Items prohibited from being posted: what not to put in your parcel, how it’s detected and what it will cost you

Every year, thousands of parcels are held up, returned or destroyed because they contain items that are prohibited from being sent. In many cases, the sender was unaware that the item was prohibited — in other cases, they deliberately chose not to declare it. The result is the same: the parcel does not arrive, costs rise, and legal liability falls entirely on the sender. This guide explains What items are prohibited from being posted, why they are detected, and what actually happens when a courier intercepts items that are prohibited from being posted.

🚫 CATEGORIES OF ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED FOR SHIPMENT

🌿 1. Organic Plants and Products

• Live or semi-live plants
• Seeds, bulbs, cuttings and soil containing organisms
• Untreated fresh vegetable products
• Agricultural products subject to phytosanitary restrictions

📌 Reason: risk of contamination, parasites or infection, customs restrictions and health regulations.

⚠️ For international shipments to non-EU countries (Australia, the USA, Canada, Japan), phytosanitary restrictions are among the strictest in the world. An undeclared plant twig can lead to the seizure of the entire parcel and significant fines.

🐾 2. Animals and Products of Animal Origin

• Live animals (birds, reptiles, insects, fish, mammals, etc.)
• Animal remains or parts (raw skin, bones, trophies, tusks, horns, ivory, etc.)
• Products derived from protected species (CITES)

📌 Reason: protection of animal welfare and compliance with international conventions (e.g. CITES).

🚫 The CITES Convention protects thousands of species. The unauthorised trade in products derived from these species (including ivory – even antique ivory – and certain furs) is a criminal offence in all signatory countries. In Italy, penalties can be as high as €150,000 and six years’ imprisonment (Legislative Decree 275/2001).

💎 3. Objects of Value or Luxury

• Cash, cheques, securities
• Jewellery, precious metals, precious stones
• Works of art, paintings, antiques
• Active credit or debit cards
• Valuable collections (rare coins, stamps, etc.)

📌 Reason: high risk of theft or loss; requires insurance and special transport channels.

💡 The reason for the ban is simple: express couriers have maximum reimbursement limits per parcel (usually €100–500 without additional insurance). Cash and jewellery cannot be insured under standard procedures. Using a express courier The transport of large amounts of cash is also subject to anti-money laundering regulations.

☠️ 4. Hazardous Materials and Prohibited Goods

• Explosives, ammunition, fireworks
• Compressed, flammable or toxic gases (e.g. cylinders, sprays, deodorants)
• Flammable liquids (petrol, solvents, alcohol, perfumes, paints)
• Corrosive or toxic chemicals (acids, bleach, pesticides)
• Unsealed or defective lithium batteries

📌 Reason: security risk for air and land transport (IATA and ADR regulations).

🚫 Dangerous goods pose the greatest risk to air freight. A parcel containing flammable liquids that leaks in the hold can cause a fire. For this reason, the IATA-DGR regulations and ENAC rules make no exceptions: anyone who fraudulently fails to declare dangerous goods is committing a criminal offence punishable by law in all countries.

🧬 5. Medical and Biological Materials

• Biological or pathological samples
• Blood, plasma, organs, human tissue
• Drugs undeclared or without customs authorisation

📌 Reason: health regulations and special authorisations required for medical transport.

⚙️ 6. Illegal or Restricted Goods

• Drugs, narcotics, accessories for illegal use
• Firearms, knives, air guns
• Counterfeit goods or goods infringing trade mark rights
• Pornographic or offensive material
• Products subject to international embargoes or sanctions

📌 Reason: national and international legal prohibitions.

📦 7. Other Generally Not Accepted Items

• Fresh or perishable foodstuffs (meat, fish, cheese, etc.)
• Alcoholic beverages (depending on destination and courier)
• Original official documents (passports, certificates, degrees)
• Ashes or human remains

📌 Reason: customs or health restrictions or risk of deterioration.

✈️ Air express vs 🚛 intra-EU lorry: they’re not the same thing

First of all, there is a fundamental distinction that almost no one explains: the risk of being discovered — and the consequences — vary radically depending on the type of shipment.

🚫 Anyone who thinks they can ‘hide’ dangerous items in an air consignment is seriously mistaken. All parcels entrusted to express couriers such as DHL, FedEx and UPS pass through airport hubs equipped with scanners and X-ray machines, as required by law. It is not a matter of chance: it is a systematic process.

⚖️ Dangerous goods transported by air are governed by the IATA-DGR regulations and, in Italy, by the’ENAC (Italian Civil Aviation Authority). Breaches may result in criminal as well as administrative penalties.

🔍 How are items that are prohibited from being posted detected?

Many senders believe that simply failing to declare the contents is enough to go unnoticed. In reality, express couriers have multiple, overlapping detection systems:

• Scanners and X-rays at airport hubs: Every parcel passing through a cargo airport is scanned. X-rays identify the shape of objects, the density of materials and the presence of liquids. Lithium batteries, gas cylinders and flammable liquids have distinctive, unmistakable signatures.
• Inconsistent weight and dimensions: If the declared weight does not match the measured weight, the parcel is held for a manual inspection. A parcel declared as “documents” that weighs 3 kg is automatically held.
• Inconsistent customs declaration: For shipments outside the EU, the description of the goods is checked against their weight, dimensions and declared value. Any obvious discrepancies trigger an inspection.
• Random inspections: Even in intra-EU truck-based delivery services, a percentage of parcels are opened for random inspection at sorting centres.
• Report by the recipient or a third party: In some cases, it is the consignee themselves — or a customs officer in the country of destination — who reports the suspicious contents.
• Risk profiling algorithms: Major courier companies use algorithms that identify suspicious patterns (sender, destination, frequency, weight) and automatically flag high-risk parcels for inspection.

⚠️ Vague descriptions such as “personal belongings”, “gift” or “samples” are among the first things to trigger checks. These fields are automatically analysed by the system, and vague descriptions increase the likelihood of an inspection, rather than reducing it.

📋 What happens when a parcel is held: the 3 scenarios

Scenario A — Return to sender (with additional costs)

This is the most common scenario for non-hazardous items that are prohibited from being posted (valuables, currency, restricted goods). The courier suspends the shipment and notifies the sender. The parcel is returned to the original address.

What this involves:

• Original postage cost: not refunded
• Returns charge: charged to the sender (may be equal to or exceed the original cost)
• Administrative charge for prohibited items: applied by almost all couriers (UPS, DHL and FedEx explicitly state this in their terms and conditions)
• Delay: from a few days to several weeks
• Any customs charges in the country of destination (for shipments outside the EU)

Scenario B — Seizure and fine

For items subject to specific legal restrictions (tobacco, alcohol to countries where it is prohibited, unauthorised medicines, protected flora and fauna), the parcel may be seized by customs authorities in the country of destination or transit. The sender will not be able to recover either the parcel or its contents.

What this involves:

• Permanent loss of content
• Administrative penalties in the country of destination — these can be substantial
• In some cases, criminal proceedings may be brought (e.g. trafficking in CITES-protected wildlife, drugs)
• The courier may seek compensation from the sender for any damage or costs incurred

Scenario C — Destruction of the parcel (the worst-case scenario)

In the case of dangerous goods (damaged lithium batteries, compressed gases, flammable liquids, chemicals), the courier or the customs authorities may proceed to destroy the parcel immediately for safety reasons. There will be no refund and the parcel cannot be recovered.

🚫  For dangerous goods transported by air, destruction is a standard safety procedure. A parcel containing faulty batteries or flammable liquids poses a real risk to the aircraft and its cargo. Safety takes precedence over everything else.

✅ Proper packaging won’t save a prohibited item, but it can make all the difference for everything else: intact lithium batteries that are packed correctly are far less likely to cause accidents or be classified as dangerous. Read the guide: The most common packaging mistakes to avoid

🟡 The “grey areas”: items that many people believe they can post freely

These are the items that cause the most problems because senders acting in good faith are unaware that specific restrictions apply. Please read carefully before posting.

⚠️ The general rule: if it contains a liquid, a lithium battery, a product of animal or plant origin, or is subject to special regulations in the destination country — ALWAYS check before posting. Please contact us before placing your order: it’s much easier to sort out any queries in advance than to deal with a parcel being held up.

⚖️ The sender’s legal liability: what the law says

There is no ambiguity on this point: responsibility for the contents of a consignment lies entirely with the sender. Neither the courier nor SpedizioneComoda can be held liable for any contents falsely declared by the sender.

What to declare when booking a shipment

Please bear in mind that some items considered harmless may in fact be prohibited from being posted. If you are in any doubt, always check the regulations and seek advice to avoid any problems during posting.

By placing an order on SpedizioneComoda.com, the sender expressly declares that:

1. The parcel does not contain any items that are prohibited from being posted or subject to undeclared restrictions
2. The contents are described in detail in the delivery documentation
3. The parcel complies with the regulations of the country of origin, transit and destination
4. The sender is aware of the IATA regulations (for air freight) and the ADR regulations (for road transport)

🚫 Making false declarations regarding the contents of an air consignment is a criminal offence in Italy and in all countries that are signatories to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (the Chicago Convention). Penalties range from administrative fines to criminal proceedings resulting in imprisonment. As well as, of course, the non-delivery of the parcel .

What’s happening with SpedizioneComoda and the courier?

It is essential to be aware of items that are prohibited from being posted. Posting prohibited items could lead to serious legal and financial consequences. Before sending a parcel, check carefully what it contains.

When a parcel containing items prohibited from being sent is intercepted, the courier faces direct consequences: operational delays, handling costs and potential fines from the airport authorities. For this reason, couriers always charge an administrative fee for prohibited items to the sender responsible — regardless of whether the parcel is returned, seized or destroyed.

💡 SpedizioneComoda is committed to providing clear information on restrictions, but cannot open and check the contents of every parcel. If you have any concerns about a specific item, please contact our team before booking: it’s the quickest, cheapest and safest solution for everyone.

❓ FAQs — Items prohibited from being posted

It is essential to avoid sending prohibited items, as the consequences can be severe and costly. Prohibited items not only cause delays but may also result in legal penalties. Make sure you always check the list of prohibited items before preparing your parcel.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our customer service team for information on items that are prohibited from being posted and other restrictions.

It is important to note that sending items that are prohibited from being posted can also damage the sender’s reputation. Always follow the guidelines to avoid sending prohibited items and running into problems with the authorities.