If you see a policy warning on your products in Google Shopping, it does not necessarily mean your products are disapproved or removed. Instead, there are several reasons why Google might flag your product.
The most common reason is that your product falls under a restricted content category. However, other issues—such as missing product data, pricing mismatches, or landing page issues—can also trigger warnings.
This guide will help you understand why your products may be showing a warning and whether you need to take action.
1. Policy Warnings Due to Restricted or Limited Content
Google allows certain restricted products to be advertised but applies targeting limitations based on content policies and local regulations.
What Does a Restricted Content Warning Mean?
Your product is allowed, but Google limits its visibility based on user eligibility. Common restricted categories include:
Age-restricted products – Alcohol, tobacco, vaping products, and gambling services (shown only to users 18+/21+ depending on the country).
Regulated industries – Prescription medications, certain medical devices, financial services, and legal services.
Regional limitations – Products that can only be advertised in specific countries or must meet local legal requirements.
Does This Affect My Campaign?
If your product falls into a restricted category, your campaign can still run, but Google will only show ads to eligible audiences.
Example: A wine seller will always see a warning because their products can only be advertised to users 21+ in the U.S.
This warning is standard and does not require action unless the product is fully disapproved.
How to Check if Your Product Falls into a Restricted Category
2. Missing or Incorrect Product Data
Google Shopping requires specific product attributes for your ads to serve correctly. If data is missing or incorrect, Google may display a warning but still allow the product to serve.
Common Issues:
Missing GTIN or MPN (Manufacturer Part Number).
Insufficient product descriptions or unclear details.
Mismatched product titles between feed and landing page.
Solution:
Validate your Store Catalog to ensure all the applicable details are included. For items specifically relating to GTINs and MPNs, please refer to our more detailed support article here.
3. Pricing & Tax Mismatches
Google flags products when there is a discrepancy between the price in your feed and the price on your website.
Common Issues:
Your feed shows $19.99, but your website lists $24.99 due to additional taxes or fees.
Your site does not properly display sales tax or VAT, but it is required in a given region.
Solution:
Often times, there will be a small time difference between Google completing a website crawl and your store data syncing to our platform. During that time, Google may flag a pricing or availability mismatch. Often this is a false positive, and the issue resolves itself within 24 hours. If the matter continues for longer than 48 hours (or if you would like to ensure there are no underlying issues), it is a good first validation point to review that the prices in your categlog are consistent, and that you have ensured that your tax settings in your store are completed. If the issue persists long than 48 hours, please reach out to our team - or you can access your Merchant Center Account to see further details.
If you are uncertain how to access your Merchant Center Account - please see our support article here.
4. Insufficient Landing Page Experience
Google evaluates whether your product pages meet user experience guidelines. If your landing page:
Has broken links or is down,
Loads too slowly,
Lacks clear return/refund policies,
Does not allow a user to purchase the product directly,
...then Google may issue a warning.
Example: A store links to a category page instead of a specific product page, leading to a poor shopping experience for users.
Solution:
Make sure your product pages load properly, are easy to navigate, and allow users to purchase directly.
How Can I Check My Product’s Policy Status If I Don’t Have Merchant Center Access?
Some customers may not have direct access to a Google Merchant Center account.
If you need to check policy status but do not have access, you can add yourself to a Merchant Center Account (MCA) managed by Kliken.
For detailed instructions, visit:
🔗 How to Add Yourself to a Merchant Center Account
What Should I Do If I See a Policy Warning?
Check Google’s list of restricted categories to confirm if your product falls under one.
If you have Merchant Center access, review your account notifications to see if the warning is informational or requires action.
If you do not have Merchant Center access, add yourself to an MCA using the guide linked above.
No action is needed unless Google provides a specific disapproval notice requiring changes.
Important:
This is a Google policy notification, not an issue caused by Kliken. We do not control Google’s classification of restricted content, but we ensure your campaigns comply with their guidelines.
Need More Help?
If you believe your product has been incorrectly flagged or fully disapproved, you can always reach out to Kliken Support through our chat widget in your Kliken App dashboard, or access the MCA to action specific items directly.