International Shipping Restrictions, Prohibitions, & HAZMAT

When you ship something from the United States to another country, you must follow both E.T.S.^® international shipping regulations and the regulations of the destination country:

• Some items are prohibited (completely forbidden).
• Some are restricted (allowed under certain conditions).
• Hazardous materials (HAZMAT), also known as Dangerous Goods (DG), may be prohibited or restricted.

If you’re shipping within the U.S., see Domestic Shipping Prohibitions & Restrictions.

Mailer Guidelines

• If you’re not allowed to ship an item in the U.S., you’re not allowed to ship it to any other country.
• Other items are specifically prohibited from being mailed to any other country.
• Finally, each country has its own rules on what it will and won’t allow: Find your destination country in the Individual Country Listings.

Shipments to U.S. military bases and embassies (APO/FPO/DPO) in foreign countries are treated like domestic mail, but they are still subject to those countries’ laws.

All E.T.S. customers are responsible for:

1. Complying with Postal Service^â„¢ regulations and U.S. related laws and regulations.
   • Review the USPS Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, & Perishable Mail and the International Mail Manual to find out if your item is mailable.
2. Complying with the laws of your destination country.
   • Review the Individual Country Listings to discover if the destination country permits your item.
   • Know that a country’s size and weight standards may differ from E.T.S. standards.
3. Packing your package securely and marking it as required. You can take your package to a Post Office^â„¢ location to make sure it is labeled correctly.
4. Accurately filling out customs forms (including more-detailed package descriptions required by countries that follow European Union (EU) customs rules).

Shipping Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) & Dangerous Goods (DG) Internationally

Hazardous materials (also known as dangerous goods) are substances that could injure people or cause damage if not handled properly, like chemicals or flammable items:

HAZMAT also includes lithium batteries (like the ones in cell phones and electronics); they contain a lot of energy and can be a fire risk.

• Some HAZMAT is prohibited—you can’t send it through E.T.S. and must use another carrier.
• Other HAZMAT is restricted—you can mail it if you follow all the rules.
• Some HAZMAT can only be sent in ground transportation—it can’t go on airplanes.
• If you are mailing packages that contain hazardous materials (HAZMAT), you must separate HAZMAT packages from all other packages and present them in a container marked “HAZMAT.”

Internationally Prohibited Items

These items may not be sent from the United States to any country:

• Aerosols
• Air Bags
• Alcoholic Beverages
• Ammunition
• Cigarettes
• Dry Ice
• Explosives
• Gasoline
• Hemp-based products (including cannabidiol [CBD])
• Marijuana (medical or otherwise)
• Nail Polish
• Perfumes (containing alcohol)
• Poisons

Additionally, each country has its own rules on what it will and won’t allow: Find your destination country in the Individual Country Listings.

Internationally Restricted Items

Restricted items may only be sent out of the United States if they meet E.T.S. domestic requirements and the shipping requirements of the destination country.

Reminder: Each country has its own rules on what it will and won’t allow: Find your destination country in the Individual Country Listings.

 

Restricted Items	Domestic and shipping requirements
Cigars	Cigars may only be mailed to countries that allow cigar shipments
Live Animals	Except in limited circumstances, pets and warm-blooded animals may not go in the mail. Shipments of live animals, including poultry, reptiles, and bees, have very specific packaging requirements. Although you can drop these animals at any Post Officeâ„¢ location, they are only shipped when the right transportation is available.
Firearms	Only licensed manufacturers and dealers may mail or receive handguns. Many countries have distinct domestic laws impacting the shipping and receipt of firearms.
Glues	Glues have a wide range of flashpoints. Most glues are flammable and combustible and may not be mailed internationally. Glues are categorized as “adhesives” in the below resources.
Paint	Flammable or combustible paint and paint-related items may not be shipped internationally. Latex Paint or a similar water-based paint product that is not flammable or combustible is not regulated as a hazardous material, and therefore, is not restricted.
Perishable Items	Perishable items are materials that can deteriorate in the mail, such as live animals, food, and plants. Permissible perishable items are sent at the mailer’s own risk. These items must be specially packaged and mailed so that they arrive before they begin to deteriorate.
Lithium Batteries	Only lithium cells and batteries that are properly installed in the equipment they are intended to operate may be mailed internationally or to APO/FPO/DPO locations if the destination country and APO/FPO/DPO permit their receipt. Prohibited Lithium Battery Shipments 1. Lithium batteries packed with, but not installed in, equipment 2. Lithium batteries sent separately from equipment 3. Damaged or recalled batteries 4. All pre-owned, damaged, or defective electronic devices containing or packaged with lithium batteries
Medicines & Prescription Drugs	When sending medicine or drugs through the mail, mailers and shippers must know the characteristics of the items they are sending and treat them correctly. Medicines are controlled substances and are subject to strict regulations. Prescription medications may only be mailed by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registered distributors. Similar regulations apply to some over-the-counter medications.
Matches	Safety Matches Safety matches have treated match heads that will only ignite when struck against a specially prepared surface like a match book, card, or box. Safety matches must be sent via ground transportation and cannot be mailed internationally. Additional Information on Mailing Safety Matches Strike-Anywhere Matches Strike-anywhere matches will light from friction against any surface. Strike-anywhere matches may not be mailed domestically.