Items Likely to be Detained by Customs

Author : Amy NuttThere are many foreign items that can cause harm to people, animals, and the environment if permitted to enter a country Government agencies have had to mandate rules and regulations regarding the types of items that can come in and leave their country Many shipping companies keep a list of items that are not acceptable for shipment in order to comply with the regulations of the airlines, Customs, and agriculture and other government agencies

There are a number of factors that may cause an item to be rejected from entering a country It may be a violation of airline dangerous goods regulations, government regulations, biosecurity regulations, security regulations, and dangerous goods regulations The shipment may also be missing the appropriate documentation

Most companies state that it is the shipper’s responsibility to ensure their items are allowed into another country While prohibited items may appear harmless, under certain circumstances they can easily become dangerous For instance, air pressure and temperature fluctuations could cause a prohibited item to leak, ignite, or explode Before shipping an item, you should make sure it is not prohibited from entering a country

The following is a list of items that will most likely be detained by customs agents:

Explosives: ammunition, fireworks, igniters, flares

Human and animal parts: cultures, biological products; human or animal skin, bone grafts, and other anatomical parts prepared for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes which can cause disease in humans or animals Ivory is another prohibited item

Cultures: biological products capable of causing infection including viruses, fungi, bacteria, and serums

Gases: aerosol cans, cigarette lighters, camping gas tanks, propane tanks, fire extinguishers

Flammable liquids and flammable solids: paint, alcohol, perfume, matches, petrol, kerosene, aftershave, turpentine, solvents, cleaning fluids, nitrate products

Oxidizing substances and organic peroxides: hair dye, disinfectants

Toxic and infectious substances: pesticides

Counterfeit or pirated goods or material

Precious metals

Radioactive materials

Corrosives: mercury thermometers, bleach, nail polish and remover, nitric acids, battery fluids

Cannabis utensils: bongs, hash pipes, and certain roach clips

Building materials: wood items, lumber

Firewood or raw wood products

Dirt: soil, clay and sand

Drugs and medication

Animal drugs and medication

Controlled drugs: cocaine, cannabis

Tobacco: chewing and smoking tobacco

Money: coins, cash, currency, paper money and negotiable documents such as endorsed stocks, bonds, and cash letters

Food items: foods that can spoil, chocolate, meat and meat products, fish

Dead animals: dead animal carcasses or parts This includes taxidermy and animals or animal parts prepared for mounting or display Bird feathers

Livestock: cattle, sheep, pigs Equipment used with animals or soil

Birds, Bees, and insects

Live plants and plant seeds, cut flowers: Severed portion of plants in a fresh state without soil, including the flower or bloom

Precious Stones: Stones of remarkable value such as diamonds, industrial diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and pearls

Pornography

Alcohol: wine, beer, etc

Dairy products: milk, cheese, etc

Religious statues, religious ornaments

Postage stamps

Polymerizable items: asbestos, dry ice, wet-cell batteries

Fur: pelts, samples, clothing, anything made of fur such as linings or trims, and furs of endangered species

Refrigerators, freezers and other goods that contain ozone depleting substances

Medical Waste: used hypodermic needles, syringes, or other medical waste

Maintaining a list of prohibited items helps governments keep their countries safe All shipments are subject to inspection by custom officials To ensure that your shipment will pass inspection and arrive safely, you should be aware of the items that are likely to be rejected Providing domestic and international shipping freight, and overnight delivery.

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