Prohibited Items
Though we deliver almost everything, there are some things we just can't deliver.
At Chester Post, we comply with strict transport regulations due to which, there are certain goods and substances we will not carry. Please check our prohibited goods guidelines prior to arranging despatch.
The latest edition of the Civil Aviation Organisation's Technical Instructions has classified certain substances as dangerous, and Chester Post does not carry any of these substances.
Nine hazard classes are covered under these guidelines, and some examples from the dangerous goods list are mentioned below. We do not accept any material and product that may be hazardous to our handling staff.
Dangerous goods can be specified as those goods that meet the criteria of one or more of the nine UN hazard classes. These classes have been outlined based on the type of hazard and details are mentioned below:
DANGEROUS GOODS
Note: All goods classified as dangerous are prohibited.
Class One: Explosives – any chemical compound, mixture or device capable of producing a volatile-pyrotechnic effect, with substantial instantaneous release of heat and gas. Any and all explosives including but not limited to Nitro-glycerine; Fireworks; Blasting caps; Christmas Cracker Snaps; Igniters; Fuses; Flares; Ammunition, etc. are prohibited.
Class Two: Gases compressed, liquefied, or dissolved under pressure – such as permanent gases which cannot be liquefied at ambient temperatures; liquefied gases which gain liquid state under pressure at ambient temperatures; dissolved gases which are dissolved under pressure in a solvent.
Prohibited Gases or products include:
1. All flammable compressed gases or products such as Hydrogen; Ethane; Methane; Propane; Butane; Cigarette lighters; Gas Cylinders for camping stoves, blowlamps, etc
2. All toxic compressed gases such as Chlorine; Fluorine, etc
3. All non-flammable compressed gases such as Carbon Dioxide; Nitrogen; Neon; Fire Extinguishers containing such gases, etc
4. All aerosol cans
Class Three: Liquids - flammable liquids, mixtures of liquids, or liquids containing solids in solution or suspension, which give off a flammable vapour or any liquid that has a closed cup flash point below 60.5° C is prohibited and include Acetone; Benzene; Cleaning Compounds; Gasoline; Lighter Fuel; Paint Thinners and Removers; Petroleum; Solvents, etc.
Class Four: Flammable Solids - substances liable to spontaneous combustion or substances, which in contact with water emit flammable gases and solid materials which are liable to cause fire by friction, absorption of water, spontaneous chemical changes, or retained heat from manufacturing or processing, or which can be readily ignited and burn vigorously such as Matches (any type inc. safety); Calcium Carbide; Cellulose Nitrate products; Metallic Magnesium; Nitro-cellulose based film; Phosphorous; Potassium; Sodium; Sodium Hydride; Zinc Powder; Zirconium Hydride, etc are prohibited.
Class Five: Oxidising Substances and Organic Peroxides - though not necessarily combustible themselves, these substances may cause or contribute to combustion of other substances. They may also be liable to explosive decomposition, react dangerously with other substances, and be injurious to health. All oxidising substances and organic peroxides such as Bromates; Chlorates; Components of Fibreglass repair kits; Nitrates; Perchlorates; Permangamates; Peroxides, etc. are prohibited.
Class Six: Toxic and Infectious Substances - substances liable to cause death or injury if swallowed, inhaled, or come in skin contact. All toxic substances 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; Nitrobenzine; Nitrogen Dioxide; Pesticides; Rat Poison, etc. are prohibited. Pathogens in Risk Group 4 and selected Risk Group 3 pathogens listed in Schedule 9, part 5 of the latest edition of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations such as Clinical, environmental and medical waste; Ebola; Foot and Mouth disease are also prohibited.
Class Seven: Radioactive Material - all materials and samples that are classified as radioactive using Table 2-12 of the latest edition of the International Civil Aviation Organisation's Technical Instructions including Fissile Material (Uranium 235, etc.); Radioactive Waste Material; Uranium or Thorium Ores, etc. are not allowed.
Class Eight : Corrosives: Substances which can cause severe damage by chemical action to living tissue, other freight, or the means of transport. All corrosive substances like Aluminium Chloride; Caustic Soda; Corrosive Cleaning Fluid; Corrosive Rust Remover/ Preventative; Corrosive Paint Remover; Electric Storage Batteries; Hydrochloric Acid; Nitric Acid; Sulphuric Acid, etc. are also prohibited.
Class Nine: Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods - substances which present dangers not covered elsewhere can be categorised under this class and some examples include Asbestos; Dry Ice (solid carbon dioxide); Magnetised Material with a magnetic field strength of 0.159 A/m or more at a distance of 2.1m from the outside of the parcel.
ARMS AND AMMUNITION
Total Prohibitions – U.K., Import, Export And Transit
The Firearms Acts 1968-1997 prohibits the sending, receiving and transit of arms and their component parts classified as munitions of war, ammunition of any kind and firearms. Chester Post service strictly complies with the rules laid down by this Act.
Automatic weapons (machine guns and sub-machine guns), self loading rifles, most hand guns and pistols, anti-tank rocket launchers, mortars and other military weapons, Electric stun guns, firearms disguised as something else, CS gas sprays and pepper sprays, flick knives are completely prohibited.
Conditional Imports Into The U.K
The following items can be admitted conditionally for import: sporting firearms (bolt and lever-action rifles, most shotguns, muzzle loading guns, rifles of .22 rim fire calibre) and most ammunition. All of these articles are subject to domestic controls on possession of the firearms and import licensing requirements for imports into the United Kingdom. Visitors will need to obtain a British Visitors Permit (BVP) from the appropriate local police authority. The BVP should be applied for through the organisers of shooting events in the United Kingdom and should have been received by the sender prior to the item being despatched, accompanied by the permit. Additionally, visitors from another Member States of the European Union should also have the European Firearms Pass.
Any enquiries relating to import licensing requirements for firearms, ammunition and component parts can be directed to the Department of Trade and Industry's Import Licensing Branch Enquiry Point.
Tel: 0164 236 4333/4
Email: enquiries.ilb@dti.gov.uk
Conditional Exports From The UK
The following items can be admitted conditionally for export: sporting firearms (bolt and lever-action rifles, most shotguns, muzzle loading guns, rifles of .22 rim fire calibre) and most ammunition. These must be accompanied by the necessary documentation required by law (e.g. a DTI export licence). This conditional export is only available to Chester Post contract customers, and all such parcels must be sent on the International Datapost service only.
Any enquiries about the export licensing requirements should be directed to the Export Control Organisation, Department of Trade and Industry.
Tel: 020 7215 8070
Email: eco.help@dti.gsi.gov.uk
Further information about UK firearms law can be obtained from the Home Office.
Tel: 0870 000 1585
Fax: 020 7273 2065
Email: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
OTHER PROHIBITED GOODS
Drugs
Chester Post service does not send any controlled drugs. If any such drugs are discovered in transit, they will be stopped, and handed to Customs or the Police, who may take legal action against the sender and/or addressee. Control drug examples: Cocaine, Cannabis resin, LSD, Narcotics, Morphine, Opium, Psychotropic substances etc.
Filth
Any material that releases foul or disgusting odour is prohibited.
Indecent, Obscene Or Offensive Articles
Indecent, obscene or offensive communications, prints, photographs, books or other articles, and packets bearing grossly offensive, indecent or obscene words, marks or designs are prohibited. If any such items are discovered in transit, they will be stopped, and handed to Customs or the Police, who may take legal action against the sender and/or addressee.
Lottery Tickets
Tickets and related advertisements for illegal lotteries are prohibited.
Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles
Goods made in foreign prisons, except those imported for a non-commercial purposes of a kind not manufactured in the United Kingdom, or those in transit are allowed.
OTHER RESTRICTED GOODS
Alcoholic beverages
Any alcoholic beverage that has alcoholic content greater than 70% is prohibited. Moreover, alcohol that attracts excise duty cannot be sent on our Global Priority and Euro 48 services.
Batteries
These articles may only be sent in their retail packaging.
Christmas crackers
May only be shipped in complete made-up form and in their retail packaging.
Counterfeit currency and postage stamps
Prohibited unless no longer available for current use and therefore of value only as collectors items.
Diagnostic specimens
Diagnostic specimens must be shipped in packaging that complies with Packing Instructions 650. The total sample volume/mass in any package shall not exceed 50ml/g. Diagnostic specimens are only permitted for destinations within the United Kingdom.
Infectious substances
We will only accept Infectious Substances in Risk Groups 1, 2 and 3. Samples known or suspected to contain Infectious Substances in Risk Group 4 are prohibited, as are selected Risk Group 3 pathogens listed in Schedule 3, part 5 of the latest edition of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health. All infectious substances must be posted in UN 2814 or 2900 approved packaging as detailed in Packing Instructions 602 only. The total sample volume/mass in any package shall not exceed 50ml/g. Infectious substances are only permitted for destinations within the United Kingdom.
Living creatures
Only certain living creatures (animals) can be transported if enclosed in adequately constructed boxes to prevent injury to Chester Post staff, its agents or damage to other packages are allowed.
The following living creatures are accepted: Bees, Destroyers of noxious pests and other insects sent to or from officially recognized institutions, Leeches and certain parasites, Silkworms.
In addition, the following may be sent to destinations in Zones 1 to 3: Caterpillars, Earthworms, Fish fry and eggs, Lugworms, Maggots, Mealworms, Pupae and chrysalides and Ragworms. To send any of the above, only the following services Parcelforce by 9.00am, Parcelforce by 10.00am, Parcelforce by 12 noon or Parcelforce 24 must be used for Zones 1 to 3 and International Datapost for Zones 4 to 12.
Misleading endorsements
Any parcel must not bear words, marks or designs which are unauthorised and which may reasonably lead the recipient to believe that the packet has been sent On Her Majesty's Service.
Perishable articles and foodstuffs
Fresh fruit, meat, fish and other perishable articles should be able to withstand a journey of up to 2 days and must be sent by guaranteed next day service as a minimum requirement within the UK. Packages must be clearly labelled "PERISHABLE".
Packages of fish should be smoked or chilled, and sealed in vacuum packs before sending the consignment. In all cases, they must be enclosed in adequate polystyrene containers to prevent contamination. It is the responsibility of the shipper to package all perishable articles in such a manner that during transit within the system, the contents are kept at an appropriate temperature that is unlikely to give rise to a risk to health. Any foodstuffs, whether perishable or not, cannot be exported using our Global Priority and Euro 48 services. This includes seeds and other vegetable products intended for further processing.
Prescription drugs
Prescription drugs sent for medical or scientific purposes, for example from a medical practitioner to a hospital, must contain the address of the sender in case of non-delivery, so that they may be returned without any delay. The properties of these drugs, should not meet any of the criteria of the 9 UN hazard classes when being classified by the sender. Private individuals can send prescribed drugs in large quantities, in the case of emergencies. In all cases, the sender's address must be included on the inside of the package.
Sharp objects
These items may only be posted if they are packaged appropriately so that they do not present a risk to employees, other packages or recipients.
Financial documents
None of the following can be sent on any Chester Post export service - bankers drafts, current bank notes, currency notes or coins, credit cards, debit cards, uncrossed postal orders which do not state to whom they are to be paid, cheques or dividend warrants which are uncrossed and made payable to the bearer; bearer securities including share warrants, scrips’, or subscription certificates, bonds or relative coupons. Also, unfranked postage or revenue stamps, (except a revenue stamp embossed or impressed on an instrument which has been executed); coupons, vouchers, tokens, lottery tickets, scratch cards or similar documents which can be exchanged themselves or with any other document for money, goods or services; national insurance stamps; all tickets, including travel and events. They can only be sent on a Chester Post UK service.
Works of art
Works of art cannot be shipped using our Global Priority and Euro 48 services.
Plants
Living plants cannot be exported using our Global Priority and Euro 48 services.
Human remains
Human remains cannot be exported using our Global Priority and Euro 48 services.
We can carry these goods for you but with conditions applied.