Restricted goods
Restricted goods
Things we can carry but with restrictions
These restrictions apply throughout our UK and international postal service. Any of the following items may be posted providing it meets all Royal Mail’s requirements for acceptance of the item, including, but not limited to, packaging requirements.
Additional prohibitions apply in some foreign destinations and Royal Mail cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to items containing articles that are prohibited in the destination country.
If you are not sure about what you can and cannot send, please call our Customer Service Centre on 08457 740 740. Textphone users should call on 0845 600 0606.
| Aerosols | Some aerosols may be sent via our Royal Mail Tracked service – restrictions apply. Please see www.royalmail.com/tracked. |
| Alcoholic beverages | Any alcoholic drink with alcohol content no greater than 70%. Any alcoholic drink with alcohol content no greater than 70% by volume. The volume must not exceed 1 litre. |
| Asbestos | Asbestos can be carried but only when fixed in a resin, plastic or glass matrix. |
| Balloons | Balloons filled with non-flammable gases are not allowed on international Airmail routes. For UK destinations, balloons filled with non-flammable gases are permitted but these must be clearly marked on the outer packaging with the words ’NON-FLAMMABLE GAS’. Without this marking, these items are not permitted on domestic flights and will be delivered by road or rail. |
| Batteries | Alkali batteries e.g. AA, AAA batteries, may only be sent in their original packaging. Lithium batteries may be sent if not greater than 100 watts per hour. Lithium batteries may also be sent via our Royal Mail Tracked service – restrictions apply. Please see www.royalmail.com/tracked. |
| Christmas crackers | Crackers can only be sent in their complete made-up form and in their original retail packaging. |
| Counterfeit currency and stamps | Restricted to examples of currency no longer in circulation or pre decimalisation postage stamps that are of value only as collectors' items. |
| Biological Substance (Category B) | Human or animal material including, but not limited to, excreta, secreta, blood and its components, tissue and tissue fluids. These items are prohibited in the international post, but may be carried within the UK provided strict conditions are met. Samples must be packaged in accordance with Packing Instruction 650. |
| Controlled drugs | Drugs used for professional, medical or scientific purposes may only be sent in an emergency from a medical practitioner to a hospital.Narcotics and psychotropic substances, as defined by the International Narcotics Control, and drugs which are banned in the country of destination, are not permitted for either import or export. |
| Living creatures | Bees, Leeches, Pupae and Chrysalides, Caterpillars, Lugworms, Rag worms, Earthworms, Maggots, Silkworms, Fish fry and Fish eggs, Mealworms, Crickets, certain Parasites and destroyers of Noxious Pests, and some other insects sent between recognised institutions are allowed. You must use boxes that protect both the creatures and Royal Mail staff from harm. Use First Class as the minimum service and clearly label the package as "URGENT - LIVING CREATURES". Mark the sender's name and address on the outer wrapping. |
| Nail varnish | Some nail varnish may be sent via our Royal Mail Tracked service – restrictions apply. Please see www.royalmail.com/tracked. |
| Magnetised materials | Magnetised materials, except those that are prohibited, should be wrapped in soft packaging at least 20mm thick. |
| Perfumes and aftershaves | Any perfumes or aftershaves that are non-flammable are permitted. Some flammable perfumes and aftershaves are permitted via our Royal Mail Tracked service – restrictions apply. Please see www.royalmail.com/tracked. Those that are flammable are prohibited via all other Royal Mail services. |
| Perishable items | Fresh fruit, meat, fish and other perishable articles should be able to withstand a journey of up to 48 hours and must be sent preferably by Special Delivery™ or by First Class as the minimum service. Packages must be clearly labelled ‘PERISHABLE’.Packages of fish should be smoked or chilled, and sealed in vacuum packs. In all cases they must be enclosed in adequate polystyrene to prevent contamination.It is the responsibility of the sender to package all perishable articles so that the contents are kept at a temperature that is unlikely to harm |
| Prescription and over-the-counter medicines | Prescription and over-the-counter medicines may be sent by, or at the specific request of: a qualified medical practitioner, a registered dental practitioner, a veterinary surgeon, a registered nurse or a recognised laboratory or institution. Any medicine that uses an aerosol where the volume exceeds 50ml is prohibited and will not be accepted. Any aerosols that use flammable or toxic gases as propellants are also prohibited. Controlled drugs or substitutes for controlled drugs are prohibited and will not be accepted. Private individuals may send medicines in prescription quantities in cases of emergency only. See Drugs. See below for further information about sending and packaging medicines. |
| Sharp objects | Sharp objects like knives, kitchen utensils and gardening tools may only be posted if they are packaged appropriately so that they are no risk to employees, other postal items or recipients. |
| Water-based paints, varnishes and enamels | Water-based paints, varnishes and enamels with a volume less than 150ml, must be sent in sealed tins or bottles, placed in polythene and sealed again. The items must be surrounded with sufficient absorbent material to soak up any leakage and must be packed in strong fibreboard or polystyrene. |
| Weapons and ammunition | Sporting firearms and most ammunition can be admitted into the United Kingdom conditionally as imported goods. All these articles are subject to domestic controls on possession of the firearms and import licensing requirements for imports into the United Kingdom. Replica and inert explosive devices and military ordnance, including inert grenades, inert shells and similar items are not permitted for either import or export, and if posted within the UK will be subject to closer scrutiny which will cause delay. |
Please note that additional prohibitions apply in some foreign countries and for that reason, we cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to items if the articles inside are prohibited in the country you’re trying to send it to.
If you are not sure about what you cannot send, please call our Customer Service Centre on 08457 740 740. Textphone users should call on 0845 600 0606.
If you are not sure about what you cannot send, please call our Customer Service Centre on 08457 740 740. Textphone users should call on 0845 600 0606.
