Restricted vs. Prohibited: The Key Distinction
Google Shopping has two enforcement levels that sellers constantly confuse:
Restricted products can be listed but face additional review, may require certifications, and may be limited by geography. You can potentially sell them if you meet every compliance requirement.
Prohibited products cannot be listed under any circumstances. Attempting to list them can result in immediate account suspension.
Most peptides and research chemicals fall into the restricted category — not prohibited. The challenge is navigating the compliance requirements that come with restricted status. Let's break it down compound by compound.
Peptide-by-Peptide Status Guide
Based on our experience with hundreds of peptide store reviews, here's the current (2026) enforcement status for popular peptides on Google Shopping:
🟢 Generally approved (with standard compliance)
- Collagen peptides (Types I, II, III) — Treated as standard dietary supplements. Widely approved.
- Creatine peptides — Standard sports nutrition supplement. Rarely flagged.
- Glutathione — Approved as antioxidant supplement with proper categorization.
- GHK-Cu (in skincare) — Approved when sold as a skincare ingredient/serum, not as an injectable.
- Matrixyl / Argireline / Leuphasyl — Cosmetic peptides widely used in skincare. Rarely issues.
- Marine collagen / Bone broth peptides — Food-derived peptides, treated as food supplements.
🟡 Requires strict compliance (may be approved)
- BPC-157 (oral/topical only) — Can be listed if positioned as a supplement, not a treatment. Zero health claims. Requires perfect compliance.
- TB-500 / Thymosin Beta-4 fragments (topical) — Similar to BPC-157. Topical formulations have better approval odds than powders.
- Epithalon / Epitalon — Research peptide. Can be listed under lab chemicals category with strict "research use" positioning.
- KPV (anti-inflammatory peptide) — Newer to market. Limited enforcement data. Apply strict compliance from day one.
- NAD+ peptides — Growing category. Usually approved when positioned as wellness supplements.
🔴 Very high risk / likely rejected
- CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin / GHRP-6 — Growth hormone releasing peptides. Very difficult to approve. Most attempts result in suspension.
- PT-141 / Bremelanotide — Sexual health peptide. Triggers restricted content flags immediately.
- Melanotan I / II — Tanning peptides. Banned in many jurisdictions. Very high suspension risk.
- AOD-9604 — Weight loss peptide. Triggers healthcare policy flags.
- Semaglutide / Tirzepatide — Prescription drugs. Absolutely prohibited. Listing these will get your account permanently suspended.
Google updates its enforcement AI regularly. A peptide that was approved last month might get flagged next month after a policy model update. Monitor your Merchant Center diagnostics daily and be prepared to remove products quickly.
SARMs: Why Google Bans Them
SARMs (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators) like Ostarine, Ligandrol, and RAD-140 are effectively banned on Google Shopping. Here's why:
- FDA warning letters — The FDA has issued multiple warning letters to SARM sellers, classifying them as unapproved drugs. Google follows FDA guidance closely.
- WADA prohibition — SARMs are on the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list, making them performance-enhancing substances in Google's classification.
- Misleading marketing — Most SARM products are marketed as "dietary supplements" despite not meeting the legal definition. Google treats this as misrepresentation.
Bottom line: Do not attempt to list SARMs on Google Shopping. If you sell SARMs alongside peptides, keep them completely off your feed. Better yet, host them on a separate domain so one product category can't contaminate the other.
Research Chemicals on Google Shopping
Research-grade chemicals, including peptides sold "for research use only," occupy a unique position in Google's policy framework:
When research chemicals can be listed:
- Product is genuinely marketed to researchers and laboratories
- Product page doesn't contain any human use instructions
- Store has legitimate B2B infrastructure (purchase orders, institutional accounts)
- Product is categorized under Business & Industrial > Science & Laboratory
- No health claims anywhere on the domain
When research chemicals get rejected:
- Product is clearly marketed for human consumption despite "research use" label
- Store also sells supplements or consumer health products (mixed positioning)
- Product descriptions mention dosages for humans
- Store has consumer checkout (no institutional verification)
Selling both consumer supplements AND research chemicals from the same store is the highest-risk configuration for GMC compliance. Google's AI sees the contradiction — if you're selling "research use only" peptides alongside consumer collagen supplements, the "research use" claim loses all credibility. Consider separate domains for separate product lines.
Nootropics and Smart Drugs
Nootropic peptides like Selank, Semax, and Dihexa fall into the restricted category:
- Selank / Semax — Nasal peptides for cognitive function. Prescription drugs in Russia, not approved in the US. Very difficult to list on Google Shopping.
- Dihexa — Research peptide. Extremely limited commercial availability. Not recommended for Google Shopping.
- Noopept — Not a peptide but often sold alongside them. Legal status varies by country. Can sometimes be listed as a supplement in the US.
- Cerebrolysin — Prescription drug. Prohibited on Google Shopping.
For nootropic products, the safest approach is to list only those that are clearly classified as dietary supplements in your target market, with standard supplement compliance requirements.
How to Stay Live with Borderline Products
If you're selling peptides that fall into the "yellow" zone, here's how to maximize your chances of staying approved:
- Start with safe products — Build account trust with collagen, skincare peptides, and other clearly-compliant products first. A new account listing BPC-157 as its first product is much more likely to get suspended.
- Segment your feed — Use custom labels to separate products by risk level. If a high-risk product gets disapproved, you can remove it without touching your entire feed.
- Over-comply on documentation — COAs for every product, GMP certification, clear manufacturer information. The more documentation you provide, the more legitimate you appear.
- Monitor daily — Check for individual product disapprovals every day. Catching and fixing issues at the product level prevents account-level enforcement.
- Have a removal plan — Know exactly which products you'll remove if Google starts flagging your account. Don't let one high-risk product take down your profitable, compliant catalog.
Alternative Channels for Restricted Products
For peptides and compounds that can't survive on Google Shopping, consider these alternatives:
- SEO + organic Google Shopping (free listings) — Free listings have slightly less aggressive enforcement than paid Shopping ads.
- Bing Shopping — Microsoft's policies are similar but enforcement is less aggressive for some peptide categories.
- Direct search ads — Google Search ads (not Shopping) can sometimes run for products that Shopping rejects, with compliant ad copy.
- Email marketing — Build an email list from compliant traffic sources and market restricted products directly.
- Influencer partnerships — Partner with creators in the peptide/biohacking space for awareness.
- Reddit / Forum advertising — Niche communities where peptide buyers actively research.
Not every product belongs on Google Shopping. The smart strategy is to use Google Shopping for your compliant products to drive traffic and build your customer base, then introduce restricted products through owned channels (email, website) to existing customers.