COMPLIANCE

Prohibited and restricted items

Aviation safety rules, carrier policies and the customs laws of India, the USA, the UAE, the UK and China all limit what can travel by express air. Check your item against the lists below before you book a shipment or send an order to your ExpressBox address.

The lists cover every lane we run. Where one country is stricter than the others, the stricter rule applies to that lane. Last reviewed 4 Oct 2026.

Unsure about an item?

Rules change with destination and carrier. Send us the product name or a link and we will confirm whether it can travel, and on which lane, before you pay for anything.

Ask before you ship

PROHIBITED

We never carry these.

No exceptions on any lane. If one of these is found in a parcel it is refused, returned at the sender's cost or handed to customs, and the sender bears any penalty.

Dangerous goods and hazardous materials

Explosives, fireworks, firecrackers, flares and ammunition primers
Flammable liquids and gases: lighter fluid, butane, propane, fuel, solvents, spray paint
Aerosols and any pressurised can, including deodorant, hairspray and whipped cream
Corrosives, oxidisers, acids and pool chemicals such as chlorine tablets or shock
Radioactive, toxic or infectious substances
Dry ice, including dry ice used as packaging
Standalone lithium battery packs, power banks over 100 Wh, car and lead-acid batteries
Anything else on the IATA dangerous-goods list

Live, perishable and biological

Live animals, birds, fish and insects
Live plants, seeds, bulbs, soil and dried plant material without phytosanitary clearance
Fresh, chilled or frozen food, raw meat, fish and dairy
Human or animal remains, including ashes
Biological samples, blood and diagnostic specimens
Ivory, real fur, exotic leather, tortoiseshell, shark fin and other CITES-protected goods

Currency, valuables and instruments of value

Cash, coins and banknotes in any currency
Negotiable instruments: cheques, bonds, share certificates, bearer documents
Gold and silver bullion, loose precious and semi-precious stones
Stamps and philatelic collections
Lottery tickets and gambling devices
Indian postal articles and items reserved for the postal service

Weapons, drugs and illegal goods

Firearms, firearm parts, replicas, air guns, silencers and suppressors
Ammunition, gunpowder, casings and reloading supplies
Stun guns, tasers, pepper spray, knuckle dusters, switchblades, butterfly and throwing knives, crossbows
Ballistic vests, plates and helmets
Narcotics, cannabis, CBD products, kratom and anabolic steroids
Prescription or controlled medicines without an import licence
Pornography and obscene material
Counterfeit, pirated or trademark-infringing goods

Tobacco, alcohol and regulated devices

Vapes, e-cigarettes, e-liquids, nicotine pouches and heated-tobacco devices (banned in India under PECA 2019)
Cigarettes, cigars, hookah, shisha, chewing tobacco and snuff
Alcohol, spirits, wine and beer
Drones and UAVs, including parts and FPV kits
Signal, GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile jammers, radar detectors
Satellite phones and covert or spy cameras

Operational and statutory refusals

Goods banned by law in the origin, transit or destination country at any time, without notice
Any item that would require us or the carrier to hold a licence to carry it
Any parcel likely to damage equipment, injure staff or contaminate other shipments
Items that cannot be declared truthfully or whose contents the sender will not disclose
Used goods, antiques and artwork without the permits the destination country requires

RESTRICTED

Ship only after checking with us.

These travel on some lanes, in some quantities, with the right paperwork. Tell us what it is before you buy or book and we will say yes, no, or what is needed.

Food supplements, protein powder and vitamins Food articles need FSSAI clearance to enter India and are the most frequently held category. Personal quantities of sealed, labelled products are usually possible; commercial quantities need a licence.

Cosmetics, skincare and perfume Single units for personal use generally clear. Several units of one product look commercial and fall under CDSCO rules. Perfume is a flammable liquid and most carriers refuse it outright.

Electronics with built-in batteries Phones, laptops, watches and cameras can travel with the battery installed and declared. Spare or loose batteries cannot. Commercial quantities may need BIS or WPC approval in India.

Medicines Over-the-counter medicines in personal quantities can travel with a copy of the prescription or invoice. Anything prescription-only, controlled or injectable needs a licence and is normally refused.

Liquids, gels and powders Must be sealed, leak-proof and declared with the volume. Bulk liquids, fuels and anything flammable are prohibited regardless of packaging.

Heavy or bulky pieces Single pieces over 20 kg, or anything that will not fit a standard courier bag, are booked as freight rather than express. Ask for a quote first.

Appliances rated for 120 V only A "120 V only" appliance will not run on Indian or UAE 230 V mains. We flag it when we see it; the decision to ship is yours.

High-value goods Jewellery, watches and electronics above the destination’s duty-free allowance travel with full declaration and are subject to duty. Items above our insured limit need prior approval.

When in doubt, ask first.

A two-minute check costs nothing. A refused parcel costs the return freight, the customs fee and the wait.