Key Points:

• To sell shelf-stable food and beverages, you may be required to submit documentation for review through the Qualification Center. The documentation needed depends on whether you are the product's manufacturer, importer, repacker, or reseller.
• If your documentation is rejected, refer to our guide on How to Address Category Rejections article to learn how to resubmit your materials.

This policy outlines the requirements you may need to meet to sell Shelf-Stable Food and Beverages on our platform.

Shelf-Stable Food and Beverages

Shelf-stable food and beverages are those that can be safely stored at room temperature and do not require refrigeration until after opening.
This policy applies to the following types of shelf-stable food and beverages:

• Cooking Staples

(Oil, sugar, salt, vinegar, beans, spices, herbs, pasta, noodles, etc.)

• Baking Supplies

(Flour, baking mixes, breadcrumbs, baking powder/soda, yeast, butter/margarine, condensed/evaporated milk, cream/creamers, food coloring/flavoring, cake decorations, etc.)

• Pantry Food

(Breakfast cereals, granola & muesli, porridge, on-the-go cereals, instant noodles/rice/hotpot, canned & packaged foods, nut butters, kimchi & pickled vegetables, chutney, jellies, etc.)

• Snacks

(Fruit/nut bars, protein/energy bars, biscuits, cookies/crackers, chocolate, cheese/savory snacks, sweets/candies, gum, dried fruit/nuts, seeds, jerky; dried seafood/vegetables, popcorn, snack pastries, gift packs, etc.)

• Milk and Dairy Products

(UHT milk, non-dairy milk, dried milk solids, whey powder, freeze dried cheese, etc.)

Prohibited Products

The following food and beverage products are prohibited on TikTok Shop:

• Products containing meat from countries or facilities not approved by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
• Infant formula
• Products in additive categories—flavor enhancers, food colorings, food flavorings & extracts, and sugar & sweeteners—that are not approved by the FDA
• Homemade food and beverage products
• Food and beverage products packaged in wrappers, carry-out boxes, or other non-durable containers

Requirements To Sell Shelf-Stable Food and Beverages

You must pass a category qualification process to sell shelf-stable food and beverages on our platform. This process requires you to submit documentation proving you are qualified to sell shelf-stable food and beverages on our platform. Once you pass the process, you can sell these products on our platform.
In addition, you are also responsible for:

• Ensuring all shelf-stable food and beverage products, along with their packaging and labeling, comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including but not limited to, the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act.
• Providing complete, up-to-date, and accurate product information for all shelf-stable food and beverage listings.
• Complying with all applicable laws and regulations governing identity food products. For product claims such as gluten free, sugar free, allergen free, etc., they must be verified to substantiate content claims.

Manufacturers, Importers, and Repackers If you are applying to sell shelf-stable food and beverages you manufactured, imported, or repacked, you may be required to submit the following documents: Proof Of FDA Registration, cGMP Certification, or GFSI Recognized Certificate

FDA RegistrationManufacturers, importers, and repackers may need to submit either of the following as proof of FDA registration:

• A third-party FDA registration verification letter, or
• A screenshot from the FDA registration portal

The document must include:

• The name of the establishment (must match the manufacturer/importer listed on the product label)
• Physical address of the establishment
• Operation type (e.g., manufacturer, importer, repacker)
• Verification that the registration is active at the time of submission

For screenshots:

• The image must clearly show that it was captured from the official FDA website.

For third-party letters:

• The verifier’s name and contact information must be clearly stated.

cGMP CertificationCurrent Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations, regulated by the FDA, ensure proper design, monitoring, and control of manufacturing processes and facilities.
To meet cGMP documentation requirements:

• The certificate must not be expired at the time of submission
• It must confirm compliance with 21 CFR Part 117

GFSI-Recognized CertificateGlobal Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) acceptable certificates include SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000, and other internationally recognized food safety certifications.
Requirements:

• Certificate must be valid and not expired at the time of submission

Sample Food Label

Manufacturers, importers, and repackers may be required to submit a food label sample that includes:

• Images of both the principal display panel and information panel
• The following required information:
  • Product name
  • Net weight
  • Nutrition facts
  • Ingredient list
  • Allergen declarations (if applicable)
  • Name and address of the manufacturer or distributor

Resellers

If you are applying to sell shelf-stable food and beverages as a reseller, you may be required to submit the following documents:

Purchase Invoice

Resellers may be required to submit a legible purchase invoice issued by the product’s manufacturer. The invoice must meet all of the following requirements:

• Include the supplier’s company name and address
• Product name on the label must match the information on the purchasing invoice
• Be issued within the last 365 days
• Be written in a language supported by TikTok Shop

Sample Food Label

Resellers may be required to submit a food label sample that includes:

• Images of both the principal display panel and information panel
• The following required information:
  • Product name
  • Net weight
  • Nutrition facts
  • Ingredient list
  • Allergen declarations (if applicable)
  • Name and address of the manufacturer or distributor

Enforcement Actions and Appeals

We regularly review your shop’s compliance with this policy. If any violations are identified, TikTok Shop may take enforcement action at our sole discretion. This may include rejecting your category qualification application, assigning violation points, or removing product listings. For more information on enforcement actions, refer to our Seller Enforcement Policy.
If you'd like to appeal an enforcement action, visit the Appeals section of our Seller Enforcement Policy for guidance on how to proceed.

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How to Submit Your Documentation

Submit your documentation through the Qualification Center in Seller Center by clicking here or following the steps below:

1. Log into your Seller Center account.
2. Click your shop icon in the top right corner.
3. Go to My Account > Account Settings.
4. Select Qualification Center.
5. Click on Category Qualification.
6. Click Add Category Authorization and follow the prompts to submit your application.

How To Address A Category Qualification Rejection

If your category qualification is rejected, you’ll receive a notification in your Seller Center inbox. This usually happens when submitted documents don’t meet the requirements mentioned above.
To resolve this:

• Review the rejection reason by clicking on the applied category to access the category details page.
• Fix any issues and resubmit the corrected or missing documents in Qualification Center.

For more information, refer to the How to Address Category Rejections article.