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Seller policiesLast reviewed

Health Claims and Misleading Content on Etsy

In plain language

Etsy does not allow listings with false, unsupported or misleading claims, especially medical claims about treating or curing illness. This applies to titles, descriptions, tags and photos.

What counts as a misleading claim?

Etsy's policies require listings to be honest and accurate. A statement in a title, description, tag or photo that is false, can't be backed up, or is likely to mislead buyers can get a listing removed. That includes medical claims, false urgency, misleading origin statements and inaccurate "handmade" claims.

Medical and health claims

Etsy does not allow medical claims: statements that a product can cure, treat, prevent or relieve a disease or medical condition.

The line is wider than many sellers expect:

  • Not allowed: "Relieves anxiety", "Boosts immunity", "Cures insomnia", "Reduces inflammation"
  • Also risky: "May help with stress", "Supports immune function", "Traditionally used to treat..."
  • Fine: describing scent, look, ingredients and physical properties

This applies to crystals, essential oils, herbal products, candles and any item where a health claim might feel natural.

False urgency

Saying "Only 2 left!" when stock is unlimited, or "Sale ends tonight!" when it doesn't, misleads buyers and goes against Etsy's honesty rules.

Misleading "handmade" claims

Listing items as handmade when they are made by someone else, without disclosing a production partner, breaks Etsy's creativity standards.

Misleading origin

Saying an item comes from a country or region it doesn't, such as "Made in Italy" on goods made elsewhere, is misleading.

How violations are found

Etsy combines automated checks, buyer reports and human review. Medical wording is a common trigger, so it's worth checking listings before Etsy does.

Do

  • Describe sensory properties: 'lavender-scented', 'a calming aroma'
  • State ingredients and materials factually, without therapeutic claims
  • Describe how people use the item, not what it treats
  • Be accurate about stock levels and sale end dates
  • Disclose production partners when you work with them

Don't

  • Claim a product can cure, treat or prevent illness
  • Use clinical terms: 'anti-inflammatory', 'antimicrobial', 'analgesic'
  • Create urgency with false scarcity
  • Misstate where or how an item was made
  • Call products 'therapeutic' or 'medicinal'

Common mistakes

  • Assuming traditional or folk remedy claims are allowed
  • Adding a 'not medical advice' disclaimer under a medical claim and assuming that makes it acceptable
  • Copying a manufacturer's health claims, when the seller is responsible for the listing
  • Using 'may help with...' and assuming the hedge makes it acceptable

This is a summary, not legal advice. Etsy's official policy page is the authoritative source.

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