diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 95f769a..15245db 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -169,8 +169,10 @@ is `STOP`.
   every Definition of Done item in Execution Directive v2.
 - [`docs/empirical-release-plan.md`](docs/empirical-release-plan.md) — gated path from synthetic
   preview to trained, calibrated, independently reproducible release.
-- [`docs/standalone-launch.md`](docs/standalone-launch.md) — current production exit gates,
-  evidence status, and operator inputs, with MC-1 excluded from standalone scope only.
+- [`docs/stateless-core-api.md`](docs/stateless-core-api.md#production-gates) — production
+  gates for the separate no-collection recommendation API; see its [release policy](docs/release-policy.md).
+- [`docs/standalone-launch.md`](docs/standalone-launch.md) — broader research/directive
+  evidence gates and operator inputs; these do not make training a prerequisite for the stateless API.
 - [`docs/launch-announcement.md`](docs/launch-announcement.md) — canonical launch copy plus
   LinkedIn, X, and Hacker News variants with a publication checklist.
 - [`docs/prior-art.md`](docs/prior-art.md) — explicit attribution links and the canonical novelty
diff --git a/docs/standalone-launch.md b/docs/standalone-launch.md
index 9f4d6e3..5198d4f 100644
--- a/docs/standalone-launch.md
+++ b/docs/standalone-launch.md
@@ -1,5 +1,14 @@
 # Standalone C3R production launch gate
 
+> **Scope:** This document tracks the research collection, empirical release and
+> broader directive-integration program. For the separate stateless,
+> recommendation-only API launch, use [Core API production gates](stateless-core-api.md#production-gates)
+> and the [scope-specific release policy](release-policy.md). Training, empirical
+> DecisionMix publication and research-collection approval are not prerequisites
+> for that no-collection API. Host and image security, rollback, live runtime,
+> TLS/key isolation, operational controls and consumer acceptance still require
+> their own evidence. This scope distinction is not production approval.
+
 MC-1 product integration is explicitly out of scope for the **standalone** launch. It
 remains in Execution Directive v2 and must not be marked complete there. This document
 distinguishes tested code, private operational evidence, and public release evidence.