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Restricted and prohibited goods
We take legal and safety issues very seriously and we refuse to carry any illegal or harmful items. These restrictions apply to our service throughout the UK and our international postal service.
If we find prohibited goods in the post, we will return them to the sender or dispose of them. In some cases, the sender may face prosecution.
Can your items be sent in the post?
Use the table below to see whether the item you want to send is prohibited. If you are sending an item internationally, you should also confirm that the item is not prohibited in the destination country. We cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to items that are prohibited in the destination country.
| You cannot send | Notes and exceptions |
|---|---|
| Aerosols | Except inhalers with a volume of 50ml or less |
| Alcoholic liquids | With alcohol content higher than 70% |
| Batteries | Batteries which are classed as dangerous goods by the latest edition of the International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) Technical Instructions are prohibited |
| Butane lighters | Both filled or refills |
| Clinical and medical waste | Including used dressings, bandages, needles and cotton wool |
| Drugs | Except emergency drugs for medical or scientific purposes |
| Corrosive substances | Substances which can cause severe damage to living tissue, other freight, or transport by its chemical reaction are prohibited, including aluminium chloride, caustic soda, corrosive cleaning fluid, corrosive rust remover/preventative, corrosive paint remover, electric storage batteries, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid and sulphuric acid. |
| Counterfeit currency, bank notes and postage stamps | This doesn’t include copies of old denominations that can’t be used as money, and are now obsolete and worthless except for their collectable value. |
| Dry ice | Dry ice that is solid carbon dioxide |
| Environmental waste | Eg used engine oil or used batteries |
| Explosives | Any chemical compound, mixture or device capable of producing an explosive-pyrotechnic effect, with substantial instantaneous release of heat and gas. This includes ammunition, blasting caps, fireworks, flares, fuses, igniters and nitroglycerine. Items that appear to be prohibited weapons or explosive ordnance, even if incapable of being used as a weapon, will be subject to closer scrutiny which may cause delay |
| Filth | Eg dirt, waste or refuse |
| You cannot send | Notes and exceptions |
|---|---|
| Flammable liquids | Mixtures of liquids or liquids containing solids in solution or suspension which give off a flammable vapour. You cannot send any liquid with a closed-cup flash point below 60.5°c. This includes acetone, benzene, cleaning compounds, gasoline, lighter fuel, paint thinners or removers, petroleum and solvents. |
| Flammable solids | Solid materials which may 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. This includes adhesives, calcium carbide, cellulose nitrate products, matches, metallic magnesium, nitro-cellulose based film, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, sodium hydride, zinc powder and zirconium hydride. |
| Gases | All flammable compressed gases including blowlamps, butane, cigarette lighters, ethane, gas cylinders for camping stoves, hydrogen, methane and propane. All toxic compressed gases including chlorine and fluorine. All non-flammable compressed gases such as air bags, carbon dioxide, fire extinguishers containing such gases, neon and nitrogen. |
| Indecent, obscene or offensive material | Eg pornographic material |
| 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. |
| Lottery tickets | Except UK lottery tickets |
| Magnetised material | Magnetised material with a magnetic field strength of 0.159A/m or more at a distance of 2.1m from the outside of the package |
| Matches of any kind | See Flammable solids for more examples. |
| Oxidising substances and organic peroxide | Including substances such as disinfectants as they may cause or contribute to combustion of other substances. These substances may also be liable to explosive decomposition, react dangerously with other substances and injure health. For example: bromides, chlorates, components of fibreglass repair kits, disinfectants, nitrates, per chlorates, permanganates and peroxides |
| Pathogens | These are things that can cause disease, such as a virus. Pathogens in the Risk Group 4 and selected Risk Group 3 listed in Schedule 9, Part 5 of the latest edition of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations are prohibited, for example environmental and medical waste, Ebola, anthrax, and foot and mouth disease. |
| Perfumes and aftershaves | You cannot send perfumes and aftershaves that are classed as flammable. Non-flammable items may be accepted but there are restrictions based on alcoholic content. |
| Poisonous (toxic) and infectious substances | These are substances that are liable to cause death or injury if swallowed or inhaled, or by skin contact. All toxic substances are prohibited, including arsenic, beryllium, cyanide, fluorine and hydrogen selenide. Infectious substances containing micro-organisms or their toxins which are known to cause (or are suspected of causing) disease are prohibited, including mercury, mercury salts, mustard gas, nitrobenzene, nitrogen dioxide, pesticides, rat poison, serum and vaccines. |
| You cannot send | Notes and exceptions |
|---|---|
| Pesticides | Chemicals used to kill pests and insects |
| Radioactive materials | Radioactive materials and samples that are classified as radioactive using Table 2-12 of the latest edition of the International Civil Aviation Organisations' (ICAO) Technical Instructions. This includes fissile material, (Uranium 235, etc), radioactive waste material and thorium or uranium ores. |
| Sharp instruments | Sharp instruments such as knives, gardening and household tools – unless they are properly protected |
| Solvent-based paints and inks | Varnishes (including nail varnish), enamels and similar substances |
| UN2814 or UN2900 infectious substances | These are classified at Division 6.2 of the 2005-2006 Edition Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air published by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). |
| Water-based paints and inks | Water-based paints and inks, such as household paint and inks over the volume of 150ml |