Supplements & botanicals
Shipping supplements to only some places?
Most supplements ship anywhere. The exceptions — kratom, some hemp-derived products, certain novel ingredients — sit under rules that differ from place to place and change over time, and getting a shipment wrong can mean seized parcels, fines, and payment holds. Which destinations are off-limits is a question for your counsel and your licenses; keeping orders out of them is what this page is about.
The patchwork problem
Kratom is the clearest example: the rules differ by state, by county, and by product form, and they move as legislatures and agencies act. Hemp and CBD are the same shape — and the federal definition of hemp is itself scheduled to change. That churn is exactly why enforcement belongs in checkout rather than in a spreadsheet: your counsel and your licenses tell you which destinations are off-limits, and the rule is the one place you write them down.
How sellers handle it on Shopify
Tag restricted products (for example kratom), create one rule per restriction set, and let checkout enforce it. With ShipEmbargo the buyer at a blocked destination sees your exact message — for instance “Sorry — Kratom Capsules can’t be shipped to this address” — instead of a silent failure.
When your restricted list changes, you edit the rule once. No theme edits, no rate juggling, no missed orders.
Common questions
How do I stop kratom shipping to places I can't sell it?
Tag the products — the tag you already use for them is fine — then create one rule naming the destinations on your own restricted list. Checkout enforces it on every order. ShipEmbargo does not supply that list: it comes from your counsel and your licenses, and you keep it current.
Can I block just one product instead of a whole category?
Yes. Rules can target a single product, a collection, or a tag.
This guide is general information for merchants, not legal advice. Regulations change — verify current law for your products and destinations.