In 2020, respirator masks were blocked from being listed on our properties and network to prevent abuse and preserve the healthcare worker supply which previously experienced shortages. As the COVID-19 situation has evolved, we have determined that it is now appropriate to allow N95 masks in the U.S. and a selection of approved N95-adjacent masks (KN95, FFP2, and KF94) globally to be listed on our Shopping ads and free listings.
Beginning on August 31, 2021, Google will allow approved merchants and suppliers to list N95 and adjacent masks on our Shopping ads and free listings to help make them available to non-medical healthcare workers and other vulnerable consumers who cannot access them through the medical supply chain. Project N95 will approve N95 mask offers for listing in the U.S. only. Approved N95 mask offers will be listed directly by Project N95 on behalf of N95 merchants. LegitScript will approve N95-adjacent mask (KN95, FFP2, and KF94) offers for listing globally. Approved merchants can list approved KN95, FFP2, and KF94 mask offers in Merchant Center directly.
Merchants and suppliers will need to apply for approval before their offers can be listed in order to mitigate the risk of counterfeit masks being sold. The application process for both paths will require merchants and suppliers to provide business and product information for review. Apply here for N95 listing approval via Project N95 and apply here for N95-adjacent listing approval via LegitScript.