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How to Get HFSS Products Approved on Amazon Ads

How to Get HFSS Products Approved on Amazon Ads

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Introduction

It can be challenging to approve your products for Amazon Ads when they’re high in fat, salt, or sugar (HFSS). Amazon wants to follow changing health rules.
This guide will show you how to get your HFSS products approved for Amazon Ads and give you good ideas on promoting them on Amazon’s busy marketplace.

If you’re a brand working for an Amazon Ad Agency or want Amazon FBA advice, you need to know Amazon’s HFSS rules and how to follow them to advertise well on Amazon.

What is HFSS?

Amazon has established a comprehensive HFSS policy to align with health regulations in various regions. Let’s delve into what HFSS entails and how it impacts your Amazon products, underscoring the need for expert guidance.

Definition of HFSS (High in Fat, Salt, or Sugar)

“HFSS” means products with high fat, salt, or sugar levels. This group includes many snacks, sugary drinks, and fast foods.

Here's a visual of a food label highlighting the nutritional information for a product high in fat, salt, or sugar.

HFSS rules aim to limit the promotion of foods with poor nutritional value. These rules respond to growing worries about public health and nutrition.

Amazon’s HFSS label affects product listings and ads. If Amazon tags some listings as HFSS, they might see less visibility.

Brands and Amazon Marketing Services must consider HFSS classification to succeed in Amazon Ad campaigns.

Examples of HFSS Products

HFSS products often include items like:

  • Snacks you buy in bags or boxes, like chips, crackers, and candy
  • Drinks with lots of sugar and energy drinks
  • Sweet treats like cakes, cookies, and pastries
  • Fast food and some meals you can heat up
  • Meats in cans or packages that have a lot of fat or salt

If your selling fits into these groups, Amazon might limit your ads. However, teaming up with an Amazon Ad Agency or a group that manages Amazon PPC can help you work around these limits.

The far-reaching implications of Amazon’s HFSS policy can significantly affect brands in specific categories by limiting advertising opportunities.

This underscores the urgency for brands to understand and adapt their Amazon Growth Strategy, especially in Amazon PPC campaigns, to comply with these regulations.

Amazon’s HFSS policy affects brands in specific categories by limiting advertising opportunities. This impacts brands’ Amazon Growth Strategy, especially in Amazon PPC campaigns. Here’s what you need to know.

Amazon HFSS Status and Advertising Restrictions

Amazon HFSS status is determined by product nutritional content, which dictates whether a product can be advertised on Amazon.

Here's a screenshot of Amazon’s ad restrictions warning that appears when attempting to run ads for HFSS products.

HFSS products often need more ad placements, reduced visibility, and limitations on Amazon Marketing Services.

Therefore, effective Amazon PPC Management for HFSS products requires detailed knowledge of these restrictions.

Who is Affected by Amazon’s HFSS Policy?

Understanding Amazon’s HFSS policy is crucial for brands, especially those dealing with high-fat, salty, or sugary products.

This understanding is particularly beneficial for food and beverage companies. Brands that work with an Amazon Marketing Agency or Amazon Seller Consulting services often find this beneficial in navigating complex restrictions while remaining compliant.

Steps to Get HFSS Products Approved on Amazon Ads

Securing HFSS product ad approval on Amazon requires detailed knowledge and strategic planning. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown.

Here's a screenshot of the HFSS exemption submission form from Amazon Seller Central.

Understanding the New HFSS Policy

Understanding and adhering to Amazon’s HFSS policy is crucial for brands. This policy requires a deep understanding of regional regulations and Amazon’s specific guidelines.

An Amazon Ad Agency or Amazon Brand Management team with experience in Amazon’s policies can help ensure compliance, emphasizing the importance of being well-informed.

Critical Requirements for HFSS Product Approval

Meeting Amazon’s HFSS product approval criteria includes:

  • Ensuring clear labeling for nutritional content
  • Providing documentation or certification
  • Demonstrating eligibility based on regional nutritional guidelines

Compliance documentation should be completed before applying for HFSS product ad approval. Amazon SEO Services and Amazon Listing Optimization play crucial roles in ensuring your product listings meet these requirements.

How to Submit for HFSS Exemption

Brands seeking an exemption for HFSS products can apply through Amazon’s seller platform. The application process includes:

  1. Gathering Nutritional Information: Collect detailed product data.
  2. Submitting Product Documentation: Provide certifications or labeling that clarifies HFSS status.
  3. Filing Through Amazon Seller Support: Request a review through Amazon’s Seller Central or Amazon Marketing Services interface.

How to Resume or Reinstate Amazon Advertising for HFSS Products

If an HFSS product listing was previously suspended, work with Amazon Account Management or consult with an Amazon Ad Agency to follow reinstatement procedures.

This process often involves providing additional documentation to meet HFSS compliance standards.

Eligibility for Exemptions

Certain products may qualify for exemptions from Amazon’s HFSS advertising restrictions. Here’s how to assess eligibility.

Criteria for HFSS Exemption on Amazon Ads

Amazon’s exemption criteria for HFSS products depend on nutritional content and compliance with regional health regulations. Products that qualify as “reduced fat,” “low sugar,” or “low salt” may be eligible.

What Products Qualify for an Exemption?

Eligibility is typically available to:

  • Products meeting reduced fat, salt, or sugar content.
  • Nutritional reformulations that bring products within allowable limits

An Amazon Marketing Agency or Amazon Brand Management service can guide brands in evaluating and submitting products for exemption, ensuring accurate representation.

How Eva Can Help?

Getting your head around Amazon’s HFSS rules and following them while improving your ads can be challenging for any brand.

Eva helps brands grow sustainably and make money on Amazon, Walmart, and other online marketplaces. Using Eva’s innovative AI tool, brands can simplify their Amazon Advertising plans, improve their HFSS product pages, and ensure each ad campaign performs best.

Eva’s particular AI platform, which understands context, aims to give insights better than typical ad solutions. Unlike regular ad management tools,

Eva’s AI combines essential data points across all marketplaces—inventory levels, conversion rates, and profit metrics.

This lets brands take a big-picture view of their Amazon advertising. This is useful when dealing with HFSS product approvals and following rules.

Eva’s data-based strategies help brands make intelligent choices, boosting ROI while adhering to Amazon’s policies.

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Smart AI That Understands Context: Eva’s AI platform monitors and tweaks ad campaigns using up-to-the-minute data from many channels.

It considers how much stuff is in stock and how well it’s selling. This ensures that HFSS-approved products stay visible without running out of stock, which can hurt both ad spending and sales speed.

Expert Help with Data: Eva’s Amazon Advertising pros monitor your HFSS campaigns closely. They use smart tools to analyze data and improve strategies.

By examining things like how often ads lead to sales and how much profit they make, Eva ensures that every dollar spent on ads counts while following Amazon’s HFSS rules.

Full Marketplace Integration: Eva does more than Amazon. As an Amazon Advanced Partner and Walmart Strategic Solution Partner, Eva gives expert help on other marketplaces, like Walmart, eBay, Shopify, Google, Meta, etc. This lets brands use winning HFSS plans across platforms to grow and stay visible.

Better Multimedia Plan for Best Returns: Eva knows an excellent multimedia plan is vital for HFSS products in challenging markets.

By working with partners like TikTok, Google, and Meta, Eva helps brands find and invest in the most effective multimedia mix, ensuring ads reach the right people with the most powerful messages.

Focus on Growth That’s Both Sustainable and Profitable: Many ad solutions aim to make quick money, but Eva looks at the big picture.

This strategy helps brands build a strong foothold in the HFSS category over time. It ensures they make money while sticking to Amazon’s rules.

Is your brand ready to promote its HFSS products and grow on Amazon and other platforms? Eva can help.

Our AI platform understands context, our team knows their stuff, and our growth plans work. With us, you can confidently handle Amazon’s HFSS policies while getting the most out of your ads and profits.

Get in touch with Eva today to see how our AI platform and online retail know-how can boost your brand on Amazon and beyond. Check Out Eva Now!

Best Practices for HFSS Product Advertising

After HFSS product approval, you must optimize ad campaigns to boost visibility. Here’s how.

How to Optimize HFSS Ad Campaigns Post-Approval

Getting approval means you should structure ad campaigns well. To do this, think about:

  • Targeted Keyword Selection: Pick keywords like “Best Amazon Agency” or “Amazon Product Launch Services.”
  • A/B Testing: Try different ad creatives to see what gets people interested.
  • Effective Amazon PPC Management: Change campaigns based on their performance to get the most out of your ad money.

An Amazon advertising service or agency can help with these plans by ensuring campaigns follow Amazon’s rules.

Tweaking Your Product Listings to Match HFSS Rules

Check that descriptions, pictures, and nutrition labels follow the rules for your HFSS product listings. Amazon’s Listing Improvement services can make listings more appealing and get more views while staying within HFSS guidelines.

How the Amazon Small Business Badge Helps Advertise HFSS Products

Small businesses can use Amazon’s Small Business Badge to increase visibility for HFSS items. Here’s how to use it.

Here's a screenshot of an Amazon product page that features the Small Business Badge.

Steps to Earn the Small Business Badge on Amazon

To qualify, brands need to:

  1. Hit Income and Company Size Targets: Most small businesses can be eligible.
  2. Give Proof Details: Send your business info through Amazon Seller Central.

Small brands often use Amazon FBA Consulting or Amazon Growth Strategy services to get this badge.

Benefits of the Small Business Badge for HFSS Products

The Small Business Badge helps HFSS products become more visible by showing credibility to potential customers. Amazon Brand Management services often use this tool to promote qualified brands, boost search rankings, and increase Amazon’s sales growth.

Conclusion

To advertise HFSS products on Amazon, you need to understand Amazon’s policies, exemption qualifications, and strategic advertising practices. Here’s a final recap:

Summary of Steps to Get Your HFSS Products Approved

  1. Get to Know Amazon’s HFSS Rules: Learn about ad limits for HFSS products.
  2. See if You Can Get an Exception: Find out if your product doesn’t have to follow these rules.
  3. Make HFSS Product Pages Better: Improve listings so they follow the rules and show up more.
  4. Use the Amazon Small Business Badge: This can help your brand stand out and look more trustworthy.
  5. Team Up with Pros: Amazon Ad Agencies and Amazon Seller Consulting groups can help you get approval faster.

If brands follow Amazon’s HFSS rules and use clever ad tricks, they can deal with the challenging parts of HFSS advertising on Amazon. This can lead to more sales and help them reach more people.


FAQs

What is Amazon’s HFSS Policy, and how does it impact advertising?

Amazon’s HFSS (High in Fat, Salt, or Sugar) policy restricts advertising products high in fat, salt, or sugar content. This policy limits the visibility and ad eligibility of HFSS products on Amazon Ads to comply with health-related advertising guidelines. Eva Commerce’s AI-powered platform helps brands understand these guidelines and optimize their listings to increase the chances of HFSS product ad approval.

What types of products are classified as HFSS on Amazon?

Products high in fat, salt, or sugar, such as snack foods, sugary drinks, fast foods, and certain packaged goods, may be classified as HFSS. This classification means they may face advertising restrictions unless they qualify for an exemption. Using Eva’s AI-powered platform, brands can identify HFSS status, optimize product listings, and make data-informed adjustments to comply with Amazon’s requirements.

How can Eva Commerce help my brand get HFSS products approved for Amazon Ads?

Eva Commerce offers an AI-driven, context-aware platform that enables brands to navigate Amazon’s HFSS policy by optimizing listings and ad campaigns. Eva’s AI considers critical data points like inventory, conversion rates, and profitability metrics to make informed decisions, helping brands submit complete applications that meet Amazon’s HFSS guidelines.

What are the essential requirements for Amazon’s approval of HFSS products?

HFSS product approval requires clear nutritional labeling, accurate product descriptions, and, in some cases, documentation demonstrating compliance with local regulations. Eva’s Amazon Account Management and Brand Management services guide brands in meeting these requirements and optimize listings for maximum visibility.

Can I request an exemption for HFSS products on Amazon Ads?

Certain HFSS products, like lower fat or sugar content, may be exempted if they meet Amazon’s nutritional guidelines. Eva’s Amazon consulting team assists brands in determining eligibility, preparing exemption applications, and ensuring their listings comply with Amazon’s advertising standards.

How does Eva’s AI-powered platform enhance Amazon PPC management for HFSS products?

Eva’s AI-powered platform improves Amazon PPC management by making data-driven adjustments in real time. It integrates insights on inventory, sales performance, and profitability, allowing brands to manage and optimize PPC campaigns for HFSS products while complying with Amazon’s advertising policies.

What are some best practices for advertising HFSS products after approval?

Once approved, optimize HFSS product ads by targeting keywords, using high-quality images, and creating engaging content that meets Amazon’s advertising standards. Eva’s Amazon Marketing Services help brands implement these best practices and refine ad campaigns to maximize ROI and compliance.

How does the Amazon Small Business Badge benefit HFSS product advertising?

The Amazon Small Business Badge helps HFSS products gain visibility by establishing brand credibility, especially for smaller businesses. Eva’s experts assist qualifying brands in securing the badge, which can increase search ranking and consumer trust for HFSS products.

What should I consider when optimizing HFSS product listings for Amazon compliance?

Optimize HFSS product listings by focusing on transparent nutritional information, keyword relevance, and customer-focused content. Eva’s Amazon Listing Optimization services enhance listings to improve visibility and compliance, aligning them with Amazon’s HFSS policy.

How does Eva Commerce’s AI platform support brands beyond Amazon for HFSS products?

Eva Commerce’s AI platform supports brands on other marketplaces like Walmart, eBay, and Shopify, offering integrated solutions across platforms. As an Amazon Advanced Partner and Walmart Strategic Solution Partner, Eva ensures HFSS product strategies are consistent and effective across all channels, enabling brands to achieve sustainable, profitable Growth.

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