FedEx: International Shipping Restrictions and Prohibited Items 2023

Shipping internationally with FedEx – Restricted & prohibited items

Many international shippers rely on FedEx global logistics solutions to move their goods around the world. If you are also considering shipping with this courier, it is important first to get familiar with the FedEx list of prohibited and restricted items to make sure your packages are fully compliant with the courier’s rules. Check below what items cannot be shipped by FedEx and get ready for your delivery.

PROHIBITED

FedEx list of international prohibited items

The following list of prohibited items by FedEx includes articles that cannot be shipped, imported, exported, or stored by this carrier, according to their company policy and applicable governmental legislation.

All commodities valued over US$20,000 (approx. 16,989€*) without approval
Auto parts with fluids in them
Bullion and money of every description such as (but without prejudice to the generality of this clause) cash, banknotes, coins, currency notes or currency of any kind
Class 7 Radioactive Material including White I, Yellow II, Yellow III and fissile material
Contraband including, but not limited to, illicit drugs and counterfeit goods
Division 1.1 Explosives (e.g., mines and nitro-glycerine)
Division 1.2 Explosives (e.g., rockets and warheads)
Division 1.3 Explosives (e.g., smoke signals, projectiles and commercial fireworks)
Division 1.4 Explosives (e.g., airbags, small arms ammunition and model rocket motors)
Division 1.5 Explosives (e.g., blasting agents)
Division 1.6 Explosives
Division 2.1 Flammable Gas
Division 2.2 Non-Flammable, Non-Toxic Gas
Division 2.3 Toxic Gas
Division 4.1 Flammable Solids
Division 4.2 Spontaneously Combustible Flammable Solids
Division 4.3 Dangerous When Wet Flammable Solids
Division 6.1 Toxic Substances (solid or liquid)
Division 6.2 Infectious Substances
Flammables with a flashpoint of 140 degrees Fahrenheit (equivalent to 60 degrees Celsius) or less
Division 5.1 Oxidisers
Division 5.2 Organic Peroxides

Fine art
Fine jewellery
Furs
Human remains
Livestock, bloodstock and living animals
Retail tobacco products
Tranquilising guns and ammunition
Transactions involving International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or other commodities subject to import licenses
One-of-a-kind/irreplaceable articles such as artwork valued over US$500,000 (approx. 425,000€*) each
Pornography/obscene material
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
Stamps (postage or revenue); vouchers; tokens; tickets of any kind; and credit, debit or cash cards
Time-sensitive or critical written materials or documents including, but not limited to, bids and contract proposals
Watches valued at over US$1000 (approx. 849.50 €*)
Weapons and weapons accessories
Biological agents, etiological agents, and hosts and vectors of human disease
Class 3 Flammable Liquids
Class 8 Corrosives
Hazardous materials/dangerous goods and radioactive materials

RESTRICTED

FedEx list of restricted items

The following list of FedEx restricted items features articles that are controlled by local legislation and, therefore, require approval before handling and carrying. Any shipment that includes these commodities is restricted on a global scale.

Artwork, archaeological artefacts and antiquities
Class 9 Miscellaneous (e.g., self-inflating life rafts, lithium batteries and dry ice)
Flowers
Fresh foodstuffs
Gems, cut or uncut
Household goods and personal effects
Lithium-ion and lithium metal batteries
Other perishables
Project cargo
Microchips, computer chips, microprocessors, central processing units (CPUs) and mobile telephones

Medical Devices – must verify that the accepting warehouse complies with state requirements/ licensing/permits for distribution of medical devices
One-of-a-kind/irreplaceable articles such as artwork valued between US$250,000 and US$500,000 (or between 212 and 425€*) each and other single items valued at US$250,000 and higher
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

*Converted based on the following rate: 1 USD – 0,85 EUR (updated on 23/07/2021)

FedEx List of prohibited items by country

The lists mentioned above of FedEx prohibited and restricted items apply to global shipments, but it is important to keep in mind that local regulations are still applicable. Before booking any delivery service, it is the shipper’s responsibility to check the current regulations on the country of origin and destination of the shipment. To find out what cannot be shipped by FedEx on your specific route, check their page to see the FedEx list of prohibited items organised by country.

International restrictions when shipping with FedEx

It is widely known that every shipment transported across international borders has to go through customs procedures. To make sure your delivery goes smoothly, it is essential to verify and prepare in advance the documents necessary for importing and exporting. Please be aware that even fully allowed articles may require additional documents for going through customs for regulatory purposes. For any further assistance regarding international shipping restrictions with FedEx, we recommend contacting the courier company directly.

FedEx list of prohibited items for freight shipments

The above-listed prohibited items by FedEx is still applicable to freight shipments since those restrictions are mainly based on regulatory purposes and are valid for any type of transport. However, FedEx is able to provide safe freight transport solutions for companies shipping most of the dangerous items included on the restricted list, such as hazardous goods, valuables and perishables.

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FAQs – FedEx international shipping restrictions for prohibited items

What is the reason for an item to be considered prohibited by FedEx?

Items are included on FedEx domestic or international prohibited shipping list because they are either hazardous, pose a risk to the shipment, courier or other merchandise, for regulatory reasons and other specific situations. The items considered prohibited internationally by FedEx cannot be imported or exported due to local or global legislation.

What happens if you ship prohibited items with FedEx?

The courier company has the right to deny providing any shipping service for clients that want to send prohibited items with FedEx or restricted items without the necessary approvals. If FedEx discovers any prohibited item during the delivery process, your shipment may be destroyed or returned, and your account may be cancelled.

Is there a difference between domestic and international prohibited items by FedEx?

Yes, the FedEx lists for domestic and international prohibited items may differ slightly because they are decided in accordance with local governmental regulations. For example, it is possible to ship firearms for domestic deliveries within the USA if the shipper has the applicable license (Federal Firearm License – FFL). However, firearms are considered prohibited for international deliveries with FedEx and most other courier companies.

Therefore, before organising your delivery, we always recommend checking not only the courier rules but also the applicable local legislation to find out what items cannot be shipped by FedEx for your route.

How can you get approval for shipping restricted items with FedEx?

Businesses who wish to ship restricted items with FedEx domestically or internationally must apply directly with the company and provide all the necessary documents and certificates to prove they comply with the regulations. In most cases, the clients that get this special contract for shipping restricted items with FedEx have a regular monthly volume of transactions.

Please be aware that this authorisation is not automatic. Once you send your application and documents, FedEx will first analyse everything before conceding approval.

Can I ship restricted or prohibited items through Eurosender?

To ensure your shipment will go through without any issues, we strongly advise against including any restricted or prohibited items inside the package. Please have in mind that any shipment that contains prohibited or restricted articles is automatically excluded from insurance, which means that you will be sending it at your own risk.

Disclaimer: The information above is the result of online research conducted in July 2021. For more information about FedEx international shipping restrictions for prohibited and restricted items, we strongly recommend checking the courier company’s official website.