• Prohibited Items
• Items That Cannot Be Posted
• Packing Advice

At Guernsey Post we do our best to carry most things but there are certain items we simply cannot accept for legal and safety reasons. We may return any of the items that appear in the table below to the sender. We may also arrange for the disposal of items that appear in the list and in certain cases the sender of the item, or items, may be prosecuted.

Please be aware that some prohibited goods are extremely common. For instance the antiperspirant and hairspray aerosols found in most bathrooms that contain flammable propellants. Also common shed and garage items like containers of paint, turpentine, petrol, weed killer or pesticides. These may come with flammable or toxic symbols and instructions for their safe, everyday use but usually no mention of any transportation requirements. All such items are, in fact, defined under international transport agreements as Dangerous Goods and there are strict regulations in place governing their safe transport, whether by air, sea, road or rail.

You may not send prohibited items through the international postal service. Prohibitions and restrictions vary from country to country and can sometimes apply to valuable items as well as other apparently ordinary items. Customer Services on 711720 can provide more advice. Some of the most common prohibited items are listed below.

 

Items classified as Dangerous Goods

• Any Item classified under the Civil Aviation Organisation Technical Instructions for safe transport of Dangerous Goods by (Air)

• Any Item classified under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (Sea)

 

Explosives (Class 1)

Explosives are any chemical compound, mixture or device capable of producing an explosive-pyrotechnic effect

• Examples
• Ammunition
• Blasting caps
• Fireworks, flares
• Fuses
• Igniters
• Nitroglycerine

All types of ammunition are prohibited including any Arms or their component parts.

 

Gas Compressed / Flammable (Class 2)

These are gases that are compressed, liquefied or dissolved under pressure

• Examples
• Cigarette lighters
• Cylinders for camping stoves / blowlamps
• Butane
• Airbags
• All aerosols are prohibited i.e. Deodorants, shaving foam, hair spray, spray glue, spray paint, optical cleaning kits, helium inflated balloons etc

     

Flammable liquids (Class 3)

Flammable liquids are mixtures of liquids or liquids containing solids in a solution or suspension which give of flammable vapour.

• Examples
• Gasoline
• Lighter fuel
• Cigarette lighters
• Paint
• Paint thinners and removers
• Carnish
• Solvents including inks
• Nail varnish
• Cleaning compounds
• Alcohol of 70% volume or more

Perfumes & Aftershaves.

Perfumes & aftershaves that are classed as flammable are prohibited

 

Flammable solids (Class 4)

These are solid materials which are likely to cause fire by friction, absorption of water, spontaneous chemical changes or retaining heat from manufacturing or processing, or can be readily ignited and burn vigorously.

• Examples
• Matches (any type including safety)
• Phosphorous
• Potassium
• Zinc powder

 

Oxidising Substances & Organic Peroxides (Class 5)

These are substances such as disinfectants and may cause or contribute to combustion of other substances All oxidising substances and organic peroxides are prohibited

• Examples
• Components of fibreglass repair kits
• Peroxides
• Caustic soda
• Bleaches
• Cleaning compounds
• Cleaning fluids
• Paint remover
• Nail varnish remover
• Rust remover

 

Toxic (Poisonous) and Infectious Substances (Class 6)

All toxic substances are prohibited

• Examples
• Arsenic
• medical waste
• mercury
• pesticides
• poisons
• rat poison

 

Radioactive material (Class 7)

• Examples
• Fissile material
• Radioactive waste

 

Corrosives (Class 8)

All corrosive substances are prohibited

• Examples
• Caustic soda
• Household bleach
• Nitric acid
• Sulphuric acid
• Permanent hair dyes.
• Batteries (except when in original retail packaging)

 

Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods (Class 9)

• Examples
• Asbestos
• Life saving devices self inflatable

 

Most Dangerous Goods should have a label on them to denote the classification under which they fall.

 

Any item displaying any of the above symbols on the packaging or container must be considered Dangerous Goods and are therefore prohibited.