Prohibited Items in Parcels — What You Cannot Ship and Why

Before shipping a parcel, it pays to know what you can actually put inside. Prohibited items rules are more complex than most people expect — some things are banned everywhere (weapons, drugs), some only by specific carriers (batteries by air), and some only to certain countries (alcohol into the USA). Getting it wrong means confiscation, fines, or worse. Here is a complete overview of all three levels.

1. Universally prohibited — never, anywhere

Every carrier worldwide refuses these items. If you attempt to ship them, the parcel will be stopped, the contents confiscated, and you may face a fine or criminal charges.

• Weapons and weapon components — firearms, ammunition, hunting weapons, replicas, knives with fixed blades over 15 cm, crossbows, tasers, stun guns
• Drugs and controlled substances — all UN-listed substances including cocaine, heroin, MDMA, LSD, and cannabis (even in countries where it is legal domestically)
• Explosives and pyrotechnics — including fireworks, sparklers, detonators, smoke bombs, flares
• Radioactive material — samples, instruments containing radioactive emitters, industrial gauges
• Live animals — regular carriers do not transport living animals. Only specialist IATA Live Animals certified services may.
• Human remains — only via specialist mortuary carriers with full documentation

2. Carrier-dependent restrictions

These items are handled differently by each carrier — some allow them with conditions, others refuse entirely.

Lithium-ion batteries

The most common issue with electronics shipments. Lithium-ion batteries are classified as dangerous goods (UN 3480 for standalone batteries, UN 3481 for batteries in devices) and cannot be shipped by air without specific labelling and documentation.

• Batteries inside devices (laptop, phone) — generally accepted if the device is switched off and the battery is under 100 Wh
• Standalone batteries — problematic. Most national postal services accept them only by surface (road/sea), not air. DHL/UPS/FedEx require DGR (Dangerous Goods) documentation.
• Damaged or swollen batteries — completely prohibited
• Over 100 Wh (large power banks, high-capacity laptop batteries) — requires professional packaging and certification

Alcohol

• Within the EU — permitted but with restrictions (typically max 1 litre per parcel, properly protected against breakage)
• To the USA — prohibited without a federal import licence. USPS does not deliver alcohol; FedEx/UPS only between licensed retailers.
• To Arab countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain) — completely prohibited; confiscated at customs
• By air, above 24% ABV — classified as dangerous goods; requires DGR documentation or surface transport only

Liquids

By air, liquids are restricted to 100 ml per container — analogous to carry-on luggage rules. Large bottles of perfume, cosmetics, or cleaning products cannot go by airmail. EU surface transport has no quantity limit, though flammable liquids have their own restrictions.

Tobacco products

Within the EU, restricted to personal quantities. Outside the EU, typically prohibited without an import licence. E-cigarettes and vaping liquids are strictly controlled — commonly prohibited in the USA and Australia.

Prescription medicines

Prescription medication is restricted in international shipping. Over-the-counter medicines within the EU are generally fine, but international shipments may require specifying the active ingredients and sometimes a doctor’s prescription or import authorisation. The USA and Australia have strict rules even for vitamins and supplements.

Food

• Within the EU — packaged, shelf-stable food is generally permitted. Fresh food, dairy and raw meat are not.
• To the USA — all animal-origin food (meat, dairy, eggs) is completely prohibited. Plant-based products have restrictions and may require USDA permits.
• To Australia and New Zealand — extremely strict biosecurity. Seeds, dried food, wooden items, natural-leather goods, cosmetics with natural extracts, used outdoor footwear — all prohibited or subject to mandatory quarantine and destruction.

Flammables and chemicals

Petrol, gas canisters, lighters with gas, solvents, paints, adhesives with high solvent content — prohibited by air, restricted by surface transport. Always declare if in doubt.

Jewellery, valuables, precious metals

Not prohibited, but require insurance (see the valuable parcel guide) and often signature-required or own-hands delivery. Sending high-value items by standard post is a significant risk.

3. Country-specific rules

United Kingdom (post-Brexit)

• Meat and meat products — prohibited
• Dairy products — prohibited (except infant formula with restrictions)
• Plants and seeds — requires a phytosanitary certificate
• Tobacco — restricted, with licence

USA

• Alcohol — prohibited without federal import licence
• All meat, poultry, eggs — prohibited
• Seeds and plants — strict restrictions; requires USDA permit
• Tobacco — prohibited without licence
• Prescription medicines — prohibited without a valid US prescription

Australia and New Zealand

Among the strictest biosecurity regimes in the world. Prohibited or quarantine-required: seeds, dried foods, wooden objects, natural leather, cosmetics with natural botanical extracts, used hiking/outdoor footwear. Even children’s toys with metal components may require a declaration.

Arab countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain)

• Alcohol — completely prohibited
• Pork and pork-derived products — prohibited
• Pornographic or sexually explicit material — prohibited
• Religious material of non-Islamic faiths — restricted

China

• Telecommunications and radio devices — restricted, may require import permits
• Politically sensitive material — prohibited
• Used goods — typically high duties, sometimes prohibited

4. What happens if you ship prohibited items

• Customs stops the parcel — most common outcome. The parcel is held; you receive a notice to provide authorisation documentation or arrange collection.
• Contents confiscated — if you cannot prove the shipment is lawful (or it simply isn’t), the contents are seized. You won’t be compensated.
• Fine — typically €50–€5,000 depending on severity. Drugs and weapons can lead to criminal prosecution.
• Carrier account suspension — repeated violations can result in your account being blocked by the carrier.

For serious offences (weapons, drugs, prohibited material) customs authorities notify law enforcement. Never try to disguise prohibited items — customs scanners use X-ray technology and cross-reference databases.

5. Practical tips to stay compliant

• Check the carrier’s prohibited list before booking — every carrier’s website has a “Prohibited items” section. Two minutes before booking saves potential hundreds in losses.
• Check the destination country rules — the destination country’s customs authority publishes import restrictions. For the USA: cbp.gov. For Australia: agriculture.gov.au.
• Be truthful on customs declarations — undervaluing or misdescribing contents is a criminal offence. Always state the actual contents and value.
• For electronics with batteries, add a note: “Contains lithium-ion battery, <100 Wh” — customs officers know what to expect and are less likely to hold the parcel.
• Use a broker for complex shipments — services like Eurosender or Sendcloud have customs experts who can advise on specific items and destinations.
• When in doubt, call the carrier — their customer line will tell you whether a specific item can be shipped before you commit to a booking.

Summary

Three levels of prohibited items: universal (weapons, drugs, explosives — never), carrier-dependent (batteries, alcohol, liquids — with conditions), and destination-specific (food into the USA, seeds into Australia, alcohol into Arab countries — completely). Violations mean confiscation and fines. Always check both the carrier and destination country lists before shipping, declare contents truthfully, and when uncertain call the carrier first. Customs X-ray scanners and international databases make concealment essentially impossible.