Before you list your item, you need to find out if your item is allowed on eBay and if the type of item is subject to certain restrictions to avoid potential issues with your listing. As an eBay seller, you are ultimately responsible for making sure that selling an item is legal in the eyes of the law.

Violations of these policies may result in a range of actions, including:

• Listing cancellation

• Limits on account privileges

• Account suspension

• Forfeit of eBay fees on cancelled listings

• Loss of PowerSeller status.

When policy violations occur, eBay emails the seller, as well as bidders, that a listing has been ended. You may contact eBay to report violations by using the “Report” or “Contact Us” links found on most policy pages.

Understanding the rules about prohibited and restricted items

• Policies about listing items are often based on country and state laws. However, many restrictions may involve the sale of dangerous or sensitive items and are not necessarily prohibited by law. The limitations are the result of input by numerous stakeholders, including the Community. For example, see Offensive Material Policy.

• When selling across borders, be aware of international trading and import restrictions. Certain items may be legal in your country, but may be illegal elsewhere.

• Just because a particular type of item is listed below, it does not mean that it is completely prohibited. For example, in the Used Medical Devices Policy, many items are prohibited (for example, contact lenses), but many others are allowed – under certain circumstances (for example some medical instruments).
  
  Note: Examples are designed to help explain the policy and should not be viewed as an exhaustive list.

• It is also important to review the Rules for Listings and the Rules about Intellectual Property to check if your type of item has additional restrictions that would affect your listing.

Prohibited and Restricted Items List:

• Adult Material (see Mature Audiences)

• Alcohol (see also Wine)

• Animals and Wildlife Products - examples include live animals, mounted specimens, and ivory

• Artifacts

• Beta Software

• Bootleg/Pirated Recordings

• Brand Name Misuse

• Catalogue and URL Sales

• Clothing, Used

• Comparison Policy

• Compilation and Informational Media

• Contact Information

• Contracts

• Copyrights

• Counterfeit Currency and Stamps

• Downloadable Media

• Drugs

• Electronic Surveillance Equipment

• Event Tickets

• Firearms, Ammunition, Militaria, Weapons and Knives

• Fireworks, Explosives and Explosive Substances

• Food

• Games Software: Sony, Sega, and Nintendo

• Government IDs and Licenses

• Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Items

• Human Parts and Remains

• Importation of Goods - examples include CDs that were intended only for distribution in a certain country

• International Trading

• Items Encouraging Illegal Activity – examples include an eBook describing how to create methamphetamine

• Mature Audiences

• Medical Devices - examples include contact lenses, pacemakers, and surgical instruments

• Misleading Titles

• Mod Chips

• Movie Prints

• OEM Software

• Offensive Material - examples include ethnically or racially offensive material

• Police, Army, Navy and Air force Related Items

• Pre-Sale Listings

• Prohibited Services

• Promotional Items

• Real Estate

• Recordable Media

• Replica and Counterfeit Items

• Ringtones

• Stocks and Other Securities

• Stolen Property

• Surveillance Equipment

• Tobacco

• Trademarks

• Travel

• Weapons & Knives

• Wine (see also Alcohol)