Listings Restrictions API v2021-08-01 Use Case Guide

Use the Selling Partner API for Listings Restrictions (Listings Restrictions API) to check if there are any restrictions that prevent the creation of a listing for an item in the Amazon catalog. If an item is restricted, you might be able take additional steps to request approval to create a listing. Refer to the Listings Restrictions API Reference for details about API operations and associated data types and schemas.

You can use the Listings Restrictions API in conjunction with the Listings Items API. For example, you can first determine whether listings restrictions exist using the Listings Restrictions API. If no restrictions exist, you can then call the Listings Items API to create offer-only listings. Refer to the Listings Items API Reference for more information about the Listings Items API.

Key features

• The Listings Restrictions API provides details about listings restrictions, if any, on an existing catalog item identified by Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN).
• You can optionally filter the restrictions based on condition type.
• The Listings Restrictions API supports checking multiple marketplaces for listings restrictions in a single call.
• When approval is required, the Listings Restrictions API returns next step links so you can pursue approval to create the listing.

To learn more about the terms that are used on this page, refer to Terminology.

Tutorial: Get listings restrictions for an item in the catalog

Use this tutorial to retrieve any listings restrictions for an existing item in the Amazon catalog.

To complete this tutorial, you need:

• Authorization from the selling partner for whom you are making calls. Refer to Authorizing Selling Partner API applications for more information.
• The Product Listing role assigned to your developer profile.
• The Product Listing role selected in the App registration page for your application.
• A basic understanding of the Selling Partner API. Refer to What is the Selling Partner API? for more information.

Call the getListingsRestrictions operation

Call the getListingsRestrictions operation to return any listings restrictions.

A successful response returns information about all of the applicable restrictions, if any. If there are no restrictions for the specified conditionType (when provided) in the specified marketplace, the list of restrictions in the response will be empty.

When restrictions do exist for the specified conditionType (when provided) in the specified marketplace, evaluate the reasons array in the response to determine the reason and to identify next steps, if any. Each reason has a reasonCode indicating why the listing is restricted.

When is approval required?

Amazon requires that selling partners obtain approval before listing certain items for sale. The approval process can include a variety of approval requirements and qualifications. If the reasonCode in the response indicates that approval is required, the selling partner might be able to apply for approval to list the item.

In this case, use the information in the links array in the response to instruct the selling partner to navigate to the URL link provided, and then to follow the instructions there to apply for approval to list.