Ingredients Banned by Credit Card Processors: Compliance Guide

A List of Ingredients that are Restricted and Banned by the Credit Card Processing Industry

There are a growing number of health-conscious entrepreneurs venturing into the lucrative realms of nutritional supplements, alcohol alternatives, and wellness products. As pioneers in these burgeoning industries, it is crucial to understand the intricacies surrounding not only the ingredients used in your offerings, but how they may also affect your ability to accept credit card payments from your customers. This article aims to provide a comprehensive list on the ingredients that are restricted or banned by the credit card processing industry, ensuring you stay informed, compliant, and ready to navigate the complex world of transactions in your quest to revolutionize the health and wellness market.

Related: This Company Specializes in Nutritional Supplements and Wellness Product Payment Processing

Non-Compliance Risks

Banks and credit card processing companies take the wellness and nutritional supplement industry very seriously. Not only do they care about protecting consumers from harmful products, they could also be held liable for facilitating payments of a product that caused harm. This could result in legal actions and government intervention, both something banks take great care to avoid. As such, credit card processors regularly audit clients who are in the wellness space.

In most cases, if a processor discovers that you are selling a product with a banned ingredient, it will immediately terminate you merchant account. This will leave you without a way to accept card payments and potentially spell the end of your business. If the ingredient is an egregious violation, it could result in you getting placed on the Terminated Merchant File, which will make it nearly impossible for you to ever get a merchant account again. With this in mind, we highly recommend supplying a complete list of your products' ingredients to any credit card processor you are considering for your payment acceptance.

Flagged Ingredients

Please note that this list is as complete as possible as of its publish date and that banks continually update and change their policies. Some ingredients are banned altogether while other require further steps in order obtain credit card processing compliance. Your processor will be able to help you navigate such compliance needs. This list does not include ingredients that are obviously illegal.

Related: Navigate Payment Processing Compliance With These Experts

How to search this list

On a PC, press CTRL+F together to activate the “Find” feature on your browser then type the name of your ingredient. On Mac, you can do the same with COMMAND+F. If on mobile, look for the “Find on Page” feature in the menu.

5-Alpha-Hydroxy-Laxogenin
Andarine
Androsterone
BMPEA
DMAA
DMBA
Ephedrine
Epistane
GW-501516 (Cardarine or Endurobol)
Halodrol
Methylsynephrine
NMT (N-Methyltyramine)
Ostarine
Sibutramine
Sildenafil (Prescription only)
Sulbutiamine
Superdrol
Tadalafil (Prescription only)
Kava
Kratom
Mitragyna speciosa
Peptides
Poppers
Whippets
HGH
HCG
THC over 0.3%
Delta-9
Delta 10
THC-A
THC-V
THC-O
THCP
HHC
Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs)
Andarine
Enobosarm (Ostarine)
LGD-4033 (Ligandrol)
S-23
YK-11
MK-2866
RAD-140
Psilocybin
4-phosphoryloxy-N
N-dimethyltryptamine
Ayahuasca
Mescaline
Salvia
Modafinil
Adrafinil
Phenylpiracetam
Selegiline
Clenbuterol
Osilodrostat
Ractopamine
Zeranol
Zilpaterol
Roids
Loperamide
Tianeptine
Tibolone
Trenbolone (17β-hydroxyestr-4,9,11-trien-3- one)
Peptides
ANABOLIC ANDROGENIC STEROIDS (AAS)
1-Androstenediol (5α-androst-1-ene-3β, 17β-diol)
1-Androstenedione (5α-androst-1-ene-3, 17-dione)
1-Androsterone (3α-hydroxy-5α-androst-1- ene-17-one)
1-Epiandrosterone (3β-hydroxy-5α-androst- 1-ene-17-one)
1-Testosterone (17β-hydroxy-5α-androst-1- en-3-one)
4-Androstenediol (androst-4-ene-3β,17β- diol)
4-Hydroxytestosterone (4,17β-dihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one)
5-Androstenedione (androst-5-ene-3,17- dione)
Examorelin (hexarelin)
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs)
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)
Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and its analogues
Mechano growth factors (MGFs)
Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)
Thymosin-β4 and its derivatives e.g. TB-500
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
Arformoterol
Fenoterol
Formoterol
Higenamine
Indacaterol
Levosalbutamol
Olodaterol
Procaterol
Reproterol
Salbutamol
Salmeterol
Terbutaline
Tretoquinol (trimetoquinol)
Tulobuterol
Vilanterol
2-Androstenol (5α-androst-2-en-17-ol)
2-Androstenone (5α-androst-2-en-17-one)
3-Androstenol (5α-androst-3-en-17-ol)
3-Androstenone (5α-androst-3-en-17-one)
4-Androstene-3,6,17 trione (6-oxo)
Aminoglutethimide
Anastrozole
Androsta-1,4,6-triene-3,17-dione (androstatrienedione)
Androsta-3,5-diene-7,17-dione (arimistane)
Exemestane
Formestane
Letrozole
Testolactone
Bazedoxifene
Clomifene
Cyclofenil
Fulvestrant
Ospemifene
Raloxifene
Tamoxifen
Toremifene
Activin A-neutralizing antibodies
Activin receptor IIB competitors such as:
Decoy activin receptors (e.g. ACE-031)
Anti-activin receptor IIB antibodies (e.g. bimagrumab)
Myostatin inhibitors such as:
Agents reducing or ablating myostatin expression
Myostatin-binding proteins (e.g. follistatin, myostatin propeptide)
Myostatin- or precursor – neutralizing antibodies (e.g. apitegromab, domagrozumab, landogrozumab, stamulumab)
Desmopressin
Probenecid
Plasma expanders
Albumin
Dextran

Tetrahydrogestrinone (17-hydroxy-18a- homo-19-nor-17α-pregna-4,9,11-trien-3- one)
7α-hydroxy-DHEA
7β-hydroxy-DHEA
7-Keto-DHEA
17α-methylepithiostanol (epistane)
19-Norandrostenediol (estr-4-ene-3,17-diol)
19-Norandrostenedione (estr-4-ene-3,17- dione)
Androst-4-ene-3,11,17-trione (11-ketoandrostenedione, adrenosterone)
Androstanolone (5α-dihydrotestosterone, 17β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-3-one)
Androstenediol (androst-5-ene-3β,17β-diol)
Androstenedione (androst-4-ene-3,17- dione)
Bolasterone
Boldenone
Boldione (androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione)
Calusterone
Clostebol
Danazol ([1,2]oxazolo[4’,5’:2,3]pregna-4-en- 20-yn-17α-ol)
Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (4-chloro- 17β-hydroxy-17α-methylandrosta-1,4-dien- 3-one)
Desoxymethyltestosterone (17α-methyl-5α- androst-2-en-17β-ol and 17α-methyl-5α- androst-3-en-17β-ol)
Drostanolone
Epiandrosterone (3β-hydroxy-5α-androstan- 17-one)
Epi-dihydrotestosterone (17β-hydroxy-5β- androstan-3-one)
Epitestosterone
Ethylestrenol (19-norpregna-4-en-17α-ol)
Fluoxymesterone
Formebolone
Furazabol (17α-methyl [1,2,5] oxadiazolo[3’,4’:2,3]-5α-androstan-17β-ol)
Gestrinone
Mestanolone
Mesterolone
Metandienone (17β-hydroxy-17α- methylandrosta-1,4-dien-3-one)
Metenolone
Methandriol
Methasterone (17β-hydroxy-2α,17α- dimethyl-5α-androstan-3-one)
Methyl-1-testosterone (17β-hydroxy-17α- methyl-5α-androst-1-en-3-one)
Methylclostebol
Methyldienolone (17β-hydroxy-17α- methylestra-4,9-dien-3-one)
Methylnortestosterone (17β-hydroxy-17α- methylestr-4-en-3-one)
Methyltestosterone
Metribolone (methyltrienolone, 17β-hydroxy- 17α-methylestra-4,9,11-trien-3-one)
Mibolerone
Nandrolone (19-nortestosterone)
Norboletone
Norclostebol (4-chloro-17β-ol-estr-4-en-3- one)
Norethandrolone
Oxabolone
Oxandrolone
Oxymesterone
Oxymetholone
Prasterone (dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA, 3β-hydroxyandrost-5-en-17-one)
Prostanozol (17β-[(tetrahydropyran-2-yl) oxy]-1’H-pyrazolo[3,4:2,3]-5α-androstane)
Quinbolone
Stanozolol
Stenbolone
Testosterone
Metribolone (methyltrienolone, 17β-hydroxy- 17α-methylestra-4,9,11-trien-3-one)
[5-MeO-DMT]
ERYTHROPOIETIN-RECEPTOR AGONISTS, E.G
Darbepoetins (dEPO)
Erythropoietins (EPO)
EPO-based constructs [e.g. EPO-Fc, methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta (CERA)]
EPO-mimetic agents and their constructs (e.g. CNTO-530, peginesatide)
HYPOXIA-INDUCIBLE FACTOR (HIF) ACTIVATING AGENTS, E.G.
Cobalt
Daprodustat (GSK1278863)
IOX2
Molidustat (BAY 85-3934)
Roxadustat (FG-4592)
Vadadustat (AKB-6548)
Xenon
GATA INHIBITORS, E.G.
K-11706
TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR -BETA (TGF-Β) SIGNALING INHIBITORS, E.G.
Luspatercept
Sotatercept
INNATE REPAIR RECEPTOR AGONISTS, E.G.
Asialo EPO
Carbamylated EPO (CEPO)
Buserelin
Deslorelin
Gonadorelin
Goserelin
Leuprorelin
Nafarelin
Triptorelin
Corticorelin
Lonapegsomatropin
Somapacitan
Somatrogon
AOD-9604
hGH 176-191
CJC-1293
CJC-1295
Sermorelin
Tesamorelin
Enomorelin (ghrelin)
Anamorelin
Ipamorelin
Macimorelin
Tabimorelin
Alexamorelin
GHRP-1
GHRP-2 (pralmorelin)
GHRP-3
GHRP-4
GHRP-5
GHRP-6

Hydroxyethyl starch
Mannitol
Acetazolamide
Amiloride
Bumetanide
Canrenone
Chlortalidone
Etacrynic acid
Furosemide
Indapamide
Metolazone
Spironolactone
Thiazides
Bendroflumethiazide
Chlorothiazide
Hydrochlorothiazide
Torasemide
Triamterene
Vaptans
Tolvaptan
Lisdexamfetamine
Mefenorex
Perfluorochemicals
Efaproxiral (RSR13)
Voxelotor
Modified hemoglobin products
Adrafinil
Amfepramone
Amfetamine
Amfetaminil
Amiphenazole
Benfluorex
Benzylpiperazine
Bromantan
Clobenzorex
Cocaine
Cropropamide
Crotetamide
Fencamine
Fenetylline
Fenfluramine
Fenproporex
Fonturacetam [4-phenylpiracetam (carphedon)]
Furfenorex
Mephentermine
Mesocarb
Metamfetamine(d-)
p-methylamfetamine
Modafinil
Norfenfluramine
Phendimetrazine
Phentermine
Prenylamine
Prolintane
3-Methylhexan-2-amine (1,2-dimethylpentylamine)
4-fluoromethylphenidate
4-Methylhexan-2-amine (methylhexaneamine, 1,3-dimethylamylamine, 1,3 DMAA)
4-Methylpentan-2-amine (1,3-dimethylbutylamine)
5-Methylhexan-2-amine (1,4-dimethylpentylamine, 1,4-dimethylamylamine, 1,4-DMAA)
Benzfetamine
Cathine**
Cathinone and its analogues, e.g. mephedrone, methedrone, and α – pyrrolidinovalerophenone
Dimetamfetamine (dimethylamphetamine)
Ephedrine* Epinephrine* (adrenaline) Etamivan Ethylphenidate Etilamfetamine Etilefrine Famprofazone Fenbutrazate Fencamfamin Heptaminol Hydrafinil (fluorenol) Hydroxyamfetamine (parahydroxyamphetamine) Isometheptene Levmetamfetamine Meclofenoxate Methylenedioxymetham- phetamine Methylephedrine
Methylnaphthidate [((±)-methyl-2-(naphthalen-2-yl)-2-(piperidin-2-yl)acetate]
Methylphenidate
Nikethamide
Norfenefrine
Octodrine (1,5-dimethylhex- ylamine)
Octopamine
Oxilofrine (methylsynephrine)
Pemoline
Pentetrazol
Phenethylamine and its derivatives
Phenmetrazine
Phenpromethamine
Propylhexedrine
Pseudoephedrine***
Selegiline
Sibutramine
Solriamfetol
Strychnine
Tenamfetamine (methylenedioxyamphet- amine)
Tuaminoheptane
Buprenorphine
Dextromoramide
Diamorphine (heroin)
Fentanyl and its derivatives
Hydromorphone
Methadone
Morphine
Nicomorphine
Oxycodone
Oxymorphone
Pentazocine
Pethidine
Beclometasone
Betamethasone
Budesonide
Ciclesonide
Cortisone
Deflazacort
Dexamethasone
Flucortolone
Flunisolide
Fluticasone
Hydrocortisone
Methylprednisolone
Mometasone
Prednisolone
Prednisone
Triamcinolone acetonide
Acebutolol
Alprenolol
Atenolol
Betaxolol
Bisoprolol
Bunolol
Carteolol
Carvedilol
Celiprolol
Esmolol
Labetalol
Metipranolol
Metoprolol
Nadolol
Nebivolol
Oxprenolol
Pindolol
Propranolol
Sotalol
Timolol

Bottom Line

Navigating payment processing compliance with your nutritional or wellness supplement business can make or break its future success. Restricted ingredients are also constantly being updated and can change without any prior notice. We recommend working with experts like those at PaymentCloud, who can provide the guidance you will need.

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