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Prohibited Items

Prohibited Items

We make shipping easy so you don't have to be an expert to ship with us. The following sections give guidance on all the things you need to know. Have a quick flick through and you will see loads of useful information on how to get the best from our site.

The following articles are prohibited from shipment to all countries served.

  • Acids

  • Aerosols

  • Aftershave

  • Alcoholic beverages

  • Animal skins (non-domesticated)

  • Articles of exceptional value (e.g., works of art, antiques, precious stones, gold and silver)

  • Batteries containing liquid

  • Bleach

  • Cash

  • Compressed Gas

  • Dangerous goods / Hazardous materials (following IATA regulations for Express and Expedited, and following ADR regulations for Standard)

  • Explosives

  • Firearms or air rifles

  • Flammable products of any type

  • Furs

  • Ignitable gas

  • Incapacitating sprays

  • Ink or toner Cartridges

  • Ivory and ivory products

  • Knives or weapons

  • Live animals

  • Meat or animal products

  • Money and negotiable items

  • Nail varnish

  • Narcotics / illegal drug related substances

  • Passports

  • Perfume, aftershave and other fragrances

  • Plants

  • Poisons

  • Pornographic materials

  • Seeds

  • Tobacco and tobacco products

  • Hoverboards prohibited with DHL, FedEx, UPS & TNT

  • TVs prohibited with TNT and EVRi

  • White goods such as cookers/fridges/washing machines (Household & Commercial).

  • Human remains / ashes

  • Watches and jewellery valued over £500.00

Also prohibited are: goods moving under ATA Carnet and all temporary exports and imports; goods moving under FCR, FCT and CAD (Cash Against Document); shipments with inherent vice, which by their nature are likely to soil, impair or damage persons, merchandise or equipment; goods, the carriage of which is prohibited by law in the country of origin, transit or destination (e.g. ivory and ivory products), goods which attract excise duty (e.g. spirits) or which require special facilities, safety precautions or permits. Under applicable law, certain goods may be transported only under prescribed conditions and certain goods are prohibited from transportation by air (e.g. liquids in glass containers).

It is the shipper’s responsibility to comply with current government regulations or laws applicable in each country. Shipments are subject to inspection and possible delay by customs or representatives of other government authorities.

We reserve the right to refuse or suspend transportation of any package which does not set out contact details for shipper and receiver and of goods which, in our opinion, are not practicable for transportation or are not adequately described, classified or packed and labelled in a manner suitable for transportation and accompanied by necessary documentation.

We will not transport any goods which are prohibited by law or regulation of any federal, state or local government in the origin or destination countries or which may breach any applicable export, import or other laws or endanger the safety of our employees, agents and subcontractors or the means of transportation or,which in our opinion, soil, paint or otherwise damage other goods or equipment or which are economically or operationally impractical to transport.

Dangerous Goods

We adhere to the air transportation regulations outlined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and to the road transportation regulations outlined by the UN ADR and does not accept Dangerous Goods in its system- nationally or internationally. Local national regulations also apply for road transport.

Individuals or businesses which ship Dangerous Goods without appropriate labelling documentation and packaging can face significant financial and legal penalties. It is also important to remember the following when shipping us.

If you are reusing packaging or cartons, please ensure that all old labelling is removed. Any dangerous goods labels on a package will cause the shipment to be held and inspected, causing service delays and inconvenience to you and your customer.

If you are shipping goods that could be potentially seen as Dangerous Goods, but are not, because of their unusual name, appearance etc, it is advantageous to clearly declare on the shipping documentation that the goods are classified as Dangerous Goods. This will ensure the shipment is not delayed unnecessarily. Any misdeclaration will lead to strong penalties for the shipper.

EVRi Prohibited Items

  • All toxic substances are prohibited – Such as Arsenic; Beryllium; Cyanide; Fluorine; Hydrogen Selenide; Infectious Substances containing Micro-Organisms or their Toxins which are known to cause (or are suspected of causing) disease: Mercury; Mercury Salts; Mustard Gas; Nitrobenzene; Nitrogen Dioxide; Pesticides; Serum and Vaccines

  • All liquids are prohibited – Including Gels, Creams, Pastes, Lotions and Oils

  • Batteries (such as lithium batteries) – Unless included with the equipment they power

  • Drugs – Any medicinal, narcotic or psychoactive substance controlled under the UK’s current Misuse of Drugs legislations

  • Gardening and household tools – Unless they are properly protected

  • Illegal items – Goods which are illegal, the carriage of which is illegal, or the supply of which to the recipient is illegal

  • Magnetised material – With a magnetic field strength of 0.159A/m or more at a distance of 2.1m from the outside of the package

  • Miscellaneous manufactured articles - Goods made in foreign prisons, except those imported for non-commercial purpose of a kind not manufactured in the United Kingdom, or those in transit

  • Misleading endorsements – Parcels must not bear words, marks or designs which are unauthorised and which may reasonably lead the recipient to believe it has been sent On Her Majesty’s Service

  • Oxidising substances and organic peroxide – These are substances such as disinfectants and may cause or contribute to combustion of other substances. They may also be liable to explosive decomposition, react dangerously with other substances and injure health. For example: Bromides; Chlorates; Components of Fibreglass Repair Kits; Disinfectants; Nitrates; Per Chlorates; Permanganates and Peroxides

  • Paints and inks – Both solvent and water-based products are prohibited, this also includes varnishes (including nail varnish), enamels and similar substances

  • Pathogens - Things that can cause disease, such as a virus. Pathogens in the Risk Group 4 and selected Risk Group 3 listed in Schedule 9, Part 5 of the latest edition of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations are prohibited. For example: Clinical; Environmental and Medical Waste; Ebola and Anthrax

  • Perfumes and aftershaves – As well as being classed as liquids, these are flammable and are prohibited

  • Pesticides – Any chemical that is used to kill pests and insects

  • Poisonous (toxic) and infectious substances – Substances that are liable to cause death or injury if swallowed or inhaled, or by skin contact

  • Pressurised containers – Such Aerosols, Oxygen Tanks or Fire Extinguishers

  • Radioactive materials – Radioactive materials and samples that are classified includes varnishes (including nail varnish), enamels and similar substances Civil Aviation Organisations’ (ICAO) Technical Instructions. For example: Fissile Material; (Uranium 235, etc); Radioactive Waste Material; Thorium or Uranium Ores, etc.

  • Sharp instruments – Including Knives, Scissors and Axes

  • UN2814 or UN2900 Infectious substances – These are classified at Division 6.2 of the 2005–2006 Edition Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air published by International Civil Aviation Organisation, (ICAO)

  • Vehicle parts – Parts which are over our weight limit (15kg) or that are outside of our dimension limits. We also exclude any parts that contain liquids

  • Weapons and replica weapons – Including decorative, deactivated or air powered weapons

DPD Prohibited Items

  • Dangerous goods

  • Hazardous goods

  • Flammable goods

  • Live or dead animals

  • Perishable or frozen food

  • Cash (including cheques or vouchers)

  • Jewellery, fur, antiques, works of art or precious metals

  • Negotiable instruments (including cheques and any vouchers with a face value)

  • Glass (porcelain, earthenware or other similar materials)

  • Documents which can be exchanged for cash or goods

  • Televisions or monitors with screens larger than 37"

  • Any goods which require temperature controlled transport

  • Non excepted batteries

  • Liquids

  • Pornography

  • Firearms

  • Personal effects (suitcases or personal belongings)

  • Shipments sent in wooden boxes

  • Any goods prohibited by the law or regulation of any government or public or local authority of any country where the goods are carried

UPS Prohibited Items

  • Liquids and Gels of any type, in combination with any electronic device

  • Animal skins (non-domesticated)

  • Articles of exceptional value (e.g., works of art, antiques, precious stones, gold and silver)

  • Dangerous goods/Hazardous materials (following IATA regulations for Express and Expedited, and following ADR regulations for Standard)

  • Electric Scooters

  • Firearms

  • Furs

  • Ivory and ivory products

  • LCD and flat screens TVs of 32 inches or larger are not accepted by UPS (manufacturers require upright position during transport which UPS cannot guarantee)

  • Liquids and gels of any type, when combined with any electronic device.

  • Live animals

  • Money and negotiable items

  • Perishable goods

  • Personal effects (except via MBE Centres to selected countries)

  • Plants

  • Pornographic materials

  • Seeds

  • Tobacco and tobacco products

  • Unaccompanied baggage (except via MBE Centres to selected countries)

  • Watches exceeding the value of $500 USD or local currency equivalent per parcel

ParcelForce Prohibited Items

  • Aerosols for toiletry or medicinal purposes

  • Aerosols for any other purpose (including spray paints, etc.)

  • Alcoholic beverages containing more than 70% alcohol by volume (ABV)

  • Alcoholic beverages containing more than 24% but not more than 70% alcohol by volume (ABV)

  • Arms and Ammunition

  • Arms and Ammunition - low powered air weapons

  • Batteries that are classified as dangerous goods and certain used batteries, new wet, non-spillable

  • Batteries, specifically new and used lithium batteries when not sent with or connected to an electronic device

  • Batteries - new wet, non-spillable

  • Biological Substances

  • Bladed Products

  • Car Parts (panels, doors, bumpers and bonnets are prohibited. Other car parts are acceptable as long as packaging guidelines are followed).

  • Christmas Crackers

  • Clinical and medical waste (e.g. contaminated dressings, bandages and needles)

  • Controlled drugs and narcotics

  • Corrosives (including dyes, acids, corrosive paint and rust removers, caustic soda, mercury and gallium metal)

  • Counterfeit currency and counterfeit stamps are prohibited

  • Dry Ice

  • Electronic devices sent with lithium batteries

  • Environmental waste (including used batteries and used engine oil)

  • Explosives (including fireworks, flares, blasting caps, party poppers)

  • Financial documents

  • Flammable liquids (including petroleum, lighter fluid, certain adhesives, solvent based paints, wood varnish, enamels, acetone and all nail varnish removers)

  • Flammable solids (including magnesium, phosphorous, sodium, zinc powder and fire lighters)

  • Gases, including flammable, non-flammable, toxic and compressed gases

  • Hoverboards and electric scooters are prohibited to all destinations (UK and international)

  • Human and animal remains - Human remains (including ashes) and dead animals (including preserved animal parts and skins) are prohibited

  • Illegal lottery tickets - Tickets and related advertisements for illegal lotteries are prohibited

  • Indecent, obscene or offensive articles

  • Infectious substances and pathogens

  • Lighters and refills containing flammable liquid or gas (including new, used and empty butane, petrol cigar and cigarette lighters)

  • Liquids over 1 litre

  • Living creatures, bees, spiders fish fry and coral are all prohibited from our UK and International services

  • Magnetized material (with a field strength of 0.418A/metre or more at a distance of 4.6 metres from the outside of the package)

  • Matches (including safety matches)

  • Miscellaneous manufactured articles - Goods made in foreign prisons, except those imported for a non-commercial purpose of a kind not manufactured in the United Kingdom, or those in transit

  • Misleading endorsements

  • Nail varnish, polish or gel

  • Oxidising materials or organic peroxides (including disinfectants, nitrates and hair dyes or colourants containing peroxide)

  • Perfumes and aftershaves

  • Perishables Frozen / fresh pet food and meat for human consumption are prohibited

  • Pesticides (e.g. weed killer and any chemical used to kill pests and insects including fly sprays)

  • Poisons, toxic liquids, solids and gases

  • Radioactive materials and samples (Classified as dangerous goods such as luminous dials from aircraft)

  • Waste, dirt, filth or refuse

  • Weapons (including Section 5 firearms, CS gas and pepper sprays, flick knives, and other knives that are banned knives under UK laws, tasers and stun guns)