Not everything can cross a border. Some items are barred outright; others can ship only with the right licensing, packaging, documentation, or destination approval. This page lists what FlavorCloud treats as Prohibited or Restricted, grouped by category, so you can check an item before it triggers a customs hold. When in doubt, confirm with your FlavorCloud account manager before you ship.
This is a general guide. Destination-country rules can be stricter than what is listed here, and can change. It does not replace country-specific import requirements.
How to read this list
- Prohibited We cannot ship it.
- Restricted We can ship it only when specific conditions are met, such as licensing, dangerous-goods packaging, destination legality, or a declared value.
Categories
Weapons & explosives
| Item |
Status |
Conditions / details |
| Firearms (all types, including replicas) |
Prohibited |
Not accepted under any circumstances. |
| Ammunition and ammunition components |
Prohibited |
Not accepted under any circumstances. |
| Explosives, fireworks, flares, blasting caps |
Prohibited |
Not accepted under any circumstances. |
| Toy guns, replica/imitation firearms, firearm parts & attachments |
Restricted |
Treated as firearms-adjacent; permitted only where legal at both ends. |
| Knives, batons, stun guns, pepper spray, Tasers |
Restricted |
Permitted only where legal at both origin and destination; may require age/license verification. |
| Military ordnance, munitions, or surplus weaponry |
Prohibited |
Not accepted under any circumstances. |
Hazardous materials
| Item |
Status |
Conditions / details |
| Flammable liquids, gels, and aerosols |
Restricted |
Requires dangerous goods classification, packaging, and carrier pre-approval. |
| Compressed gases (incl. camping/aerosol canisters) |
Restricted |
Requires dangerous goods classification and carrier pre-approval. |
| Corrosives, oxidizers, and toxic substances |
Prohibited |
Not accepted for standard (non-DG) shipment. |
| Loose (uninstalled) lithium metal or lithium-ion batteries |
Restricted |
Must be installed in equipment or shipped under approved DG packaging and labeling. |
| Radioactive materials |
Prohibited |
Not accepted under any circumstances. |
| Dry ice and other refrigerants |
Restricted |
Requires proper packaging, labeling, and quantity limits. |
| Biological substances / diagnostic specimens (Category B) |
Restricted |
Requires dangerous goods classification and documentation. |
| Magnets (strong or loose) |
Restricted |
May require special packaging due to compass/aircraft-instrument interference; carrier quantity limits apply. |
| Gas-powered or pressurized specialty equipment (breathing apparatus, diving equipment, camping gear) |
Restricted |
May contain compressed gas cylinders or pressurized components requiring DG handling. |
| General liquids, liquefiable substances, and powders (non-hazmat) |
Restricted |
Broad catch-all category; review composition case-by-case before shipping. |
| Mercury-containing devices (thermometers, barometers, manometers, sphygmomanometers) |
Restricted |
Requires careful packaging; many destinations restrict or ban mercury devices outright. |
| Vaccines and other biologic pharmaceutical products |
Restricted |
Requires cold-chain handling, licensing, and destination regulatory approval. |
Drugs & controlled substances
| Item |
Status |
Conditions / details |
| Illegal narcotics and controlled substances |
Prohibited |
Not accepted under any circumstances. |
| Drug paraphernalia |
Prohibited |
Not accepted where illegal at destination. |
| Prescription pharmaceuticals |
Restricted |
Requires proper licensing, documentation, and destination-country approval. |
| CBD, hemp-derived, and cannabis products |
Restricted |
Treat as prohibited by default until destination legality and product composition (THC content) are confirmed. |
| Kratom and kratom-derived products |
Restricted |
Treat as prohibited by default; legality varies by U.S. state and destination country. |
| Dietary supplements and vitamins |
Restricted |
Some ingredients (e.g., DMAA, ephedrine alkaloids, high-dose stimulants) are banned in specific destinations; verify formulation before shipping. |
Counterfeit & IP-infringing goods
| Item |
Status |
Conditions / details |
| Counterfeit branded merchandise |
Prohibited |
Not accepted under any circumstances. |
| Unauthorized reproductions of copyrighted media |
Prohibited |
Not accepted under any circumstances. |
Currency & valuables
| Item |
Status |
Conditions / details |
| Cash, currency, and negotiable instruments |
Restricted |
Generally not accepted; where permitted, requires insurance and customs declaration. |
| Precious metals (gold, silver, platinum bullion) |
Restricted |
Requires insured, declared shipment and destination-country compliance. |
| Loose precious/semi-precious gemstones |
Restricted |
Requires insured, declared shipment and documentation of origin. |
| Industrial diamonds |
Restricted |
Requires documentation of origin and declared value. |
| Postage stamps (unused, bulk, or collectible) |
Restricted |
Requires declared value and destination compliance. |
| Gift cards, lottery tickets, vouchers, tokens, prepaid phone cards |
Restricted |
Requires declared value and destination compliance. |
| High-value jewelry and watches above value threshold |
Restricted |
Requires insured, declared shipment. |
| Fine art, antiques, and collectibles above value threshold |
Restricted |
Requires insured, declared shipment and provenance documentation. |
| Shipments with a total declared value of $2,500 or more |
Restricted |
Value threshold applies regardless of what the shipment contains. |
Wildlife & animal products
| Item |
Status |
Conditions / details |
| Ivory, fur, and endangered species products |
Prohibited |
Not accepted; CITES-protected species and derivatives are barred. |
| Live animals |
Restricted |
Requires permits, health certificates, and specialized carrier handling. |
| Taxidermy and animal trophies |
Restricted |
Requires permits and documentation of legal origin. |
| Non-domesticated animal products (e.g., snakeskin, mother-of-pearl) |
Restricted |
Requires documentation of legal origin. |
Human remains
| Item |
Status |
Conditions / details |
| Human remains, ashes, body parts, or embryos |
Restricted |
Requires special documentation and carrier authorization. |
Tobacco & alcohol
| Item |
Status |
Conditions / details |
| Tobacco products and e-cigarettes/vaping devices |
Restricted |
Permitted only to destinations where legal; age verification and licensing may apply. |
| Alcoholic beverages |
Restricted |
Permitted only where both origin and destination allow; may require licensing and age verification. |
Plants, food & agriculture
| Item |
Status |
Conditions / details |
| Seeds, plants, and plant materials |
Restricted |
Requires phytosanitary certificates and destination agricultural approval. |
| Perishable food items |
Restricted |
Requires proper packaging, labeling, and destination import compliance. |
| Soil and biological samples |
Prohibited |
Not accepted under any circumstances. |
| Pet food and animal feed |
Restricted |
Some destinations restrict animal-origin ingredients; verify composition before shipping. |
Obscene or illegal content
| Item |
Status |
Conditions / details |
| Pornographic or obscene materials |
Prohibited |
Not accepted under any circumstances. |
| Material promoting hate speech or violence |
Prohibited |
Not accepted under any circumstances. |
Government & regulated items
| Item |
Status |
Conditions / details |
| Government or military uniforms, badges, and IDs |
Restricted |
Requires proof of authorized use or licensing. |
| Medical devices requiring regulatory clearance |
Restricted |
Requires applicable regulatory approval (e.g., FDA, CE) and documentation. |
| Gambling devices and equipment |
Restricted |
Permitted only where legal at destination. |
| Mobile phones, CPUs, and microchips (bulk/commercial quantity) |
Restricted |
May require import licensing and security screening at destination. |
| Cosmetics and perfumes |
Restricted |
May require ingredient disclosure and destination regulatory compliance. |
Trade compliance
| Item |
Status |
Conditions / details |
| Goods destined for sanctioned countries, entities, or individuals |
Prohibited |
Must be screened against applicable denied-party and sanctions lists. |
| Dual-use goods subject to export licensing |
Restricted |
Requires export license verification prior to shipment. |
| Goods moving under ATA Carnet or temporary export/import |
Restricted |
Requires carnet documentation and carrier pre-approval. |
| Iron/steel components of Russian origin (EU/UK-bound shipments) |
Restricted |
Sanctions-driven restriction; verify origin documentation before shipment. |
Miscellaneous
| Item |
Status |
Conditions / details |
| Used or second-hand goods (where restricted by destination) |
Restricted |
Some destination countries prohibit import of used goods in specific categories (e.g., apparel, electronics, tires). |
| Hazardous waste and industrial byproducts |
Prohibited |
Not accepted under any circumstances. |
| Household goods and personal effects (bulk/relocation shipments) |
Restricted |
May require inventory documentation and destination customs clearance. |
| Automobile parts (containing fluids) |
Restricted |
Fluids must be drained or the part shipped as dangerous goods; verify with the carrier. |
| Wooden items and articles |
Restricted |
Some destinations require heat-treatment/phytosanitary certification for wood products. |
| Religious material |
Restricted |
Restrictions can apply at some destinations; confirm with your FlavorCloud account manager before shipping. |
| Electrical equipment and electrically powered apparatus (e.g., wheelchairs, lawnmowers) |
Restricted |
May require battery/motor documentation and destination safety compliance. |
Not sure how a specific item is treated, or need to ship something on the Restricted list? Contact FlavorCloud support before you ship.
