Policy

Product safety policy

This policy sets out what may be sold on the marketplace, how it must be labelled, and what sellers may not say about it. It applies to every listing without exception.

Last updated 28 July 2026

No health claims

Products are sold as foods, food supplements, cosmetics or books. Listings must not state or suggest that a product diagnoses, treats, cures or prevents any condition, and must not name a disease, symptom or body system as a benefit.

Descriptions state what the product is, where the plant grew, how it was prepared, and how to use it. Listings that carry health claims are removed and the shop is suspended until the seller has retaken the labelling module.

Labelling requirements

Every physical product carries a label with the following, in English and in the language of the seller's country.

✓Common name and botanical name of every plant, for example Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla).
✓Part of the plant used, and the full ingredient list in descending order by weight.
✓Net weight or volume, batch number, and a best-before or minimum-durability date.
✓Alcohol content by volume for tinctures, and the plant-to-liquid ratio.
✓Name and address of the seller, and the words "sold through The HerbWoman Marketplace".
✓Allergen information where an ingredient is a known allergen.

Cosmetics

Salves, balms, oils and creams are cosmetic products. Before a cosmetic listing goes live the seller provides a safety assessment signed by a qualified assessor, a product information file, and the batch record. The school checks that the document covers the exact formulation listed — cosmetic listings stay in a waiting state until this check is done.

Plants that may not be sold

The school maintains a restricted list, reviewed twice a year. Plants on it may not be listed in any form.

✓Plants regulated as medicines in the seller's jurisdiction.
✓Plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids intended for internal use.
✓Species protected by CITES or by national conservation law.
✓Wild-harvested species that are locally rare or in decline.

Records and recalls

Sellers keep a written batch record for two years: harvest date and place, drying or extraction method, quantities, and the buyers who received each batch. If a problem is reported the school can contact every buyer of that batch within one working day.

Report a problem with a product to marketplace@herbwoman.com. Reports are answered within one working day and the listing is paused while the report is checked.