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Understanding Prohibited and Restricted Items Policy

This guide lists prohibited product categories and explains Portless’s review process to ensure safe and compliant shipping.

Updated this week

This policy applies when Portless takes possession of your products, arranges transportation, or purchases a shipping label for your shipments. To ensure compliance with local and international regulations, certain items are either prohibited or restricted. Merchants must review this policy before shipping goods through Portless.

Things to keep in mind

  • Portless may request product details or documentation before approving shipments.

  • Regulations can differ by country and shipping partner. Always check local rules before shipping.

  • Violations of this policy can lead to delays, penalties, or loss of shipping privileges.

Prohibited items

The list below identifies known prohibited products. Portless reserves the right to review products on a case-by-case basis.

Weapons and ammunition

Items designed to cause harm or destruction, including firearms and their components.

Item Type

Examples/Descriptions

Firearms (including imitations and main parts)

Pistols, rifles, submachine guns, riot guns, air guns, shotguns, sports guns, anesthesia injection guns, steel ball guns, tear gas guns, etc.

Ammunition (including imitations)

Bullets, bombs, grenades, rockets, flares, incendiary bombs, smoke bombs, signal bombs, tear gas bombs, gas bombs, land mines, grenades, artillery shells, gunpowder, etc.

Controlled knives

Daggers, three-sided scrapers, switch knives, butterfly knives, military knives, samurai knives, folding knives, etc.

Other weapons

Crossbows, tear gas, tear gas guns, electric shock devices, police batons, iron lotus, telescopic batons, finger tigers, nunchakus, etc.

Flammable and explosive materials

Substances that can ignite or explode under normal shipping conditions.

Item Type

Examples/Descriptions

Blasting equipment

Explosives, detonators, fuse, detonating cord, blasting agents, etc.

Fireworks and firecrackers

Fireworks, firecrackers, pyrotechnic powder, launching paper, black powder, etc.

Flammable solids

Sulfur, candles, table tennis balls, etc.

Flammable liquids

Gasoline, kerosene, paint, perfumes, nail polish, alcohol, insecticides, etc.

Spontaneous combustion items

Yellow phosphorus, oil paper, oil cloth, etc.

Items that burn in water

Sodium metal, aluminum powder, etc.

Corrosive materials

Hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide, etc.

Explosive items

Detonators, explosives, fuse, fireworks, lithium batteries, etc.

Other flammable and explosive items

Flint, magnesium rods, lighters, activated carbon, propellants, nitrocellulose, electric ignition tips, etc.

Compressed and liquefied gases

Gases stored under pressure may be hazardous when released.

Item Type

Examples/Descriptions

Flammable gases

Hydrogen, methane, butane, natural gas, propane, lighters, etc.

Toxic gases

Carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, chlorine, etc.

Explosive or suffocating gases

Compressed oxygen, nitrogen, helium, neon, aerosol, etc.

Plants and plant products

Living or preserved plant materials that are subject to agricultural restrictions.

Item Type

Examples/Descriptions

Plants and plant products

Flowers, fruits, vegetables, seeds, plant specimens, pine cones, etc.

Animals and animal products

Live animals or items derived from animals that pose health or ethical concerns.

Item Type

Examples/Descriptions

Animals and animal products

Shells, crabs, animal specimens, furs, etc.

Medicines and medical products

Prescription or over-the-counter drugs and related healthcare items.

Item Type

Examples/Descriptions

Medicines and medical products

Anesthetics, ointments, pain relief patches, hemorrhoid creams, anesthesia creams, hyaluronic acid, tooth whitening gels, mercury thermometers, syringes, tattoo needles, etc.

Food and beverages

Perishable or consumable goods that are subject to strict safety regulations.

Item Type

Examples/Descriptions

Food and beverages

Meat, drinks, coffee, fruits, snacks, tea, etc.

Liquid and powder products

Items in liquid or powdered form that may leak, spill, or be difficult to handle.

Item Type

Examples/Descriptions

Liquid and powder products

Essential oils, cleansing oils, toners, essence milks, facial masks, lip glosses, glue, etc.

Batteries and mobile power

Lithium batteries and portable chargers with safety risks during transit.

Item Type

Examples/Descriptions

Batteries and mobile power

Pure batteries, power banks (mobile power), and restrictions on battery quantities.

Illegal and counterfeit goods

Products that infringe intellectual property or violate local laws.

Item Type

Examples/Descriptions

Illegal counterfeit goods

Counterfeit or altered currency, certificates, official seals, etc.

Intellectual property violations

Patent infringement, trademark infringement, copyright violations (books, audio-visual materials, etc.).

Counterfeit and shoddy products

Fake and shoddy food, medicine, children’s products, electronics, cosmetics, textiles, etc.

Toxic and corrosive substances

Chemicals that can cause harm through contact, inhalation, or leakage.

Item Type

Examples/Descriptions

Toxic substances

Arsenic, mercury compounds, cyanides, selenium powder, highly toxic pesticides, etc.

Corrosive substances

Sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, storage batteries, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, etc.

Drugs and drug-related items

Controlled substances and equipment that are linked to illegal drug use.

Item Type

Examples/Descriptions

Illegal drugs and narcotics

Opium, heroin, cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, ketamine, amphetamines, etc.

Precursor chemicals

Piperonal, safrole, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, acetic anhydride, toluene, acetone, etc.

Drug use tools

Curling pipes, drug-related paraphernalia, etc.

Illegal publications and media

Content banned under local or international regulations.

Item Type

Examples/Descriptions

Illegal publications and media

Books, publications, pictures, photos, audio-visual products, etc., containing reactionary, obscene, or extremist content.

Espionage equipment

Devices intended for covert surveillance or intelligence gathering.

Item Type

Examples/Descriptions

Espionage equipment

Hidden eavesdropping devices, hidden cameras, burst transceivers, codebooks, steganography tools, interception devices, etc.

Chemical products and raw materials

Industrial chemicals that are restricted by safety or export controls.

Item Type

Examples/Descriptions

Chemical products and raw materials

Ores, chemical element specimens, raw materials, raw stones, etc.

Money and valuables

Cash, coins, and high-value items that are subject to theft or loss risks.

Item Type

Examples/Descriptions

Money and valuables

Counterfeit currency, circulating currency, bank cards, checks, gold, securities, real estate certificates, gambling utensils, etc.

Military supplies

Equipment or gear used for defense or armed conflict.

Item Type

Examples/Descriptions

Military supplies

Body armor, military boots, camouflage clothing, helmets, handcuffs, batons, police protection equipment, etc.

Cigarettes and tobacco products

Smoking-related items that are restricted by law or regulation.

Item Type

Examples/Descriptions

Cigarettes and tobacco products

E-cigarettes, cigarettes, tobacco-based ointments, oils, etc.

Other sensitive products

Any additional products identified as high risk for safety, security, or compliance reasons.

Item Type

Examples/Descriptions

Shape-sensitive products

Effervescent tablets, compression masks, etc.

Strong magnetic products

Fishing magnets, magnetic Rubik’s cubes, strong magnets, etc.

Multi-purpose sporting goods

Baseball bats, darts, compound bows, bows and arrows, and other visually offensive items.

Flag badges

National flags, party emblems, military flags, etc.

Prohibited chemicals

Mothballs (p-dichlorobenzene banned in Europe).

Human hair

Restrictions on human hair shipments.

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