Tiktok Shop Academy

✨Policy Pulse (April 2026)✨

05/22/2026

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✨Welcome to Policy Pulse, your monthly round-up of the latest TikTok Shop policy updates.✨
Catch up on all the highlights! Scroll to the end to revisit updates from earlier months or see what you’ve missed.
We're sharing key policy updates that went into effect in April. Below is a quick overview of what's changed and where to find more guidance.

Creator Updates

💰 Commission Settlement Timeline Adjustment

To support a safe and compliant marketplace, TikTok Shop may conduct additional security or policy-related reviews for creator accounts. As part of this update, some creators may experience a temporary extension to their commission settlement timeline.
Commission settlement timelines may be extended from 15 days to 31 days after order delivery. Creator commissions are only paid after the related seller order is successfully settled, meaning commission payouts will follow the seller’s settlement timeline. Commission payouts may also be delayed until any disputes, refunds, or return requests are fully resolved.
For more information, refer to our Creator Enforcement Policy.

⚖️ Update on Prohibited Weight Management Claims

We have updated our policy guidance with new examples clarifying prohibited weight loss and health-related claims involving GLP-1 references.
Creators must not claim or imply that a product contains GLP-1, is “activated by GLP-1,” or works like prescription GLP-1 medications. Products also must not be positioned as alternatives or equivalents to prescription medications through direct or implied comparisons.
Creators and sellers are encouraged to review existing product claims and content to remove or avoid GLP-1 related references where applicable. For more information, refer to our Requirements for Responsible Health-Related Content.

Seller Updates

🪪 Updated Seller Onboarding ID Verification Requirements

We updated US seller onboarding requirements to strengthen platform security, support compliance with US regulations, and improve fraudulent document detection.
Individual sellers are now required to upload both the front and back of their government-issued ID during onboarding, while still providing their SSN. For corporate sellers, the Primary Representative must also upload both sides of their government-issued ID. As part of this update, the requirement for Corporate/Business sellers to provide the Primary Representative’s SSN or ITIN has been removed.
For more information, see our guides for registering as an Individual, Sole Proprietorship, and Corporation or Partnership.

🔗 Updates to Affiliate Permissions & Product Quality Thresholds

TikTok Shop has updated affiliate permissions for Official Accounts and introduced new affiliate product quality thresholds based on Voice of Customer (VoC) performance.
Official Accounts will no longer support affiliate creator permissions. Sellers and creators who want to continue promoting affiliate products may need to unbind and transition accounts based on current follower thresholds and account type eligibility.
Additionally, affiliate product eligibility is now evaluated using the VoC Index instead of Negative Review Rate (NRR). Products must maintain a VoC Index below 1.5 to qualify for affiliate programs, while products with a VoC Index above 2.5 may become disqualified from affiliate eligibility.
Sellers can monitor VoC Index performance directly in Seller Center through the Voice of the Customer page.
For more information, see our Affiliate Marketing Policy.

📊 Invalid Seller Rejection Rate (ISRR) Enforcement Begins

We have launched the Invalid Seller Rejection Rate (ISRR) tracking to measure aftersales rejection accuracy across refund, return/refund, replacement, and exchange requests.
Sellers with an ISRR above the current 30% threshold may receive warning notifications or temporary platform-managed review support for refund-only requests. ISRR performance refreshes weekly.
Sellers are encouraged to carefully review aftersales requests before rejecting them and monitor ISRR performance in Seller Center under Analytics > Post Purchase > Aftersales Governance.
See our Requirements for Invalid Seller Rejection Rate (ISRR) Metric for more information.

📥 Perfect Order List Download Launch

TikTok Shop has launched a new Perfect Order List download feature in Seller Center to improve visibility into qualifying Perfect Orders and Account Health Rating (AHR) performance.
Sellers can now view and download qualifying Perfect Orders directly from the Account Health Rating page in Seller Center. A Perfect Order remains a completed order without violations, returns, refunds, cancellations, defects, or similar issues.
This update is intended to improve transparency around how Perfect Orders contribute to Account Health Rating (AHR) performance. For more information, see our AHR Requirements.

📄 Listing-Level Documentation Requirements for Certain Product Categories

TikTok Shop is introducing listing-level compliance documentation requirements for certain baby, children’s, health, and device products. After a 45-day preparation period from notice receipt, sellers must submit required compliance documents for every individual product listing before listings can go live.
Impacted categories include select baby care, children’s safety, travel gear, supplements, and medical device products. Required documentation may include Children’s Product Certificates (CPCs), CPSC-approved lab reports, FDA 510(k) documentation, FURLS registration, and other product-specific compliance records.
Sellers received communications regarding this update on April 21.
Check out the following product requirements for more information: Baby and Maternity Products, Sports and Outdoor Recreation Products, and Medical Devices and Medical Supplies.

🎥 LIVE Selling Warning Updates

TikTok Shop has introduced new warning messages during LIVE setup to help sellers identify products with violations that may negatively impact livestream performance.
Sellers may now see pop-up warnings and ongoing LIVE console alerts when adding products with violations to a livestream. These messages will identify impacted products, explain potential traffic impacts, and provide sellers the option to review violation details or remove affected products from the LIVE setup.
This update improves visibility for sellers and does not introduce new enforcement rules.

⚽ FIFA World Cup 26™ IP Protection Guidance

TikTok Shop has released updated intellectual property (IP) guidance ahead of the FIFA World Cup 26™ to help sellers and creators avoid trademark, copyright, counterfeit, and false association violations.
Official FIFA World Cup 26™ marks, logos, slogans, and related assets are protected and may only be used by authorized rights holders and licensees. Sellers and creators must not imply official affiliation, use protected FIFA IP on products, or run unauthorized promotions, giveaways, or commercial campaigns involving FIFA branding or tournament tickets.
Sellers and creators are encouraged to proactively review listings, storefronts, hashtags, and promotional materials for unauthorized FIFA references, logos, slogans, or “official/licensed” claims.

↩️ Buyer-Fault Return Cost Responsibility Updates

TikTok Shop is updating return cost responsibilities so sellers will assume full cost control for buyer-fault returns, including eligible return shipping fees and platform-mandated returnless refunds.
This update is intended to provide sellers with greater visibility and control over return-related operational costs while encouraging improvements to listing accuracy, fulfillment quality, and customer experience. TikTok Shop also plans to introduce an optional seller insurance tool to help manage unexpected return cost increases.
Sellers are encouraged to review return settings, identify common buyer-fault return reasons, and optimize product listings to help reduce avoidable returns. Check out our Requirements for Managing Returns, Refunds, and Replacements for more details.

🚚 In-Transit Order Management Updates for Enforced Sellers

TikTok Shop has updated how in-transit orders are managed for sellers deactivated due to severe violations, including counterfeit, prohibited product, and Significantly Not as Described (SNAD) violations.
Orders marked as “In Transit” may now be automatically canceled after the estimated delivery timeline passes. Customers may also receive instant refund approvals for eligible orders from deactivated sellers.
Sellers will not be compensated for canceled orders, and all associated refund costs remain the seller’s responsibility. For more information, refer to our Order Auto-Cancellation Policy.

⭐ Seller Review Report Tool (SRRT) Expansion

TikTok Shop is transitioning eligible sellers to the Seller Review Report Tool (SRRT) to streamline reporting and review removal for invalid or malicious feedback.
Eligible sellers can now report reviews directly through Seller Center by submitting appeals and supporting evidence within the SRRT workflow. This update is intended to reduce resolution times, improve seller access to review reporting, and help protect Shop Performance Score (SPS) metrics from unfair reviews.
For more details, check out our guide on How To Remove Invalid Or Incorrect Customer Reviews.

🪙 Coins & Money Collectibles Expansion

TikTok Shop expanding the Coins & Money Collectibles category, allowing additional product types within this invite-only category.
Newly permitted products include graded circulating US coins and currency, ungraded non-circulating US coins and currency, bullion, non-circulating foreign coins and currency, as well as related publications and supplies.
Sellers and creators must accurately represent collectible items, provide full visual disclosure, and avoid investment-related or financial gain claims, including guarantees of future value or appreciation.
Check out our Collectibles Requirements for more details.

✨Policy Pulse (March 2026)✨

Creator Updates
🔗 Policy Update: Creator Binding Limits
  • To improve marketplace compliance, we are introducing updates that clarify how shop and creator account permissions, as well as binding limits, are affected by enforcement actions. If a seller's shop is deactivated, the e-commerce permissions of associated creators are also blocked. Shops whose bound creator accounts have received an e-commerce ban within the last 180 days may have limits on binding additional marketing creator accounts.
  • For more information, refer to our Creator Bind Eligibility and Requirements.
🎁 Giveaway & Promotions Policy
  • We have enhanced controls for promotions for Gift with Purchase (GWP) to address emerging risks and strengthen platform trust. GWP involving cash, vehicles, or high-value electronics will be rejected. For low-value GWP or Buy One Get One (BOGO) promotions, creators who don't use TikTok Shop promotion tools must include a fulfillment disclaimer.
  • For more information, refer to our Giveaway and Promotions Policy.
🛡️ Important Updates to TikTok Shop Community Safety Policy Enforcement
Seller Updates
📈 Update: Understanding Order Volume Limit (OVL) for probation sellers
  • Order Volume Limit (OVL) for some sellers in probation is now dynamic, ranging from OVL 1 to 10 instead of having a fixed OVL of 10. This does not include sellers in the Beginner tier or above. Sellers with an OVL between 1 and 10 are encouraged to review Order Volume Limit (OVL) in Policy Center.
  • For more information about Shop Probation Program, refer to our policy here.
🍎 Food & Beverage Listing Update: Ingredient Disclosure (New Listings Only)
  • We are introducing a new listing requirement for Food & Beverage products. For new product listings only, sellers must clearly disclose complete and accurate ingredient information in the Product Detail page (PDP). The ingredient list must be complete and accurate, listed in descending order by weight, displayed in clear text on the PDP (not only in images), and must match the physical product label. This requirement applies to all new Food & Beverage listings (existing listings are not impacted at this time).
  • For more information, refer to our Product Listing Policy.
⚖️ Fair Pricing: Increased Transparency on Listing Requirements
  • We're strengthening transparency around pricing expectations on TikTok Shop to help ensure a consistent and trustworthy shopping experience. Sellers are expected to align with our Fair Pricing Policy when creating and managing listings. This includes accurate SKU pricing, no misleading price structuring, and accurate & transparent pricing.
🏥 Health Listings: Documentation Requests
  • Sellers may receive requests to submit documentation for specific Health listings due to customer satisfaction issues. Requests are sent via direct seller notification (email), and sellers are required to submit documentation within 40 business days via a provided form. Submitted documents are reviewed within 7 business days.
  • For more information, refer to our Dietary Supplements Requirements
🎱 New Requirements for Breaks
  • We have introduced new requirements for breaks to strengthen platform trust and improve buyer protection. All break purchases must result in a physical product being shipped to the buyer. Each buyer must receive at least one product for every break purchase, and products shipped must match the break category. Sellers must avoid presenting breaks as guaranteed-value opportunities, prizes, or investments.
  • For more information, refer to our Gambling Policy and Collectibles Requirements
💻 Virtual Goods Category Launch
  • TikTok Shop is launching the Virtual Goods category, enabling approved sellers to list digital products such as software, games, and digital subscriptions. Examples include software and applications, digital video games, in-game content, game subscriptions, digital service subscriptions, virtual gift cards, and virtual event tickets. Access to sell Virtual Goods is invite-only.
  • For more information, refer to our Virtual Goods Requirements
📦 Activate Backorder and Custom Handling Time Features in 3 Easy Steps
  • Eligible sellers can now directly activate Backorder or Custom Handling Time features. Starting March 4, these features can be activated in Seller Center (eligibility required). Backorder requires Shop Performance Score (SPS) ≥ 4.0, while Custom Handling Time requires SPS ≥ 3.5, plus other criteria including minimal negative feedback on timeliness.
  • For more information, refer to our Custom Orders Policy.
🔊 VoC-Based Fulfillment Quality Control Replaces NBFR Enforcement
  • To improve the customer experience, we're updating how we enforce fulfillment quality, specifically addressing delivered but not received (DNR), missing, wrong, and damaged item deliveries. Non-Buyer Fault Return and Refund Rate (NBFR) will only be used for Shop Performance Score (SPS) assessment and not product level enforcements. Voice of Customer (VoC) represents customer feedback regarding a product, service, or overall fulfillment experience.
📊 Introducing ISRR: A New Way to Track Aftersales Quality
  • The new Invalid Seller Rejection Rate (ISRR) metric measures aftersales request rejection accuracy. ISRR measures the number of unsuccessful aftersales disputes against the number of seller-reviewed aftersales requests. Sellers should aim to maintain an ISRR of 20% or lower, with the threshold initially set at 30% for familiarization.
  • For more information, refer to our Requirements for Invalid Seller Rejection Rate (ISRR) Metric
💰 Initiate Partial Refunds for Return or Refund Requests
  • Starting March 24, sellers can issue partial refunds for return or refund requests. This new feature gives sellers more flexibility to offer partial refunds without requiring product returns for minor issues. When sellers receive a return or refund request, they can issue a partial refund offer instead of requiring a full return.
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💬 Platform Supported Customer Chat Feature
  • If a customer inquiry remains unanswered for an extended period of time, we'll give them the option to connect directly with TikTok Shop's support team. This helps resolve issues quickly and keeps customer satisfaction high.
  • During the initial rollout of this feature, sellers may see temporary inconsistencies in their 24-Hour Response Rate. TikTok Shop is providing an extended grace period for all sellers to adjust to these changes, so no penalties will be applied during this transition period.
Coming in April 2026
⏰ Late Dispatch Rate (LDR) Enforcement Resumes on April 6 PST
  • We will restart enforcement for Late Dispatch Rate (LDR) on April 6, 2026. Regular orders must be dispatched within 2 business days of "Awaiting Shipment." If the seller's Late Dispatch Rate is greater than 10%, enforcement actions may be applied. Sellers are evaluated for their LDR over the last 4 weeks.
  • For more information about fulfillment Service Level Agreements (SLA), refer to our Fulfillment Policy.
🔔 Callout: Prohibited Weight Management Claims (GLP-1 References)
  • We’ve added new examples to clarify restrictions on weight loss and health-related claims related to GLP-1 medications. Creators must not claim or imply a product "contains GLP-1", is “activated by GLP-1,” or position products as equivalent or comparable to prescription drugs (for example, “works like GLP-1” or similar statements).
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✨NEW✨ TikTok Shop Academy CoursesLearn with @tiktokshopacademy about 'How to avoid misleading content': • Your Before & After Looks Too Perfect? That's a Violation • Your Product Attribute vs. Your Video: Match or Get Banned • Which Misleading Claims Will Get Your Shop an MFE Violation?

✨Policy Pulse (February 2026)✨

Creator Updates🔗 Seller & Creator Binding Limits Policy
  • An individual or business seller account that has passed the probation program, and does not have any severe violations, can be bound to up to 1 Official Account and 4 Marketing Accounts. Sellers may send up to 10 Marketing binding invitations within a 180-day period. After linking to an Official or Marketing Account, sellers must wait 24 hours before unbinding. Sellers may unbind from an Official Account up to three times. For more details, please refer to: Guidelines for Creator Binds.
📣 LIVE Giveaways Reminder: Use the Official Giveaway Tool for LIVE Giveaways
  • To ensure a safe and fair experience for everyone, we want to remind creators that all LIVE giveaways must be conducted using TikTok’s official Giveaway Tool. Offline methods such as lucky spins, wheels, draws, or other game-style winner selection methods are not allowed, even if the giveaway is free.
  • ❗ Important Reminders:
    • Giveaways must be completely free to enter.
    • If you are offering purchase-based promotions (e.g., BOGO or conditional incentives), these must be clearly listed and compliant with our Promotions Policy.
    • Lucky spins, wheels, draws, or similar mechanics, cannot be used outside of the official Giveaway Tool.
Seller Updates🎉 One is Better Than Two! Dynamic Settlement and Reserve Policy Launch
  • The new Dynamic Settlement and Reserve Policy unifies the Dynamic Settlement Policy and Reserve Policy into a single, transparent framework for fund governance. Sellers will now only receive a single, monthly, email that captures both their Settlement Tier and Reserve Level. Shop Performance Score (SPS) will be the only performance metric used to determine a seller's settlement tier and reserve level. Seller Fault Cancellation Rate (SFCR) and Late Delivery Rate (LDR) will no longer be used for this purpose.
💬 Customer Inquiry? Respond Quickly!
  • Reminder: Sellers should aim to respond to customer-initiated chats within 24 hours. To meet service standards, make sure your seller's 24-Hour Response Rate is at least 90%. Review our Guide To The 24-Hour Response Rate Metric for tips and examples.
🧸 Avoid Misleading Visual Effects in Product Images
  • Product images and content must accurately represent the actual product being sold. Sellers should ensure that product detail page (PDP) information—including images, descriptions, and key product attributes—is accurate, consistent, and not misleading.
  • Listings may be flagged if images or descriptions imply dimensional, visual, or material effects (such as a 3D effect) that the actual product does not have. Listings may also be flagged if rendered or AI-generated images do not accurately reflect the product’s real features or appearance.
  • Review our Product Quality Policy for more information.
🎁 Surprise Sets — Maximum Bidding Price Increase, Marketing Requirements, and Prohibited Claims
  • The maximum bidding price for surprise sets has been increased to $5000. In addition, surprise sets remain invite-only and restricted to eligible Collectibles categories.
  • For more information, refer to our Collectibles Requirements.
Coming in March 2026📦 VoC-Based Fulfillment Quality Control Replaces NBFR Enforcement
  • Starting March 10, 2026 (PST), Non-Buyer Fault Return and Refund Rate (NBFR) will only be used for Shop Performance Score (SPS) assessment and not product level enforcements.
  • Voice of Customer (VoC) represents customer feedback regarding a product, service, or overall fulfillment experience. With the use of VoC, we will only track fulfillment issues sellers can control, and use fulfillment quality VoC for product enforcement.
  • This is to improve how we enforce fulfillment quality, specifically addressing delivered but not received (DNR), missing, wrong, and damaged item deliveries.
    • Enforcement criteria: VoC will measure criteria for fulfillment quality enforcements, by tracking product complaints from customers. Products which have twice as many complaints (or more), compared to the average for the product category, will be enforced through a 24-hour period of limited visibility on the platform. The criteria will be monitored daily based on performance for the previous 7 days.
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Learn with @tiktokshopacademy✨NEW✨ TikTok Shop Academy Courses
  • Launched a new "Become a Policy Pro" menu under "Courses" on TikTok Shop Academy that will host policy educational articles.
External Webinars

✨Creator Policy Pulse (January 2026)✨

🚚 Fulfillment Updates: What to Know Going Into 2026
Several fulfillment updates were made in January to clarify dispatch expectations, order handling, and tracking requirements.
What changed:
  • Orders must now be updated to "In Transit" within 2 business days
  • Orders not updated to "Awaiting Collection" within 5 business days will be canceled automatically
  • Counterfeit tracking details and failure to fulfill orders will be subject to stricter enforcement actions
You can use fulfillment tools such as custom handling time, backorders, or pre-orders to help manage dispatch timelines when needed. For more information, refer to our Fulfillment Policy.Also, The Fulfillment Analytics page has moved within the Seller Center and is now called Fulfillment Performance.
🔄 More Flexibility with Partial Refunds on ReturnsYou can now issue partial refunds for eligible returned items after inspection.
This is helpful when:
  • Items are returned damaged or heavily used
  • Parts or components are missing
  • Products cannot be resold in original condition
Partial refunds apply to buyer-fault return reasons and give sellers more control when handling non-sellable returns. Learn more in our Order Cancellation, Return, and Refund Policy.
⚙️ Seller-Configured Refunds Just Got SmarterNew tools for returnless refunds and auto-approved refunds are now available.
You can set rules based on:
  • Refund amount limits
  • Frequency limits
  • Return reasons
  • Product categories
  • Effective periods
Once enabled, your rules take priority—giving you more flexibility while keeping the customer experience smooth. For more information, refer to our Guide to Managing Returns, Refunds and Replacements.
💬 Improve Customer Messaging with Service AnalyticsA new Service Analytics page is now available in Seller Center to help you understand how customer conversations impact performance.
You can:
  • Track response speed and coverage
  • Monitor satisfaction trends
  • See how chats connect to conversions
These insights help sellers respond faster, improve service quality, and drive better outcomes. Refer to our Guide to Service Analytics Page for instructions on how to access this feature.
🖼️ Clearer Guidance on Accurate Product Image SizingWe’ve introduced clearer guidance to ensure product images accurately reflect true size and scale. This is especially important for categories like Home Decor, Toys, and Festive & Party Supplies.
Images should:
  • Show realistic proportions
  • Avoid exaggerated dimensions or misleading backgrounds
Listings that don’t meet these standards may receive warnings and, if uncorrected, enforcement actions. For more information, refer to our Product Listing: What You Need to Know.
📄 Dynamic Settlement and Reserve PolicyWe launched a Dynamic Settlement and Reserve Policy, combining two policies into one simplified framework.
As part of this update:
  • Sellers will now receive one monthly email showing both their Settlement Tier and Reserve Level
  • Monthly performance assessments will be based on Shop Performance Score (SPS) only
This change simplifies how settlement and reserve evaluations are structured and communicated.
🚁 Drone & UAS Sales: FCC Compliance ReminderUnmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) more commonly known as drones and drone parts that use radio technology, must comply with US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requirements.
Effective December 22, 2025, certain foreign-made drones and components are restricted, though previously authorized device models remain permitted.Please accurately categorize and describe these products. TikTok Shop may request additional information to verify compliance. For more details, refer to our Electronic Products Policy.
🎬 Creator Corner: Start 2026 StrongThere are no major creator policy updates this month—and that’s a good thing. New Year, Not New Rules! Our main priority is helping you create high-quality, compliant, and effective videos to promote products.
To help with that, check out Your 2026 Content Success Guide for practical tips, such as:
  • Accurately showcase products so viewers know what to expect
  • Create original engaging videos and livestreams
  • Avoid misleading claims, pricing confusion, or unrealistic results promises
  • Keep content compliant, authentic, and violation-free year-round
In addition, check out the Video Pre-Check Tool Guide to scan shoppable videos for potential policy risks and get suggestions before publishing.

✨Creator Policy Pulse (October 2025)✨

💰 Our Black Friday and Cyber Monday Campaign has launched!This year, the peak buying season and campaign benefits run from November 12 to December 1, 2025. If you've already registered, yay and welcome! If you haven't, check out the criteria and sign up!
Here's a roundup of all that's new from October. Ready? Let's go!
👏 Video Pre-Check Tool: Now Expanded to Include IPR PoliciesThe Video Pre-Check Tool’s capabilities have been upgraded and the newest version now covers key IPR-related policies across both product listing and content dimensions. Counterfeit Products, Misleading Promotion, and Trademark Infringement highlight some of the newly expanded areas under this broader coverage, among others.
Pro tip: Run your video through the Video Pre-Check Tool to get policy-risk alerts and resolution guidance within 10 minutes.
🗺️ Access the Video Pre-Check Tool in multiple ways:
  • Creator entrance (4 Options):
  • Creator Center > TikTok Shop toolkit > Video Pre-Check
  • Creator Center > Videos tab > Video Pre-Check
  • Creator Center > Creator Health Rating > Video Pre-Check
  • Creator Center > Products > Add a Product > Video Pre-Check
Learn more about this epic tool by reviewing our How to Use the Video Pre-Check Tool guide.
📚 We've Made Creator Policies Easier to NavigatePreviously, the Creator Enforcement Policy was included within the Creator Health Rating (CHR) Policy. Based on feedback that the difference between the two was unclear, we have now separated them. The Creator Enforcement Policy is now a standalone policy, while CHR-related content remains in the Creator Health Rating article.
📌 Key Improvements
  1. The CHR Policy explains how creators earn or lose points based on content quality and compliance. It also outlines milestone-based enforcement actions that remain part of the CHR framework.
  2. The Creator Enforcement Policy provides detailed guidance on enforcement procedures, including:
    • When enforcement actions occur
    • How creators are notified
    • Withholding of commissions
    • Affiliate Creator product eligibility
Go ahead, take a tour of both policies and stick to the rules for success during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and beyond!

✨Creator Policy Pulse (September 2025)✨

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✨Welcome to Policy Pulse, your monthly roundup of the latest TikTok Shop policy updates.✨
Follow us on @TikTokShopAcademy for more policy tips! 🔥
Catch up on all the highlights! Scroll to the end to revisit updates from earlier months and see what you’ve missed.
💰 Black Friday and Cyber Monday are just around the corner! This year, the peak buying season and campaign benefits run from November 12 to December 1, 2025. We'll be sharing the campaign eligibility requirements soon, so keep a lookout for them!
Clearer Guidelines on Health-Related ContentWe heard you! We have refreshed our policy guide on health-related content with clearer guidelines to help you avoid those pesky violations while promoting wellness products. Click here to read more.
🚨 What’s inside:
  • Clearer rules on medical and weight/muscle management claims
  • Content standards and best practices for safe, responsible wellness promotion
Updates to Misleading Content PolicyWe have updated our policy on what constitutes misleading content. Policy concepts that were refreshed include:
  • Before-and-after comparisons
  • Promises of exaggerated performance
  • Claims that go against scientific theory
  • Wellness claims
  • Disclaimers
Check out our guide on Misleading Content for more information.

✨Creator Policy Pulse (August 2025)✨

Policy Update: Guidelines for Responsible Health-Related Content📣 We heard you, understanding how to sell health-related products is tricky. In response, we compiled some helpful guidance. The intent is to offer education resources for health-related claims, ahead of stricter enforcements starting September 13, 2025. TikTok’s updated Community Guidelines now provide clearer direction on risky weight and muscle management behavior. For more details, see our refreshed article: Guidelines for Responsible Health-Related Content.🚨 What’s inside:
  • Clearer rules on medical and weight/muscle management claims
  • Content standards and best practices for safe, responsible wellness promotion
📌 Goal: Strengthen protections, ensure consistency, and promote a safer shopping experience
Policy Update: Creator Bind LimitsWe’ve simplified creator bind limits. Previously, limits varied by shop type (individual vs. business) and probation status. Now, the creator bind limit is 1 official creator bind and 4 marketing creator binds for all sellers. For more details, please refer to our updated Guidelines For Creator Binds.
Capturing Risky Trends - Content Editing Tactics to AvoidReminder: This policy update was launched in July, and covers Important Updates on Content Editing Tactics to Avoid. The update covers prohibited editing methods such as layered videos and misleading frame insertion. Any attempt to conceal policy violations through video editing is strictly prohibited and may lead to content removal, Creator Health Rating impact, or permanent loss of e-commerce permissions.
👉 Common Violations Include:
  • Layered Videos: Adding top/bottom bars or unrelated content to hide prohibited content
  • Frame Insertion: Splicing irrelevant frames (e.g., “sandwich frames”) to bypass detection
  • Format Disguise: Altering aspect ratios, color layers, or overlays to conceal violations
For more information, please refer to our Best Practices for Promotional Content article.
Guidance & Moderation Update: Guidance on Languages (Video & Live Content Only) We have updated moderation guidelines to eliminate violations related to different languages used by creators. As you grow and succeed, please remember to use English, Spanish, or Arabic in short-form videos and LIVEs when targeting the US market.
These are the most widely spoken and widely understood languages among US customers. Sticking to these languages can significantly improve content discoverability and viewer engagement.
For creators broadcasting from other regions into the US, please use one of the three languages or provide a voiceover/subtitles/captions that use one of the three languages.
Updates to Moderation GuidelinesThe following will no longer be considered violations:
  1. Product packaging or product text: Languages other than Spanish, English, and Arabic on the packaging or the product itself is now allowed.
  2. Currency and regional text: When shown alongside USD ($), currency symbols from SEA, UAE, UK, or China, as well as any text from SEA or China, are now acceptable.
  3. Filming and content elements: Any languages appearing in the filming environment, captions, video descriptions, or hashtags are allowed.
⚠️ Creator pages that use other languages without accompanying context in English, Spanish, or Arabic may experience reduced visibility in the US market.

✨Creator Policy Pulse (July 2025)✨

Update to Age & ID Guidelines:TikTok Shop requires a mandatory age and identity verification for all Affiliate and Marketing creators. This update is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure platform integrity and compliance across all creator channels.
🔒 Key Changes:
  • Age confirmation will be required upon registration for access to the TikTok Shop Product Marketplace.
  • Identity verification will be required to maintain access and to be able to withdraw commissions.
For additional details on acceptable documentation, please refer to our What You Need to Know before Becoming a TikTok Shop Creator guide and Creator Eligibility Policy
⚠️ Please note: These verification requirements do not apply to official shop creators.
Capturing Risky Trends - Content Editing Tactics to Avoid
Updated guidance on Content Editing Tactics to Avoid is now live on TikTok Shop Academy, covering prohibited editing methods (e.g., Layered Videos, Misleading Frame Insertion). Any attempt to hide policy violations through video editing is strictly prohibited and may result in content removal, Creator Health Rating impact, or permanent loss of E-Commerce permissions.
👉 Common Violations Include:
  • Layered Videos: Adding top/bottom bars or unrelated content to hide prohibited content.
  • Frame Insertion: Splicing irrelevant frames (e.g., sandwich frames) to bypass detection.
  • Format Disguise: Altering aspect ratios, color layers, or overlays to conceal violations
For more information, refer to our Best Practices for Promotional Content article.

✨Creator Policy Pulse (June 2025)✨

☀️🍦🍉 Campaign Season is Here Again!To enroll in all TikTok Shop Campaigns, including Deals For You Days and Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you must meet the following creator eligibility requirements:
  • Have a Promotion Performance Score of 3.5 or higher.
  • Have more than 150 points in your Creator Health Rating or fewer than 12 violation points.
Do Promotion Performance Score and Creator Health Rating sound familiar? Here's why!
🐝 Discover the New Creator Health RatingIn May, you were invited to discover the new features of Creator Health Rating, which is the new and improved Account Standing. With Creator Health Rating, you have more flexibility to address and resolve violations:
  • Creator Health Rating is displayed on a 0-1000 scale. Unlike Account Standing where violations add points, Creator Health Rating deducts points for violations.
  • The higher the rating is, the healthier the account is.
  • You can earn up to 10 bonus points weekly from eligible content (5 points) and eligible orders (5 points).
Be sure to click in for your official Creator Health Rating, coming to you soon! Stay clear of violations. Get creative and start promoting!
✅ On your app: Go to your Creator Health Rating page.
Prohibited Content: Nudity and Sexualized BehaviorTo maintain a respectful and inclusive community, content featuring nudity or sexualized behavior is not allowed—regardless of intent or audience. Instead, focus on promoting products in a clear, family-friendly, and non-sexual manner.
For more information, refer to our Prohibited Content for Platform Safety article.
📈🌸 Launched in May! Promotion Performance ScoreThe new Promotion Performance Score officially launched in Creator Center on May 1. The Promotion Performance Score reflects the quality and trust that customers have in your promotions. It is an easy way to track the effectiveness of your product selection and promotional content.
Since the official launch, you might have seen these three updates:
  1. You may access your Promotion Performance Score at the top of the Creator Center home page.
  2. Your Promotion Performance Score may be shown to sellers and customers so that they know that you can be trusted as an advocate and partner.
✅ On your app: Go to your Promotion Performance Score page.

✨Creator Policy Pulse (May 2025)

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Affiliate Marketing Policy Update 🛍️ Did you know? Affiliate Marketing is a great way for creators to earn commissions by partnering with sellers. A key element to successful Affiliate Marketing is selling the right products.
To help maintain good product quality, TikTok Shop has updated the Affiliate Marketing Policy to include additional criteria for products. Specifically, qualifying products will not have policy violations related to intellectual property and fair trading and must have a low negative review rate.
Misleading Functionality and Effect PolicySee how we tell the truth? Very demure! We made updates to the Content Policy to ensure customers have a good experience when purchasing from creators and sellers. The new criteria requires:
Accurate PricesYou must ensure all content accurately reflects the product being advertised. The update also clarifies that the use of false or misleading coupon codes is prohibited.
And it also prohibits:
Exaggerated PromisesWe added "effect or price" to exaggerated promises in the Content Policy along with additional examples of prohibited promotions:
  • “This is the lowest/cheapest/best price you'll find for this product on TikTok Shop.”
  • “Buy this product using the link below for the cheapest price you’ll find anywhere!”
Make sure to follow the @TikTokShopAcademy channel for tips and tricks on staying up to date!

✨Creator Policy Pulse (April 2025)

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Promotion Performance Score 📈
The Promotion Performance Score (PPS) reflects the quality and trust that customers have in your promotions. It's an easy way to track the impact and appeal of your product selection and promotional content.
Improve your PPS by selecting highly rated products and creating high-quality promotional content that follows TikTok Shop policies. In May, you may also experience some changes to your Promotion Performance Score:
  • Product and shop ratings may be simplified into recommendation tags when displayed to you.
  • Your Promotion Performance Score may be shared with sellers.
  • You may be able to access your Promotion Performance Score at the top of the Creator Center home page.
For New CreatorsIdentity Verification Exemptions 🆔Previously, all creators needed to pass identity verification to start any promotion, but now, we're giving verification exemptions when creators promote from bound shops. The exemptions are listed below:
  • Marketing creators will only need to complete their identity verification and meet a minimum requirement of 1,000 followers when accessing the TikTok Shop Product Marketplace to earn commissions.
  • Official Shop creators are exempt from the creator identity verification process.
More information about different types of creators can be found in this guide.
Creator Pilot Program✈️New Affiliate and Marketing creators* — with fewer than 5,000 followers — will automatically begin a 30-day Creator Pilot Program. This program allows promising creators, who have yet to meet traditional requirements for full posting access, to begin monetizing their content on TikTok Shop.
During this time, creators may experience limited product and publishing capabilities.
*Creators who've accepted a marketing bind after April 29 will only be enrolled in the Creator Pilot Program when you apply for access to the TikTok Shop Product Marketplace.What's New In May? Creator Health Rating💖Starting May 5, creators can explore a preview of the Creator Health Rating page. You can find it by following these steps:
  1. Go to Creator Center
  2. Navigate to Account Standing
  3. Click on Preview your Creator Health Rating
It's packed with exciting improvements and a brand-new look. It will be ready to replace the Account Standing page in June.
Find more information about the new page in the Creator Health Rating guide.

✨Creator Policy Pulse (March 2025)✨

Exploring in Gray Areas on How to Promote Products AccuratelyThis update to our Best Practices for Promotional Content is a simple one: Promote your products accurately by ensuring all attributes of the promoted product in your content match the listed product. The only acceptable difference is the 🎨 color of the product. This also means showing the actual physical product instead of using stock footage and illustrations.
New Examples for Redirecting TrafficTrue or false: Are you making a 👉 redirect traffic 👈 violation if you point viewers to follow you on your social media content?
Find out if you got this right in our updated guide on How to Avoid Redirecting Traffic. We've added new detailed examples and specific keywords to avoid when pointing viewers to different channels!
ICYMI: Auctions Must Use TikTok's Countdown Bidding Feature
Gambling activities and products are strictly prohibited on TikTok Shop. To ensure a fair and secure experience, any auction activities during your livestream must be conducted using TikTok's ⏳ Countdown Bidding Feature. Find other ways to you can incentivize viewers in our Best Practices for Gamification Content.
Dearest Marketing and Official Shop Creators,We've updated our unbinding criteria for 🖇️ creator binds. We are limiting the number of times you can unbind from a seller. Creators with 12 or more violation points or recent severe violations will not have the option to unbind from a seller. You can see your total violations and information for each violation on your Account Standing page.
App Updates to...⭐ Reduce Violations
With the Video Pre-Check Tool, you can identify potential content issues before you post. You're allowed at least five pre-checks per day. Make full use of the suggestions provided to make corrections or optimize your content. More FAQs in our guide on How to Use the Video Pre-Check Tool.
⭐ Address Violations TimelyWe've moved your e-commerce livestream violations from the LIVE Center to your Account Standing page under the General tab. This makes it more convenient for you to address both TikTok Shop violations and livestream violations related to TikTok Community Guidelines.
What's New in April?Your Product Selection Score (PSS) is getting a makeover, with a new name and expanded scope! From April, your new Promotion Performance Score (PPS) will also cover the quality of the content you upload. This is in addition to the quality of the shops and products you promote (which the PSS currently covers). We hope this upgrade will help you identify your low-performing videos and LIVEs more easily, so you can make quick improvements to your content to better serve your viewers!
But why wait till the PPS is launched to explore it? You can preview your new PPS now on your mobile device! Check out our Guide to Promotion Performance Score (PPS) more details and FAQs.

✨Creator Policy Pulse (February 2025)✨

Going LIVE in 3, 2, 1... But wait! Do you know about the latest policies and features launched in February that can help you with a smooth LIVE experience?
Check out more videos on TikTok @TikTokShopAcademy
Fix Non-Engaging Content Violations📚 Read: How to Create High-Quality Videos and LivestreamsSave yourself the heartache if viewers aren't loving your content. Try adding more dynamic elements like human interaction and product demos in your LIVE. Apply these tips to keep your videos and livestreams engaging!
Spot Potential Video Violations💡 Try In App: Video Pre-Check ToolYou'll love this next feature launch for your short videos. Simply upload the video you have created, and within minutes, you'll receive alerts about possible risks, along with suggestions to correct and optimize your content. Get more tips on how you can avoid accumulating violation points here.
Dollars and Sentiments📚 Read: How to Avoid Misleading ContentHere's the deal bargain hunters. Viewers want to know the exact price of the product and everything that's in the fine print. You can give a higher price estimate than the actual listed price of the product, but never a lower estimate.

✨Creator Policy Pulse (January 2025)✨

To our returning TikTok refugees, welcome back! Thank you for staying with us on TikTok.
For our new creators, get to know these policies as you explore Creator Center to reduce (and remove) your violation points.
But first, check out these four new videos on our @TikTokShopAcademy page! Stick around for more of these helpful policy tips on your FYP.
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Violation SnapshotClick on any of your violation tickets now and you will see the timestamps and a snippet of your LIVE or short video where the violation was made.
Creator QuizThe creator quiz is a chance to reduce your violation points. Get a perfect score to remove a violation point. More details about the quiz here.
Tips to Avoid Unoriginal ContentCheck out this guide on Best Practices for Promotional Content for tips to create original content.

✨Creator Policy Pulse (December 2024)✨

New Personalized Account Health ReportClick into your Personalized Account Health Report (PAHR) to start forming your game plan for this year. Check out this guide on Creator Health Rating Overview and Requirements for more information on how to access your PAHR.
Qualify to Post More VideosAdd getting 5000 followers to your 2025 bingo card. Creators with 5000 or more followers as of January 7, 2025 will now be eligible to post more than 5 product-linked videos. Creators who have met the 5000-follower milestone before January 7, 2025 may continue to post unlimited product-linked videos as per usual. For more information, check out this guide What You Need to Know before Becoming a TikTok Shop Creator.
New Policy GuidesWe've released the following policy guides to help you navigate our content policies!
🎬 Watch: How to Avoid Redirecting TrafficLike, follow, and cart out within TikTok Shop! Safe transactions for your viewers is of the utmost importance when they make their orders through your promotions.
🎬 Watch: Best Practices for Gamification ContentPeek behind the curtains and learn the do's and don'ts of adding gamification elements to your content.
🎬 Watch: Understanding Creator Violation PointsNew year, new you. Here's how you can lose that violation bloat when promoting your favourite products on TikTok Shop in 2025.
📚 Read: How to Create High-Quality Videos and LivestreamsCheck out these tips to rizz up your livestreams and short videos without any expensive equipment!

✨Creator Policy Pulse (November 2024)✨

Product Selection Risk Reminder Before you link a product to your content, you might notice this nifty reminder to review your posts for potential issues before they go live. Check out our Creator Enforcement Policy for more details on why this is important!
New Policy GuidesWe've released the following policy guides to help you navigate our content policies!
🎬 Watch: Best Practices For Promotional ContentCheck out the videos here for top tips on how you can ensure your promotional content is accurate, relevant, original, and respects intellectual property rights.
📚 Read: 10 Tips to Avoid Misleading ContentWondering what constitutes "misleading content"? This comprehensive guide explains just that and what you can do to avoid having your content classified as "misleading".
🎬 Watch: How to Create Interactive Livestreams and Video ContentKeep those views coming! Get a quick refresher on best practices on creating dynamic and engaging content.
🎬 Watch: Health-Related Content Do's and Don'ts Promoting health products is a huge responsibility—your viewers are putting their trust in you! Dive into common medical and weight management content issues faced by creators and how to avoid them.
🎬 Watch: Skincare-Related Content Do's and Don'tsCheck out our daily routine for skincare product promotions to keep those violation flare-ups at bay. Stay tuned to the Create Content section in our Policy Center for more product-specific creator tips!