> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.orbit.devotel.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # WhatsApp Restricted & Prohibited Content Policy > Plain-language guide to what you can and cannot send on WhatsApp through Orbit. Aligned to Meta Commerce & Business Messaging policies. # WhatsApp Restricted & Prohibited Content Policy Meta's platform rules govern everything sent through any WhatsApp Business Account, including yours on Orbit. Violations can result in template rejection, quality downgrade, messaging-limit reduction, or **permanent suspension of your WABA** — a suspension that carries to any future BSP, not just Orbit. This guide mirrors Meta's [Commerce Policies](https://www.facebook.com/policies_center/commerce/) and [Business Messaging Policy](https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/business-policy) in plain language, with the edge cases we see most often in practice. Policies change quarterly — always verify against Meta's live policy pages before launching a new use case. *** ## Prohibited (never allowed, anywhere) These categories are banned outright and cannot be sent even with consent. ### Adult content * Nudity, sexual content, adult services, dating content with explicit framing * Sex toys, lingerie where the primary sale is sexual rather than fashion-positioning * "Companionship" / escort advertising ### Weapons * Firearms, ammunition, firearm accessories, replicas * Tasers, pepper spray, combat knives (market-dependent — some jurisdictions allow as self-defence tools but Meta blocks universally) * Explosives, fireworks ### Illegal drugs * Any controlled substance, even where legal locally (Meta enforces globally) * Drug paraphernalia (bongs, dab rigs, rolling papers marketed for cannabis) ### Animals * Live animals of any kind (including rehoming / adoption) * Animal parts (ivory, pelts) * Endangered species products ### Human body parts & fluids * Organs, blood, plasma * DNA testing products (partial allowance — see "restricted") ### Hate speech & violence * Discrimination on race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, nationality, caste * Incitement to violence * Terrorist organization content or symbols ### Misinformation * Fake news, manipulated media, election misinformation * Health misinformation (specifically COVID-19 and vaccine-related) ### Stolen, counterfeit, or illicit goods * Counterfeit luxury goods, replica branded items * Stolen property, ID documents * Hacking services, malware, spyware *** ## Restricted (allowed with market-specific conditions) These are allowed but require extra review or are blocked in specific countries. ### Alcohol * **Allowed:** retail alcohol sales, delivery services, promotions in most markets * **Blocked:** Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Iran, Pakistan, parts of India (dry states: Bihar, Gujarat, Nagaland) * **Required:** age-gate at point of sale; no targeting users under 18 (21 in US) * **Template requirement:** mark as "Marketing" category; the body must not encourage excessive consumption ### Tobacco & nicotine products * **Allowed:** cessation services (quit-smoking apps, nicotine replacement therapy), B2B tobacco trade in specific markets * **Blocked:** direct-to-consumer sale of cigarettes, cigars, vape devices, vape juice, heat-not-burn products (even in markets where legal for sale) * **Grey:** CBD products below legal THC thresholds are sometimes allowed as "wellness" — Meta decision is case-by-case and has tightened in 2025 ### Pharmaceuticals * **Allowed:** appointment reminders, prescription refill notifications, OTC health products (vitamins, supplements) in most markets * **Allowed with certification:** pharmacy delivery in markets where the pharmacy is licensed; Meta asks for proof * **Blocked globally:** prescription medication direct sales to consumers, weight-loss drugs (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus — added 2024/Q2), testosterone / HRT direct sales, fertility drugs ### Gambling, betting, lottery * **Allowed:** licensed operators in regulated markets — UK, Malta, Gibraltar, most EU, most US states (post-2018 PASPA), Kenya, Nigeria (with NLRC license), etc. * **Required:** submit gambling license number during WABA onboarding; Meta verifies * **Blocked:** any jurisdiction where gambling is illegal (UAE, Saudi Arabia, India except Sikkim/Nagaland, most of South Asia, parts of Africa) * **Template rules:** no "guaranteed win" claims, no targeting users flagged as problem gamblers, self-exclusion lists must be honoured ### Cryptocurrency Meta's position on crypto has shifted three times since 2020. **Current (2025) rules:** * **Allowed:** informational content, exchange-login alerts, price alerts, KYC verification prompts, regulated broker notifications * **Restricted:** promotional / marketing templates for trading, leveraged products, NFT drops — require allow-listing with Meta via formal application * **Blocked:** initial coin offerings (ICOs), celebrity-endorsed token promotions, airdrops, "get rich quick" framing, stable-coin investment promotions * **Templates:** pre-approval via Meta's financial-services review unit is needed if you want to market crypto services — expect 14+ business days ### Financial services * **Allowed:** banks, credit unions, neobanks, payment processors, money-transfer services, insurance (appointment / claim / payment reminders) * **Allowed with disclosure:** loan products — must clearly state APR, must not target users flagged as vulnerable * **Blocked:** payday loans > 36% APR in US (varies by state — Meta blocks globally), forex trading promotion (varies) ### Multi-level marketing (MLM) / pyramid schemes * **Allowed:** established MLM companies (Amway, Herbalife, Mary Kay) can use WhatsApp for distributor → customer order notifications * **Blocked:** any template with "recruit friends for commission" framing, "passive income" promises, "join my downline" content * **Red flag:** "network marketing opportunity" in the template body is an auto-reject ### Pharma + supplements overlap * **Allowed:** branded multivitamins, protein powders, commodity supplements * **Restricted:** weight-loss, muscle-gain, sexual-performance supplements — blocked if the template promises results ("lose 20 lbs in 30 days") * **Blocked:** SARMs, peptides, research chemicals — regardless of marketing framing ### Dating * **Allowed:** mainstream dating apps (Tinder, Bumble, Match) for account notifications, match alerts, appointment reminders * **Blocked:** adult-framed dating ("hookup apps"), escort services, sugar-dating ### Political content * **Restricted:** allowed for political parties, campaigns, and issue advocacy only with documented registration in the relevant jurisdiction * **Blocked during elections:** Meta imposes temporary blackouts in specific countries during election windows (check Meta's ad library disclosures) * **Blocked:** election misinformation, voter suppression, fake impersonation of officials *** ## What makes a template category fail | Category | What Meta expects | Common auto-rejects | | ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Authentication** | OTP codes, login alerts, password resets, 2FA | Promotional language, discounts, any CTA beyond "verify" | | **Utility** | Transactional — order update, appointment reminder, delivery ETA, payment receipt, tracking | Cross-sell / upsell language, coupon codes, "buy now" buttons | | **Marketing** | Promotions, seasonal campaigns, re-engagement, abandoned cart | Any content that belongs in Prohibited / Restricted above, misleading offers | | **Service** | Customer support responses | Actually a marketing template in disguise | **Miscategorisation is a common rejection reason.** Submitting a marketing template as "utility" will be rejected. Intentional misuse triggers a WABA policy violation that counts against your quality rating. *** ## Opt-in requirements WhatsApp requires **prior explicit opt-in** for all business-initiated messages. This is stricter than SMS in most jurisdictions. * You must collect opt-in at the point of data capture, not implied through a purchase or account creation. * You must tell the user **what they're signing up for** — order updates, marketing, alerts, etc. Over-collection triggers block reports. * You must log and be able to produce opt-in evidence for any recipient within 30 days. * Respect **STOP / BLOCK** immediately. Orbit auto-honours these — STOP keywords are matched case-insensitively on every inbound message and the recipient is added to the per-org suppression list before the next outbound send. *** ## Meta's enforcement ladder Violations don't always result in immediate suspension. Typical escalation: 1. **Template rejection** — fix and resubmit 2. **Quality rating drop** (GREEN → YELLOW → RED) — review sending patterns, slow down 3. **Messaging-limit tier downgrade** — reduces daily unique recipient cap 4. **Temporary send pause** (7 days) — common for cluster of user blocks 5. **WABA suspension** — rare, hard to reverse; Meta reviews appeal within 14–30 days 6. **Business Manager banned** — affects all your Meta assets (Instagram DMs, Messenger), essentially a platform exit Any escalation should be taken seriously on step 2 — don't wait until step 4. *** ## Appealing a rejection For a template rejection: 1. Check the reason Meta returned (visible in the Orbit dashboard under the template). 2. Edit the content, resubmit. Most rejections pass on second try if the issue is clear. For a WABA suspension: 1. Log in to Meta Business Manager → Notifications — the ban reason is there. 2. Click **Request Review**. Provide business documentation supporting legitimate use. 3. Expect 14–30 days. Keep your records of opt-ins, complaints handled, and policy alignment ready. 4. Contact [whatsapp-support@devotel.io](mailto:whatsapp-support@devotel.io) — we maintain direct BSP-level escalation paths with Meta and can surface appeals that would otherwise sit in queue. *** ## What we validate before submission Before a template is sent to Meta, Orbit runs a structural pre-flight check. If the template fails, it is marked `submission_failed` with the reason (visible in the dashboard) and is **not** forwarded to Meta — so you can fix it without spending a Meta review cycle. This check enforces structure, not content — it does not scan your copy for policy wording. Reviewing the body against the Prohibited and Restricted sections above is still your responsibility. What we enforce: * **Component structure** — exactly one BODY; at most one HEADER, FOOTER, and BUTTONS group. * **Length limits** — HEADER text ≤ 60 characters, BODY text ≤ 1024 characters, FOOTER text ≤ 60 characters. * **Header format** — must be TEXT, IMAGE, VIDEO, DOCUMENT, or LOCATION. * **Buttons** — 1 to 10 buttons, each of a Meta-supported type. * **Authentication rules** — an AUTHENTICATION template must leave the body empty (Meta generates it), set `code_expiration_minutes` between 1 and 90, and use exactly one OTP button (`COPY_CODE`, `ONE_TAP`, or `ZERO_TAP`) with the credentials that button type requires. Because this stops only structural errors, the final content decision is always Meta's.