Prohibited goods

Aerosols

Including spray paints, air fresheners, toiletries (e.g., deodorants, body and hair sprays, shaving and hair removal creams), and aerosols for medicinal purposes (e.g., flea sprays).

• Volume per item must not exceed 500ml.
• No more than two items in any one container.
• Protect the valves to prevent inadvertent release of the contents.

Ammunition

Including empty shell casings, but excluding lead pellets and other airgun and airsoft projectiles.

Animal products and organisms

Including taxidermy and articles derived from animals, such as fur, skin, bone, vertebrae, horn, ivory, reptile leather, and stony corals.

As these items are restricted, they can only be imported with a special permit and CITES certification. Please refer to your destination country's customs agency.

Biological substances and samples

Diagnostic specimens, including urine, blood, faeces, and animal remains.

CBD (cannabidiol) and cannabis-derived products

Including natural and synthetic cannabinoids (as well as those that mimic the effects of THC) and food and drinks containing them.

Christmas crackers

Including party poppers, party cannons and twist poppers.

Controlled drugs and narcotics

Including cannabis, cocaine, heroin, LSD, opium and amyl nitrate.

Corrosives

Including dyes, acids, corrosive paint, rust removers, caustic soda, mercury, and gallium metal.

Counterfeit or pirated goods

Including currency, perfumes and cosmetics, clothes, and electronics.

Currency and money

Including cash, credit cards, debit cards, coins, cheques, vouchers, tickets, lottery tickets and stamps (unless franked).

E-cigarettes and vapes

Including refills and cartridges.

Endangered wood, plants and animals

Hundreds of countries and states worldwide, united by the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) agreement, have restrictions on importing endangered wood, animals and plant life, including derivatives. The aim is to combat illegal logging and protect vulnerable forests and wildlife. Members include China, the United States, the EU, Australia and Indonesia.

Depending on your origin and destination countries, you might need both an import and export permit when shipping items containing endangered animals, plants, or wood, such as a table or a guitar.

Do note that we strongly suggest double-checking that all your older furniture, including inlays, plus antiques, ornaments and jewellery, meet the requirements before shipping to avoid unwanted fines or delays.

Please check the CITES website before packing.

Explosives

Including fireworks, flares, blasting caps, and party poppers.

Firearms and replica firearms

Including weapons that are decorative, deactivated, or air-powered, guns for sporting use, gas pistols, gas canisters, electric shock batons, stun guns, flare guns, and all component parts.

Flammable liquids

Including oil-based liquids (e.g. sun tan oil and lighter fluid), certain adhesives, solvent-based paints, wood varnish, enamels, acetone and nail varnish remover.

Flammable solids

Including magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, zinc powder and firelighters.

Food, drinks and perishable items

Including canned and dried food, confectionary (e.g. biscuits and chocolate), spices, cooking oils, carbonated drinks, milk powder, protein powder, health or dietary powdered products, syrups, and sauces.

Gases (flammable, non-flammable, toxic and compressed)

Including gas cylinders containing ethane or butane, refills for lighters, fire extinguishers, full scuba tanks, life jackets and nitrogen dioxide and carbon dioxide canisters (e.g. culinary foaming devices and soda streams).

Gas masks

Including both modern and historical gas masks due to potential contamination by poisonous gases.

High-value items

Including bullion, currency, precious metals and stones, gold, silver, coin collections, ingots, jewellery, watches valued over US$1,000 (around €885), and works of art valued more than US$10,000 (around €8,854).

Infectious substances and pathogens

Including poisonous, toxic, and infectious substances and pathogens, such as clinical, environmental, or medical waste.

Knives

Including knives for household use and professional knife sets (e.g. chef's knives and kitchen knives).

Lighters

While you can send new and unused empty lighters if they have not been opened, lighters and refills containing flammable liquid or gas (e.g., butane or petrol) are prohibited for shipping via all services.

Magnetised material

Including fridge magnets, due to their magnetic fields interfering with aircraft navigation systems. 

Matches

Including safety matches and windproof matches.

Nail varnish, polish or gel

Including solvent and water-based nail varnishes, polishes and gels.

• The volume per item must not exceed 30ml.
• No more than four items in any one container.

Negotiable documents

Including passports and driving licences.

Obscene publications and pornography

Including pornography as defined by your destination country's legislation.

Perfumes and aftershaves

Including eau de perfume and eau de toilette.

• The volume per item must not exceed 150ml.
• No more than two items in any one container.
• You must send these items in their original retail packaging.

Pesticides

Including weed killers and chemicals used to kill pests and insects, such as fly sprays.

Plants

Plants and plant-related produce, including seeds, trees, shrubs, soil, vegetables, fruit, and bulbs, are restricted and can only be imported with a phytosanitary certificate.

Please refer to your destination country's customs and quarantine department.

Poisons and toxic liquids, solids and gases

Including substances liable to cause death or injury if swallowed or inhaled or by skin contact, such as arsenic, cyanide, fluorine and rat poison.

Prescription medicines and drugs for pets

Including treatments for worms and fleas in liquid, gel or pill form.

Radioactive materials and samples

Including any items classified as dangerous goods, such as luminous dials from aircraft.

Radio transmitters

Before shipping radio transmitters (e.g., walkie-talkies), please ensure they are approved for importation to your destination country.

Seashells

Including scallop shells, murex shells, cone shells, cowries, and conches.

Speakers

Including Bluetooth and mini PC speakers.

Tobacco

Including cigarettes, cigars, tobacco products and electronic cigarettes.

Vehicle parts

Including vehicle panels, spoilers, doors, bonnets, bumpers, carbon fibre, engines, airbags, steering wheels, and any car parts containing oil or liquids.

Waste, dirt, filth or refuse

Including organic and industrial waste and any materials that can degrade and become harmful during transit.

Wax

Including any products containing bee or soy wax.

Weapons, replica weapons

Including machettes, flick knives, bayonets, double-sided swords, card knives, double-sided knives, butterfly knives, belt buckle knives, pocket knives, push daggers, hand and foot claws, death stars, blowpipes and blowguns, sword sticks, knuckle dusters, telescopic truncheons which extend by use of a spring or other device in, or attached to, their handles, and some types of martial arts equipment.