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Many sex toys are sold as novelty or recommended for external usage. Such as this glow in the dark set. Likewise, I recently purchased a Jimmy Jane toy and despite it being for internal use and clearly stating on the back "your g-spot and clitoris will be simultaneously sent [...]", it states on the bottom:

Caution: This massager is for therapeutic purposes and is recommended for external use only. Prolonged and frequent use is not advised or recommended., as these items are sold for novelty purposes only. This massager is intended for adult use only.".

Why do companies put this on their packages? Is it to somehow skirt safety laws? Does it mean their products are unsafe?

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    I have always understood "external use" to mean it is not supposed to go through your digestive tract or bloodstream, but applied to your body where you can reach... I am no medical professional, but I think your premise might be wrong. Using a "massager" where you can reach is external (compared to swallowing it and dissolving it in your stomach acid and having parts of it absorbed through your digestive process, or melting it into goo and injecting it with a syringe).
    – nvoigt
    Commented Nov 30 at 15:17
  • While you are using it with a part of the body that has mucous membranes, it's not meant to transcend that boundary and do something in your body. It's use is purely external.
    – nvoigt
    Commented Nov 30 at 15:18
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    (sorry for the long comment, this is not an answer, because it has nothing to do with the law or the question you asked, just making you aware that the premise might not be what you think it is)
    – nvoigt
    Commented Nov 30 at 15:20
  • External to what? 'for external use only': for a product that is designed to be used solely in one area ('Jimmy Jane toy' for the anal area) then external is outside of that area (i.e. not for use inside your intestine).
    – Mark Johnson
    Commented Nov 30 at 18:16
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    I would guess that this is one of those things which hasn't been tested in court, and may or may not have legal effect, but which manufacturers see no downside to writing on their packaging or instruction leaflets.
    – kaya3
    Commented Nov 30 at 19:04

2 Answers 2

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My guess would be that the "not for internal use" disclaimer is an attempt to evade product liability/personal injury claims. A personal injury claim from a faulty product injuring a person's genitalia could easily stretch into the millions of dollars. As a comment noted, I'm not aware of this being tested in court, and don't have time to fully research, but it doesn't hurt the vendor to try.

Also, calling it novelty should help it to avoid the FDA definition of a medical device:

Per Section 201(h)(1) of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, a device is: An instrument, apparatus, implement, machine, contrivance, implant, in vitro reagent, or other similar or related article, including a component part, or accessory which is:

(A) recognized in the official National Formulary, or the United States Pharmacopoeia, or any supplement to them,

(B) intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, in man or other animals, or

(C) intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of man or other animals, and which does not achieve its primary intended purposes through chemical action within or on the body of man or other animals and which is not dependent upon being metabolized for the achievement of its primary intended purposes. The term "device" does not include software functions excluded pursuant to section 520(o).

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    Given that the definition you quoted doesn't mention anything about "internal use", why would that help? Obviously plenty of medical devices aren't intended for internal use.
    – Sneftel
    Commented Dec 2 at 15:06
  • @Sneftel You are right, I meant to reference the "novelty" aspect, particularly with respect to (C) in medical devices. That section is very broadly worded, and could easily apply to a very wide variety of products.
    – Brian
    Commented Dec 2 at 15:30
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    Given that the definition you quoted makes no specific exceptions for "novelties", why would that help? Why would it not simply state that the device is "not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease... &c" as things like herbal supplements are labeled?
    – Sneftel
    Commented Dec 2 at 15:33
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My understanding has always been not to be consumed or swallowed. It is normally used for medicines. For physical objects, I would assume that putting in your ear, nose, mouth etc is still external use. These areas are open to air.

Definitions of external use

From cambridge dictionary

for external use

intended to be used only on the outside of the body, and not to be eaten or put inside the body:

  • This cream is for external use only.
  • The oil is generally considered safe for external use.

From Collins dictionary

for external use
phrase
If medicine is for external use, it is intended to be used only on the outside of your body, and not to be eaten or drunk.

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    For a product that is designed to be used solely inside the body, then it should be obvious that this dictionary definition does not apply. Sorry, but this is a nonsence answer.
    – Mark Johnson
    Commented Nov 30 at 18:22
  • No. You can find medicines labeled "FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR INTRAVAGINAL OR OPHTHALMIC USE."
    – user71659
    Commented Nov 30 at 19:25
  • Would the novelty warnings perhaps just be a reference to the idea that it is a toy utilized for personal enjoyment and not a tool utilized in a medical capacity?
    – user2231142
    Commented Dec 1 at 23:16
  • Perhaps, the internal use warning is so that folks do not insert it beyond the base or swallow? Both seem really hard to do.
    – user2231142
    Commented Dec 1 at 23:19

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