facility registration ≠ quality. It’s a low bar and doesn’t guarantee safety.

• Certain categories are banned (weight loss, sexual performance, testosterone boosters, all herbal supplements).

• Global sellers face barriers — TikTok Shop requires U.S. business or individual verification.

TikTok Shop supplement requirements

TikTok updated its dietary supplement policy in January 2025. Here’s what you need to know:

For resellers

• Purchase invoice – must be issued within the last 365 days, in a supported language, and match the product you plan to sell.

• Product images – front, back, and supplement facts panel of the exact product.

• Note: digital mockups aren’t accepted. Use photos of the finished product.

For manufacturers, importers, and repackers

• Proof of FDA food facility registration or current GMP certification (21 CFR Part 111).

• Product images – same requirements as above.

• Why this matters: even if you don’t “physically” manufacture, FDA often treats the brand owner as the manufacturer. If you import finished product from China or repackage bulk powder into bottles, you may fall into this category.

Labeling requirements

TikTok Shop requires supplement labels to include:

• Product name and description (e.g., “Vitamin C capsules” or “Joint health formula”).

• Net quantity of contents.

• Supplement Facts panel with ingredients, serving size, and amounts.

• Manufacturer/distributor name and address.

• FDA disclaimer (“This product has not been evaluated by the FDA…”) — TikTok says it’s mandatory, even though under FDA law it’s only required if you make a structure/function claim. Expect TikTok to enforce their own policy regardless.

Restricted categories

The following supplements cannot be sold on TikTok Shop:

• Weight loss and appetite suppression products (including shakes, bars, and meal replacements).

• Sexual performance enhancers.

• Testosterone boosters.

• Herbal supplements (e.g., ginseng, lemon balm, ginkgo).

That last one is puzzling. Many safe, widely used botanicals are banned on TikTok Shop, even though they’re compliant under FDA law. But TikTok appears to be prioritizing content safety over nuance, likely due to its younger audience.

U.S. business verification

To sell on TikTok Shop, you must register either as:

• An individual – with U.S. government-issued ID, Social Security/ITIN, and residential address.

• A business – with company registration, EIN, and beneficial ownership details.

This poses challenges for Canadian and international brands. If TikTok Shop is central to your strategy, you may need a U.S. entity to qualify.

The compliance catch

TikTok’s policy ends with a broad disclaimer: “You are ultimately responsible for product safety and compliance.” That includes:

• FDA facility registration

• cGMP programs

• Proper labeling and permitted claims

• Importer obligations (if sourcing overseas)

• Adverse event reporting

• Recall preparedness

Translation: TikTok may not check all of this at the start, but if something goes wrong, the liability falls squarely on you.

Scaling on TikTok: risk vs. reward

TikTok Shop is lighter on compliance than Amazon—for now. But history suggests that as the platform grows, enforcement will get stricter. Brands that treat compliance as optional will eventually be cut off or delisted.

If TikTok is a pillar of your growth strategy, you should prepare as if Amazon-level rules are already in play:

• Audit your manufacturers.

• Review labels for FDA/FTC compliance.

• Keep your SOPs, recalls, and testing documentation ready.

Think of it as future-proofing. The brands that survive the next enforcement wave will be the ones who prepared early.

Q&A: TikTok Shop supplements

Q: Can I sell weight loss gummies or appetite suppressants?
No. TikTok Shop bans weight loss and diet products outright.

Q: I’m a Canadian-based company. Can I list on TikTok Shop U.S.?
Likely not. You’ll need a U.S. entity and tax ID to pass verification but reports have come in that even that is not sufficient.

Q: Is FDA facility registration enough?
It satisfies TikTok’s current policy, but it doesn’t prove quality. FDA registration is just a database entry—it isn’t an audit or certification.

Q: Do I really need the FDA disclaimer if I don’t make claims?
TikTok requires it, even if FDA law wouldn’t. Better to include it than risk rejection.

Calls-to-Action

Book a 1:1 Consultation
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Enroll in Supplement Startup Essentials Training
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Contact Us - Supplement Compliance Checkup (for Scaling Brands)
A comprehensive audit of your label, claims, and quality systems. Includes recall SOPs and importer checklists—critical if TikTok or Amazon is part of your channel mix.

About Blue Ocean Regulatory

At Blue Ocean Regulatory, we help supplement and functional food brands launch and scale with compliance built in. From FDA/FTC label reviews and claims substantiation to GMP audits and retailer readiness, our goal is simple: make sure your brand is built to last.