International shipments with UPS: List of prohibited & restricted items
Before booking an international delivery, check what can you ship with UPS by reading the list of restricted and prohibited items below. Make sure your package follows the carrier’s and the country’s rules to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
PROHIBITED
UPS Prohibited items
The following items are prohibited for shipping by UPS in most EU countries. This list of UPS prohibited items is applicable for shipments to all countries served by this carrier.
- Alcoholic beverages
- Animal skins
- Articles of exceptional value (e.g., works of art, antiques, precious stones, gold and silver)
- Dangerous goods/Hazardous materials (following IATA regulations for Express and Expedited, and ADR regulations for Standard)
- Firearms
- Furs
- Ivory and ivory products
- Live animals
- Money and negotiable items
- Perishable goods
- Personal effects (exceptions may apply)
- Plants
- Pornographic materials
- Seeds
- Tobacco and tobacco products
- Unaccompanied baggage (exceptions may apply)
- Watches exceeding the value of 500 USD (approximately 474 EUR)*
RESTRICTED
UPS List of restricted items
The following list includes the items that are considered restricted by UPS in most operating countries. Please have in mind that for certain customers and locations, these items may be considered prohibited instead of restricted.
- Alcoholic beverages
- Perishable goods
- Plants
- Seeds
- Tobacco and tobacco products
Difference between UPS prohibited and restricted items
The items considered as prohibited by UPS cannot be transported either by individuals or business customers. Items are considered prohibited based on the following criteria: not suitable/dangerous for transport, not allowed by law, or risk for other shipments. On the other hand, the list of items restricted by UPS contains commodities that can be transported under specific contracts established with customers that have regular shipping volume and the necessary certificates and approvals. Since this special contract applies only to a handful of customers, these items are included on both restricted and prohibited lists by UPS.
What happens if you ship prohibited items internationally with UPS
Since it is in the company policy that they do not agree to transport any prohibited articles, such shipments will not be covered by any form of insurance or liability. If UPS discovers any prohibited item during transit, the shipper is subject to an administration fee starting at 130 EUR, in addition to any other applicable charges. UPS reserves the right to check or scan packages being shipped on domestic or international routes. Cross-border shipments are always inspected by both the courier and the customs authorities during import and export procedures.
UPS Shipping restrictions based on countries
When organising an international delivery with UPS, it is the shipper’s responsibility to ensure that their shipment is in compliance with both the carrier and the country’s rules. The shipment should follow the shipping restrictions and not contain any item prohibited by UPS in the countries of origin, transit and delivery. To find out what you can ship with UPS on specific routes, use their digital tool to find out the list of restrictions organised per country.
Shipping with UPS via Eurosender
At Eurosender, we work with a vast network of logistics providers, including UPS and several other international couriers. To ensure your delivery goes as planned, we strongly advise making sure your shipment is fully compliant with the UPS list of prohibited and restricted items and any other shipping restrictions. Once everything is checked, use our booking tool below to instantly check the shipping price provided by multiple courier providers and schedule your delivery right away!
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