Prohibited Items Policy
v1.0
1. Purpose
This Prohibited Items Policy ("Policy") defines categories of products and services that may not be listed, sold, advertised, or fulfilled through the Markovax marketplace ("Marketplace"). The Policy protects Customers, Vendors, payment partners, and Markovax itself from legal, financial, and reputational harm.
This Policy applies to all Vendors and forms part of the Vendor Agreement. Violations are grounds for immediate Listing removal, suspension, account termination, forfeiture of pending Payouts, and reporting to law enforcement and payment partners where required.
Unsure if your product qualifies? If you are not certain whether a Product is permitted, you must contact Markovax in writing at info@markovax.com and receive explicit written approval before listing it. When in doubt, ask first.
2. Strictly Prohibited Categories
The following categories are never permitted on the Marketplace under any circumstances. A single confirmed violation in these categories may result in immediate account termination.
🚫 Illegal Goods
🔫 Weapons
💊 Drugs & Controlled Substances
🚬 Tobacco & Vaping
🍷 Alcohol
🔞 Adult Content
🐾 Live Animals & Wildlife
☢️ Hazardous Materials
™️ Counterfeit Goods
💰 Financial Products
🎲 Gambling
💉 Unapproved Medical
🪪 Gov. Documents & IDs
☠️ Hate & Extremism
🕵️ Privacy-Violating Products
📉 MLM & Pyramid Schemes
⚠️ Recalled / Unsafe Products
🫀 Human Tissue & Organs
2.1 — Illegal Goods and Services
- Any item or service whose sale or possession is illegal in any jurisdiction where it would be sold, shipped, or used.
- Stolen goods, items obtained by fraud, or goods in violation of customs or import/export controls.
2.2 — Weapons and Related Items
- Firearms (assembled or in kit form), ammunition, and firearm parts.
- Explosives, fireworks (except where carrier-licensed), and incendiary devices.
- Knives marketed for tactical, military, or self-defense use. Decorative cutlery and standard kitchen knives are evaluated case-by-case.
- Stun guns, pepper spray, brass knuckles, and similar self-defense weapons where prohibited by applicable law.
- 3D-printable firearm files, blueprints, or assembly instructions.
2.3 — Drugs, Drug-Related Items, and Controlled Substances
- Illegal narcotics or psychotropic substances of any kind.
- Prescription medications of any type.
- Drug paraphernalia (bongs, pipes marketed for illegal use, etc.).
- Synthetic cannabinoids, "research chemicals," or any substance designed to evade controlled-substance laws.
- CBD and cannabis products: Strictly prohibited at launch. May be reviewed as a regulated category in the future, country-by-country, with appropriate licensing.
2.4 — Tobacco, Nicotine, and Vaping
- Cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and tobacco-related products.
- E-cigarettes, vape pens, e-liquids, and all related accessories.
- Nicotine pouches of any kind.
2.5 — Alcohol
- Alcoholic beverages of any kind.
- Permitted: Non-alcoholic drinkware, glassware, bar tools, and accessories are allowed.
2.6 — Adult / Sexual Content and Products
- Pornographic material in any format.
- Sexual services or escort services.
- Sex toys, intimate aids, and sexually-explicit novelty items.
- Adult-oriented apparel bearing explicit imagery.
2.7 — Live Animals, Animal Parts, and Endangered Species
- Live animals of any kind, including fish, insects, and reptiles.
- Animal parts, taxidermy, ivory, fur from endangered species, or products derived from any CITES-listed species.
- Hunting trophies of any kind.
2.8 — Hazardous Materials
- Flammable, explosive, radioactive, toxic, or corrosive materials.
- Compressed gases and pressurized aerosols, except as part of permitted consumer goods within carrier safety limits.
- Batteries and lithium-ion-powered devices outside standard consumer-electronics packaging approved by carriers.
- Asbestos or any asbestos-containing products.
2.9 — Counterfeit and Infringing Goods
- Replica, knockoff, or counterfeit branded goods of any kind.
- Unauthorized copies of copyrighted works (books, music, video, software, designs).
- Items bearing trademarks or logos the Vendor does not own or hold a valid license for.
- Designs created using AI tools that incorporate or reproduce identifiable third-party intellectual property.
2.10 — Financial Products and Services
- Securities, investments, or financial advice of any kind.
- Cryptocurrency, NFTs, cryptocurrency mining hardware, and related crypto services.
- Money-transmission, lending, or debt-collection services.
- Third-party gift cards or stored-value cards. Vendor-issued store credit within the Marketplace is acceptable.
2.11 — Gambling and Lottery
- Lottery tickets, raffle tickets, or sweepstakes entries where regulated.
- Gambling chips, accessories marketed primarily for gambling, or gambling-as-a-service.
- "Mystery boxes" with random-value items. Non-speculative blind-box collectibles may be reviewed case-by-case.
2.12 — Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals, and Unverified Health Claims
- Prescription drugs and prescription medical devices.
- Products making unapproved disease, treatment, prevention, or diagnostic claims (e.g., "cures arthritis," "prevents COVID").
- Test kits of any kind (drug tests, paternity tests, COVID tests, etc.).
- Contact lenses, which are regulated medical devices in Canada, the US, and Mexico.
- Supplements making unverified or unapproved medical claims.
2.13 — Government Documents and Identifiers
- Passports, driver's licences, ID cards — real, replica, or templates.
- Government uniforms, badges, or official insignia.
- Social Insurance Number (SIN) cards, Social Security cards, RFC cards, or templates thereof.
- Lock-picking tools marketed or primarily designed for unauthorized entry.
2.14 — Hate, Violence, and Extremism
- Items promoting hatred, violence, or discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected status.
- Symbols, flags, or imagery of designated terrorist organizations or recognized hate groups.
- Items glorifying mass violence, school shootings, or genocide in any form.
2.15 — Privacy-Violating Products and Services
- Hidden cameras or audio recorders marketed for surveillance without the subject's consent.
- Hacking tools, credential-cracking services, or unauthorized data-access tools.
- Stalkerware, spyware, or tracking software designed for covert use.
- Personal information of third parties (data lists, personal records, etc.).
2.16 — Multi-Level Marketing and Pyramid Schemes
- Pyramid-scheme business opportunities of any kind.
- "Buy-in to earn" income-promising schemes or related recruitment materials.
2.17 — Recalled or Unsafe Products
- Any product subject to an active safety recall by Health Canada, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), PROFECO, or a comparable authority in any jurisdiction where the Product would be sold.
- Toys, baby products, or children's items that do not meet applicable safety standards (CPSIA in the US, Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, applicable NOM standards in Mexico).
2.18 — Living Tissue, Organs, and Bodily Fluids
- Human organs, tissue, blood, or bodily fluids of any kind.
- Human hair products, except clearly disclosed wigs and extensions sourced from compliant, documented suppliers.
- Items implying or incorporating human remains or trafficked biological material.
3. Restricted Categories (Conditional Approval Required)
Default: Not permitted unless explicitly approved in writing by Markovax. The categories below are not outright prohibited but require documented compliance and written approval before any Listing goes live. Contact info@markovax.com to begin the review process.
🍎 Food & Beverages
🧴 Cosmetics & Actives
💊 Supplements & Vitamins
🧸 Children's Products
🌱 Plants & Seeds
💎 High-Value Items ($500+)
🔋 Battery Electronics
♻️ Used / Refurbished Goods
- Food and beverages (non-alcoholic): Require labeling compliance (CFIA in Canada, FDA in US, COFEPRIS in Mexico), allergen disclosures, and a short-shelf-life logistics review.
- Cosmetics and personal-care products with active ingredients: Require full ingredient disclosure and applicable regulatory compliance.
- Supplements and vitamins without medical claims: Require NPN (Canada), FDA structure-function compliance (US), and SSA registration (Mexico) where applicable.
- Children's products (toys, clothing for children under age 12): Require CPSIA / Health Canada / applicable NOM compliance documentation.
- Plants and seeds: Require phytosanitary certification and compliance for cross-border shipping.
- High-value items over $500 USD: Require additional Vendor verification and confirmed insurance arrangements.
- Electronics with batteries: Require carrier-compliant shipping documentation, especially for lithium-ion batteries.
- Used / refurbished goods: Require clear disclosure of condition, testing status, and any applicable warranty or return limitations.
4. Compliance Across Markets
A Product permitted in one jurisdiction may be prohibited in another. Vendors are solely responsible for ensuring each Product complies with the laws of every country, province, or state where it will be sold or shipped.
Cross-border examples to be aware of:
🍃 Cannabis / CBD: Restricted across all three of Canada, the US, and Mexico despite varying local legalization. Prohibited on Markovax at launch.
🔪 Knives: Certain Canadian provinces and US states prohibit specific blade types or lengths.
🧴 Cosmetics: Mexico's COFEPRIS registration requirements differ substantially from Health Canada's notification regime.
🐾 Pet supplements: Veterinary drug regulations vary significantly across all three markets.
🍃 Cannabis / CBD: Restricted across all three of Canada, the US, and Mexico despite varying local legalization. Prohibited on Markovax at launch.
🔪 Knives: Certain Canadian provinces and US states prohibit specific blade types or lengths.
🧴 Cosmetics: Mexico's COFEPRIS registration requirements differ substantially from Health Canada's notification regime.
🐾 Pet supplements: Veterinary drug regulations vary significantly across all three markets.
If you cannot lawfully ship a Product to a particular country, you must configure your Vendor Dashboard shipping rules to exclude that destination before the Listing goes live.
5. Enforcement
5.1 — How Violations Are Discovered
Markovax may identify prohibited Listings through automated screening, Customer reports, Vendor reports, internal audits, or notification by Stripe, law enforcement, or a regulatory authority.
5.2 — Consequences
Confirmed prohibited Listings will result in one or more of the following, at Markovax's sole discretion:
- Immediate Listing removal.
- Written notice to the Vendor with required corrective action.
- Account suspension pending investigation.
- Account termination and forfeiture of pending Payouts.
- Reserve placed on Payouts to cover anticipated refunds, chargebacks, or regulatory fines.
- Report filed with Stripe and relevant law enforcement or regulatory authorities.
- Civil action to recover damages, costs, or fines incurred by Markovax.
5.3 — No Strikes for Serious Violations
Zero-tolerance categories: A single confirmed violation involving counterfeit goods, weapons, illegal drugs, child-safety recalls, or other serious offences is grounds for immediate and permanent account termination. Markovax does not operate a "three strikes" system for serious violations.
5.4 — Appeals
A Vendor who believes a Listing was removed in error may appeal in writing to info@markovax.com within 14 days of the removal notice. Decisions on appeal are final.
6. Reporting a Violation
If you are a Customer, Vendor, or member of the public and you believe a Listing on the Marketplace violates this Policy:
How to report:
📧 Email info@markovax.com with the Listing URL, the reason for your concern, and any supporting information.
™️ For copyright or trademark infringement, follow the procedure in our Marketplace Terms of Service, Section 9.4.
🚨 For urgent safety concerns (recalled products, unsafe goods), include "URGENT — SAFETY" in the subject line for priority handling.
📧 Email info@markovax.com with the Listing URL, the reason for your concern, and any supporting information.
™️ For copyright or trademark infringement, follow the procedure in our Marketplace Terms of Service, Section 9.4.
🚨 For urgent safety concerns (recalled products, unsafe goods), include "URGENT — SAFETY" in the subject line for priority handling.
All reports are treated confidentially and reviewed promptly.
7. Modifications
We may modify this Policy at any time. Material changes will be communicated to active Vendors at least 14 days before they take effect. Continued listing on the Marketplace after the effective date of any modification constitutes acceptance of the updated Policy.
8. Reference: Stripe Prohibited & Restricted Businesses
Vendors should also review Stripe's Restricted Businesses list, available at stripe.com/legal/restricted-businesses. The Markovax Prohibited Items Policy aligns with and in some areas extends beyond Stripe's restrictions.
Where this Policy and Stripe's list conflict, the stricter prohibition applies. Vendors are responsible for complying with both.