What are the products you cannot ship from the US?

The following list of items that are generally prohibited or restricted for international shipping covers: 

• products that are subject to legal restrictions on export or import which are imposed either by the exporting country or the importing country; and
• products that cannot be safely shipped by international air transportation, including products that are flammable, or explosive, or toxic.  

This list is intended as general guidance.  It is not possible to provide an exhaustive list;  there may be other items not specifically named that may be determined to constitute Prohibited Items.  

The main sections are:

Dangerous Goods - Hazardous Materials

Restrictions for Shipping Lithium Batteries

Perishable Matter

Commonly Prohibited Matter

Weapons and Warfare

Items Subject to CITES Restrictions

Dangerous Goods - Hazardous Materials

The term “dangerous goods” is commonly used to describe hazardous materials.
Dangerous goods are generally prohibited in international shipping.

They are divided in 9 hazard classes:

1. Explosives
2. Gases
3. Flammable and Combustible Liquids
4. Flammable Solids
5. Oxidizing Substances, Organic Peroxides
6. Toxic Substances and Infectious Substances
7. Radioactive Materials
8. Corrosives (liquids and solids)
9. Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials

Wide range of consumer products fall under one of these hazard classes and cannot be shipped. This list is NOT exhaustive. Each item has to be determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the specific ingredients. Some examples are:

• Irradiating apparatus and radioactive materials
• Radioactive substances
• Explosives including gunpowder and dynamite
• Firecrackers and fireworks (such as fors instance Bengal lights, Luminaries, Emergency signals)
• Fire extinguishers
• Asbestos
• Cigarette lighters, gas lighters, lighter fuel
• Poisons
• Poisonous & Contagious Substances (such as Agricultural chemicals, Mercury, Bacteria, viruses)
• Hair regrowth products, e.g., Rogaine
• Goods that are potentially flammable, including:
• Perfumes
• Colognes
• Eau de toilette
• Fragrance spray
• Spray cans
• Makeup remover
• Aftershave lotion
• Nail polish
• Nail polish remover
• Some hair care products (like Peroxides (hair dyes) or Bleaching agents for instance)
• Aerosols; any product in an aerosol can and spay can
• Compressed gas or gas cylinders (ie Camping gas, Oxygen cylinders or Butane)
• Fuels
• Fuel paste
• Coal
• Charcoal
• Gasoline (petrol)
• Gas torches
• Engine oil
• Motor oil
• Essential oil
• Oil and oil paints
• Lighters with fuel; lighter fluid
• Matches
• Turpentine
• Paint thinner
• Household cleaners
• Paint and paint guns
• Varnishes
• Stains
• Solvents
• Glue and adhesives
• Paintball tanks, guns and grenades
• Printer toner cartridges

• Laboratory chemicals
• Wet-cell batteries
• Mercury
• Hydrochloric acid
• Oxygen-producing chemicals
• Chimney cleaner
• Drain cleaner
• Oven cleaner
• Bleach
• Pesticides and fungicides
• Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
• Solid carbon dioxide (dry ice)
• Antifreeze
• Automotive products, including:

• Brake fluid
• Coolants
• Degreasers
• Engines
• Hydraulic fluid
• Power steering fluid
• Transmission fluid
• Vehicle cleaning solutions
• Performance additives 

Restrictions for Shipping Lithium Batteries

There is a risk of certain lithium batteries catching fire. New regulations restrict the shipment of certain types of lithium batteries, which are considered "dangerous goods". 

May be shipped:

• Only lithium cells and batteries that are properly installed in the equipment they are intended to operate may be sent internationally. 

Can not be shipped: 

• Lithium batteries packed with, but not installed in, equipment and 
• Lithium batteries sent separately from equipment are prohibited. 
• Damaged or recalled batteries are prohibited and may not be mailed internationally under any circumstances.

Electronic devices containing lithium batteries, such as mobile phones, MP3 players, digital cameras, etc., are permitted in international postal transport as long as the battery is installed within the device and in excellent condition.

• Each parcel may not contain more than two batteries or four cells
• Loose or damaged lithium batteries are not permitted
• Outer packaging must protect the contents of the item from breakage and shock during transport
• Devices must be packaged in such a way that they cannot be switched on by accident
• Original packaging should be used whenever possible

Examples of admissible electronic devices with lithium batteries

• Digital camera
• Smartphone
• Laptop
• Tablet
• Video camera
• GPS
• Radio
• Radio equipment
• Toys
• Shaver
• Power drill
• Blood pressure monitor

Perishable Matter

• Animals - live or dead
• Eggs - fresh or dried
• Plants - Plants, seeds, and plant materials, including fruits and vegetables
• Fresh or frozen foods and other perishables (meat, milk and products thereof)

Commonly Prohibited Matter

• Firearms
  • Revolvers
  • Rifles
  • Pistols and other firearms (or parts thereof)
  • Starter pistols
  • Rifle scopes
• Guns, including 
• Ammunition and associated products; bullets 
• Offensive weapons, including:
  
  • Mace
  • Pepper spray
  • Stun guns
  • Tasers
  • Martial arts weapons
  • Hand grenades
  • Flick knives
  • Throwing knives
  • Brass knuckles, "knuckle dusters"
• Imitation weapons, including
  
  • Toy guns
  • Toy grenades 

• Knives and Sharp Objects:
• Axes 
• Darts 
• Bows and arrows 
• Bayonets

• Drugs
• Controlled chemicals, including substances which are precursors or chemicals for manufacture of dangerous drugs or psychotropic substances 
• Narcotic drugs 
• Unlicensed drugs including synthetic cannabis (often packaged as "herbal incense", "herbal potpourri" or similar descriptions) 
• Infectious substances

• Cigarettes and related products
• Cigarettes 
• Cigars 
• Tobacco 
• Tobacco products including chewing tobacco

• Cash, money and related items
• Cash (banknotes and coins) 
• Travelers cheques 
• Any monetary instrument in bearer form 
• Counterfeit or imitation money 
• Credit cards and credit card readers

• Gambling items
• Gambling equipment and apparatus 
• Poker chips 
• Lottery tickets and other similar prize tickets

• Precious metals and stones
• Bullion, gold and other precious metals 
• Loose precious stones 
• Gold, silver and platinum jewelry 
• Antiques 
• Rare coins

• Pornographic and obscene material
• Sex toys, clothing, & equipment 
• Pornographic material including some art
• Erotic publications / videos / movie

• Other Restricted Matter include, but are not limited to:
• Products or beverages containing alcohol,
• Liquids, Powders, and Odor-Producing Materials, including Cremated Remains.
• motor vehicle master keys, 
• Counterfeit or "pirated" goods; items that infringe intellectual property rights (e.g., trademarks, copyrights or patents), 
• and certain building construction material.

Weapons and Warfare

• Munitions of war
• Any products or intended for use or which could be used in chemical or biological weapons, missile technology, or nuclear proliferation
• Any items specially designed, modified, adapted or configured for military use and any "dual use" items (those with both commercial and military/police uses) including but not limited to:
• Projection telescopes specially designed for use with Super High Power Laser ("SHPL") systems
• Handcuffs, leg cuffs, ankle cuffs, police-type batons
• Polygraph (lie-detector) equipment
• Military helmets
• Night vision equipment (e.g., goggles, binoculars)
• Bulletproof clothing; flak jackets
• Nuclear material
• Surveillance and eavesdropping equipment (including hidden cameras, infrared and thermal imaging cameras)
• Lasers, radar, sonar systems
• Telecommunications equipment designed to operate underwater, or at extremely high or low temperatures, or to withstand radiation
• Spraying or fogging systems
• Software used for active flight control purposes, or designed or modified to use "cryptography" employing digital techniques performing any cryptographic function other than authentication or digital signature; military encryption software; software employing a key length greater than 64 bits for the symmetric algorithm
• Aircraft and aircraft parts
• Any other goods subject to government export restrictions or requiring an export license
• Items destined for countries subject to U.S. or international embargoes
• Items addressed to U.S. or international lists of prohibited persons and entities
  
  

Items Subject to CITES Restrictions

Many countries are parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (“CITES”).   

Products that fall within one of the CITES classifications cannot be exported or imported unless special permits are obtained.  There are extensive lists of animals and plants covered by CITES, but they are listed by Latin name (genus and species).  

The following is a general, representative list:

• Whale teeth and other whale and dolphin products
• Ivory; elephant or rhinoceros skin or horns
• Tortoise shell
• Reptiles (crocodiles, sea turtles, boas, pythons, chameleons, lizards, geckos)
• Amphibians (frogs, salamanders)
• Sea creatures (great white shark, whale shark, sturgeon, seahorse)
• Coral
• Endangered birds (wild geese, swans, toucans, pelicans, ostriches, owls, eagles)
• Furs from wild cats (tiger, jaguar, leopard, ocelot, cheetah, margay, leopard cat) 
• Furs from bears and pandas
• Fox furs
• Furs from most seals, polar bears, walruses, penguins, and sea otters
• Furs from primates (monkeys, apes, gorillas)
• Skins or parts of wild horses and zebras