Prohibited items – explosives, flammables, gases, corrosives, weapons, drugs, counterfeits – cannot be sent at all. Restricted items – batteries, liquids, cosmetics, food, medicines, magnets – are allowed only under conditions or via special channels. Check both China Post’s rules and the destination country’s import rules, because the destination is often stricter.
The distinction that matters: prohibited vs restricted
- Prohibited = refused outright, at any price, by any route.
- Restricted = possible, but only with correct packaging, declarations, permits, or a dedicated channel. Many restricted items are shippable by surface mail but not by air.
Most failed shipments are restricted items sent as though they were ordinary goods.
Category 1: prohibited items
Dangerous goods
- Explosives, fireworks, detonators
- Flammable liquids and solids (petrol, solvents, matches, lighters)
- Compressed, liquefied and dissolved gases (aerosols, some sprays)
- Corrosives (acids, alkalis, mercury)
- Oxidisers and organic peroxides
- Toxic, infectious and radioactive substances
Controlled and illegal goods
- Narcotics, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals
- Weapons, ammunition, replica firearms and parts
- Counterfeit goods, pirated media and unauthorised branded items
- Currency, negotiable instruments, gold and silver bullion
- Obscene or illegal material
Living and organic
- Live animals and insects
- Live plants, cuttings and soil
- Human remains, biological samples without permits
Operational
- Items endangering staff or equipment – sharp objects, loose magnets, fragile hazardous contents
- Anything the destination country refuses admission of
Category 2: restricted items, and how they are treated
| Item | Air mail | Surface | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loose lithium batteries | Normally refused | Sometimes | Watt-hour limits apply |
| Devices with batteries installed | Special channels | Allowed | Must be labelled correctly |
| Power banks | Usually refused | Special channels | Treated as loose batteries |
| Liquids, gels, creams | Restricted | Sometimes | Leak-proof packaging required |
| Aerosols and sprays | Refused | Refused | Flammable propellant |
| Perfume and e-liquid | Refused | Restricted | Alcohol/nicotine content |
| Cosmetics | Restricted | Often allowed | Import limits in many countries |
| Medicines and supplements | Permit often needed | Same | Prescription may be required |
| Food (packaged, shelf-stable) | Often allowed | Allowed | Destination bans are the issue |
| Meat, dairy, seeds, plants | Refused | Refused | Agricultural restrictions |
| Magnets | Refused | Sometimes | Magnetic-field limits apply |
| Electronic devices | Restricted | Allowed | Declared value matters |
| Knives and swords (decorative) | Restricted | Restricted | Seizure risk; often prohibited |
| Tobacco and alcohol | Refused | Refused | Licensing required |
Lithium batteries: the most-asked item, and the most misunderstood
Batteries generate more questions than any other category – in our analysis of 50,037 real enquiries, battery appeared 55 times in the restricted-items group despite that group being small overall.
Three rules of thumb:
- Loose cells are the hardest case. Air mail generally refuses them. Surface mail or a specialist forwarder is often the only route.
- Installed batteries are easier. A device with the battery fitted, correctly labelled and within watt-hour limits, can sometimes travel by dedicated channels.
- Power banks are treated as loose batteries, even though they feel like a device.
If a battery shipment matters, ask the counter or a forwarder about a battery-enabled channel rather than attempting standard post. Incorrectly declared batteries are a routine cause of holds and returns.
If you must send batteries, pack them so a short circuit is impossible: keep cells in their original retail packaging, tape the terminals, keep them away from metal objects, and declare the watt-hour rating. A parcel opened by customs and found to contain unprotected loose cells is a parcel that gets returned – at your cost.
The destination’s rules usually bind first
This is where most senders go wrong. China Post governs what may leave China. The destination customs authority governs what may enter.
| Destination pattern | Commonly restricted on import |
|---|---|
| United States | Food, plant material, some cosmetics, alcohol |
| Australia / New Zealand | Food, seeds, wood, dairy, plant material (very strict) |
| Canada | Food, plants, weapons-related items |
| EU countries | Food of animal origin, medicines, some cosmetics |
| India | Electronics restrictions, food, cosmetics |
| Russia | Certain electronics, food, medicines |
| Middle East | Alcohol, pork products, certain media |
A packaged snack may leave China without issue and be destroyed on arrival. Check the destination rules before you post, not after.
Special categories worth a second look
Branded and counterfeit goods. Counterfeits are prohibited outright, and even genuine branded goods attract scrutiny without authorisation from the brand owner. Seizure is common, and there is no compensation.
Cultural relics and antiques. Restricted or prohibited depending on the item and the destination. Documentation is normally required.
Currency, bullion and negotiable instruments. Prohibited by post in nearly every case.
Human and biological samples. Require permits. Not something to attempt as ordinary mail.
Drones, transmitters and some electronics. Restricted by the destination rather than by China Post – a reminder that two rulebooks apply to every parcel.
Declaration requirements
Every international parcel carries a customs declaration – CN22 for low-value items, CN23 for higher-value or commercial shipments. Required details typically include:
- Accurate description of contents
- Quantity and value
- Weight
- Purpose (gift, sale, sample, return)
Declare accurately. Vague entries such as “gift” or “sample”, or a declared value far below the real one, are among the most common triggers for customs inspection.
What happens if you get it wrong
| Outcome | When it happens |
|---|---|
| Delay | Vague declaration, inspection |
| Return to sender | Prohibited item detected, unanswered notice |
| Seizure and destruction | Items the destination refuses outright |
| Fines or legal action | Undeclared dangerous goods, counterfeit items |
| No compensation | Misdeclared items are normally excluded from claims |
That last point deserves emphasis: if a parcel is seized because of what you declared it as, there is usually no compensation – even if the postal service was not at fault.
Three assumptions that cause seized parcels
- “Small value means no inspection.” Value is only one signal. Contents, declaration wording and destination rules matter just as much.
- “If China Post accepted it, the destination will too.” Acceptance at the counter means only that China Post has no objection.
- “Labelling it a gift avoids duty.” Vague descriptions such as “gift” or “sample” are a recognised trigger for closer inspection, not a way around it.
A pre-shipment checklist
- Is the item on the prohibited list for both countries?
- If restricted, which route and channel will accept it – air, surface, or a specialist forwarder?
- Is the packaging compliant, especially for batteries and liquids?
- Does the declaration match the contents, with a realistic value?
- Are permits or prescriptions required at either end?
- Have you checked the destination’s import bans for this category?
- Have you kept the receipt and the tracking number?
FAQ
Can I send a power bank through China Post?
Not by ordinary air mail. Power banks are treated as loose lithium batteries and need a dedicated channel or surface transport.
Can I send food to the United States or Australia?
Some shelf-stable, commercially packaged food may be accepted, but the US, Australia and New Zealand restrict many food categories on import. Check the destination rules first.
Can I send medicine internationally?
Often only with a prescription or import permit, and many countries cap personal-use quantities. Never send controlled substances.
Can I send a decorative sword or knife?
It is restricted and frequently refused or seized. Treat it as high risk regardless of the destination.
What if I declare the contents incorrectly?
You risk delay, return, seizure, fines, and exclusion from any compensation claim.
Does a private courier face the same rules?
The prohibited and restricted lists are similar, but couriers enforce them more strictly and screen more thoroughly – and they charge more for the trouble.
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