Guide to Prohibited & Restricted Items in International Shipping

Sellers in India are expanding their business across the globe and striving towards a successful international shipping. With the shipping laws becoming more conducive and various incentives increased for sellers, the idea of global selling seems more lucrative than ever.

Few products do very well in the international market compared to others. According to eBay’s report, products like art décor, jewellery, leather goods, health/beauty products, sports goods, etc. are a few of the top-performing ones.

Some sellers believe it is possible to ship anything and everything when they tie up with a courier partner, but that is not true. According to the norms laid out by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, various items are prohibited from shipping. This means they cannot be exported from India to the rest of the world. Each country has different items specified by its government.

This blog talks about the different items that are prohibited for export from India. Make sure to keep these in check before you send your package to your client.

What Are Prohibited and Restricted Items for Shipping?

Shipping companies often have a list of prohibited and restricted items that they don’t ship. This is done to comply with international shipping regulations and ensure safety. Restricted items can only be shipped under specific conditions, while prohibited items are entirely banned from shipping. We’ll discuss them both in detail later in this blog.

It is the responsibility of the consignee of the goods to follow the applicable laws of the destination country. The consignee or the shipper should also comply with the current applicable laws and government regulations in each country. 

Any shipping company can refuse or suspend the transportation of goods prohibited by any law or regulation of any state, local, or federal government. The same is applicable for both the country of origin and destination. They can also refuse goods that breach any applicable import, export, or other laws. Moreover, goods that endanger the employees of a shipping company, agents, etc., will also not be transported. 

When shipping to a foreign destination, carriers follow a list of prohibited, restricted and dangerous goods. Each segment has its significance.

1) Prohibited Items

These are the products which cannot be shipped at any cost. They are banned and will not be accepted by courier partners at any cost.

Here is a list of globally prohibited items:

• Live animals
• Hunting (Animal) trophies, animal parts such as ivory and shark fins, animal remains, or animal by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption, prohibited for movement by the CITES Convention and/or local law.
• Human remains or ashes
• Bullion (of any precious metal)
• Cash (current legal tender)
• Loose precious and semi-precious stones
• Complete firearms, ammunition, explosives / explosive devices
• Illegal goods, such as counterfeit goods and narcotics

2) Restricted Items

These items are not entirely banned, but they can be shipped with a few restrictions. They might have a limitation on quantities, packaging or other restrictions. Additionally, they would require an exclusive license or permit for export to the destination of your choice.

Here are the restricted items you must know about:

• Class 3 Flammable Liquids
• Explosives (e.g., airbags, small arms ammunition, and model rocket motors)
• Non-flammable, non-toxic Gas
• Flammable solids
• Any transaction involving International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or other commodities subject to import licences
• Artwork, archaeological artefacts, and antiquities
• Biological agents, etiological agents, and hosts and vectors of human disease
• Class 8 Corrosives
• Class 9 Miscellaneous (e.g., self-inflating life rafts, lithium batteries, and dry ice)
• Flammable Gas
• Spontaneously Combustible Flammable Solids
• Dangerous When Wet Flammable Solids
• Oxidisers
• Organic Peroxides
• Toxic Substances (solid or liquid)
• Flowers
• Fresh foodstuffs
• Gems, cut or uncut
• Hazardous materials/dangerous goods and radioactive materials
• Household goods and personal effects
• Lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries
• Medical Devices – must verify that the accepting warehouse complies with state requirements/licensing/permits for the distribution of medical devices Microchips, computer chips, microprocessors, central processing units (CPUs) and mobile telephones
• One-of-a-kinds/irreplaceable articles such as artwork valued between US$250,000 and US$500,000 each and other single items valued at US$250,000 and higher
• Other perishables
• Pharmaceuticals
• Precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum in the form of scrap, dust, sulphides, residue, industrial preparations such as silver powder and silver termination paste, and jewellery
• Project cargo
• Retail tobacco products
• Tranquillising guns and ammunition
• Transportation moves for and on behalf of the U.S. government/Department of Defense contract products or other governmental agencies, wherever located that require specific licensing in advance of any move

3) Dangerous Goods

Dangerous goods are items that pose a serious threat to the health and safety of personnel, property, or the environment. Dangerous goods are also referred to as hazardous material (hazmat). These goods can either be solid, liquid, or gasses and can be subject to chemical regulations. Dangerous goods for shipping can be divided into the following major categories or classes. These categories are then further subdivided into dangerous items for shipping.

• Explosives
• Gases
• Flammable liquids
• Flammable solids
• Oxidising agents and organic peroxides
• Toxic and infectious substances
• Radioactive substances
• Corrosive substances
• Miscellaneous

These are products that require utmost care and attention when being shipped. If not dealt with care, they can be hazardous to the handler. Dangerous goods regulations are looked after by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and ADR.

Here is a complete list of dangerous items that fall under the above classes. 

• Any aerosols, including hairspray and deodorants
• Airbag inflators and modules or seat-belt pretensioners
• Alcoholic beverages containing > 24% alcohol by volume
• Batteries classified as dangerous such as wet spillable/non-spillable lead-acid/alkaline batteries
• Batteries/cells including lithium-ion/polymer/metal – alone and in or with electronic devices
• Dry ice
• Corrosives such as acids, corrosive paint, and dyes, rust removers
• Environmental waste including used engine oil and used or damaged batteries
• Explosives or ammunition such as fireworks, flares, and sparklers
• Flammable liquids such as acetone, lighter fluid, solvent-based paints
• Flammable solids including magnesium and potassium
• Gases including flammable, non-flammable, compressed and toxic gases such as fire extinguishers and scuba tanks
• Infectious and/or biological substances expected to contain pathogens or other agents such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, prions
• Matches, lighters or lighter refills including cigarette lighters containing petrol and butane lighters
• Oxidising materials or organic peroxides such as disinfectants and hair dyes
• Pesticides, toxic herbicides, and insecticides or poisons toxic substances

By keeping these lists of products handy, you can save time, and effort and be prepared for any obstacle you may face. Awareness is the most necessary step for running your business!

What are the Documents Required for International Shipping?

Here are the 10 standard documents you’ll need for international shipping:

1. Certificate of Origin: It identifies the country of origin of the goods being exported. This document may be mandatory for some customs organisations.
2. Certificate of free sale: It is often referred to as a ‘certificate for export’ or ‘certificate to foreign governments’. This certificate is used when you’re registering a new product in a country.
3. Commercial invoice: It provides a detailed record of the transaction between the buyer and seller. Customs officials use this document to calculate customs duties and taxes, and to determine the value of the goods.
4. Proforma invoice: It is quite similar to the commercial invoice. This document specifies the buyer and seller in the transaction, a detailed description of goods, the price, payment terms, delivery details, and the currency used.
5. Bill of lading: This document is mandatory for customs clearance, and should contain all the required information. It is usually the first document prepared for international shipping. You can prepare an inland bill of lading by yourself or an inland carrier can prepare this document.
6. Letter of Credit: It ensures that the buyer only pays once the seller has proof that the items have been shipped.
7. Insurance certificate: This document helps authorities verify the shipment, and determine the precise value of the goods, which affects import duty.
8. Export packing list: This is important for freight forwarders, banks, and customs officials. It’s more detailed than a general packing list or slips used in domestic shipments.
9. Export licence: It is required when an exporter sends items abroad for the first time, and the specific requirements may vary depending on the nature of the export.
10. Dangerous goods forms: If your products are deemed to be dangerous either by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) or the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), you’ll be required to provide the appropriate dangerous goods form with your shipment.

Other documents you’ll require for international shipping include a bank draft, airway bill, ocean bill of lading, shipper’s instruction letter, etc. It is an exhaustive list of paperwork that you need to prepare for shipping your goods across borders. You can seek the service of logistics solution providers like ShiprocketX to deal with documentation. They will help you with the preparation of necessary documents. 

What are the Types of International Shipping Agreements?

International shipping agreements, also known as incoterms, are a set of rules that establish who is responsible for different aspects of a shipment. The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) created 11 incoterms in 1936. These incoterms are divided into four categories: E, F, C, and D:

1. EXW (Ex Works)
2. FCA (Free Carrier)
3. CIP (Carriage and Insurance Paid To)
4. DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)
5. CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight)
6. FOB (Free on Board)
7. FAS (Free Alongside Ship)
8. CPT (Carriage Paid To)
9. CFR (Cost and Freight)
10. DAP (Delivered at Place)
11. DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded)

What Does De Minimis Mean?

De Minimis is a Latin term. It is a shortened version of the phrase ‘de minimis non-curat lex.’ So, what does it mean? Its literal meaning is that the law does not care about small matters. The term implies that it is often more efficient to waive off small duties and taxes instead of collecting them. De minimis value refers to the value below which goods can be shipped from one country to another before assessing duties and taxes. De minimis can also be roughly translated to the minimum number of goods you can ship without incurring any customs duties or taxes.