Prohibited Items that International Movers will not move

When the shipping industry is in question, you are probably aware that some goods are considered prohibited. This list contains items that are unlawfully permitted, could cause harm to those who are handling them during transit, or simply will not last during transportation. Before you start packing, you should do research and find out what items are considered prohibited in your destination country. If you do this on time, there should be no complications during the whole process.

If you need a helping hand, you can always contact your international moving company. They know what should and should not be moved, which is why you can put your trust in them.

Of course, any “danger” can only happen if the items in question are not properly controlled, packed, or handled. Should you do everything properly, there should be nothing to worry about.

Before you start packing, you should know what items are actually dangerous. There are many restrictions on goods, and this depends on their classification. Please bear in mind that some items are considered hazardous, but they may not be dangerous by themselves alone. For example, nail polish, table tennis balls, paint, and perfumes are considered to be in this category.

Shipping these items is prohibited because of possible inflammation. Unfortunately, the reason why movers usually won't transport or hold flammables is because of incidents that have occurred in the past. Therefore, through the years, it has become a common rule that every mover follows, especially as there are many safety concerns that moving flammables can cause. Nobody wants to risk the health, safety, and well-being of people or other belongings.

Here are some items that are considered hazardous and are prohibited in most countries

• Any pressurized tanks, including, but not limited to, propane gas tanks, helium gas tanks, or any items that utilize flammable gases
• Ammunition, gun powder, or firearms of any kind whether disassembled or not (Automatic and heavy military weapons are strictly prohibited)
• Any weapon (e.g. knives, crossbows, etc.)
• Fireworks, combustible, corrosive, flammable, or explosive items and toxic or poisonous substances
• Chemical and cleaning supplies (e.g. bleach, soap, Windex, or any other cleaning supply)
• Don't try to move chemicals for cleaning. Logically, those items are flammable and can damage other stuff if they leak out of the bottle
• Any items that can explode under pressure. (e.g. spray deodorant or hair spray)
• Batteries and car batteries are flammable and therefore forbidden. As they have acid inside, if that acid leaks out of the container, it can eat other stuff and cause a flame
• Liquor - the reason is the same - liquor is highly flammable and in case the liquor leaks, it can cause a fire

There are some items that are not considered dangerous or hazardous but are still prohibited to be moved. These items are prohibited in most countries for obvious reasons.

• Narcotics and dangerous drugs (violation will result in severe penalties)
• Obscene or pornographic material
• Unlawful or treasonable material
• Pirated books or articles (e.g., cassettes and computer programs) will be confiscated and destroyed

Can you move food?

Many people don't want to get rid of their food and think they can move them overseas. However, that isn't a good idea. Food is considered a prohibited item that your international movers won't move. Why? The Department of Agriculture and many international governments forbid moving many agriculture products, such as food, because they may carry pests or foreign animal diseases.

These items are most likely prohibited in your destination country:

• Meats
• Fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables
• Boxed and/or canned goods
• Raw food

… if you think about it, it is a bad idea to put your food or other perishable items in moving boxes. Shipping containers are not refrigerated, and the temperature inside can be well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit while in transit. Logically, your food and perishables will go bad, even faster than usual.

So, even though there are a lot of things your movers can do, successfully moving your perishables and food is not one of them.

Get rid of your perishables and food before you start your international relocation.

Can you move plants?

Anyone with a green thumb will want to read about this next prohibited item.

Due to strict regulations the following items are prohibited from being shipped internationally:

• Live plants and products made from animal or plant materials
• Seeds and soil
• Live Animals and/or rare or exotic animal parts (e.g., furs, skins, ivory tusks, tortoise shells, wood carvings, etc.)

Much like food, it is quite logical that a plant or flower shouldn't be inside a moving truck or container. Flowers aren't something that you can put inside of a box and be sure that they'll be safe. Moreover, they simply won't have the air or water necessary for them to survive. In some cases, plants and flowers require more attention than just air or water, and that includes some special conditions that no moving truck or container can meet.

What else is prohibited?

If you hire a reliable and trustworthy international moving company, you should be able to trust them with all your items. However, even if this is the case, some personal belongings are best to move on your own. Especially if, in case of any mishaps, you can't put a price tag on it. This includes:

• Jewelry
• Collections (Coin, stamps, etc.)
• Money (Cash/credit cards/debit card/checkbooks, etc.)
• Family Heirlooms
• Family photos
• Important documents
• Medications

When you are moving, one of the things you don't want to keep with movers is expensive jewelry. It's not that the movers aren't able to do it, but it is a moving task that requires specialty moving services. To avoid potential problems, most movers decide to put such items on a prohibited items list. After all, no one can blame them for refusing to deal with some of the most expensive items a person owns.

Another important factor is whether the items you are shipping can be shipped via air or sea. Much like passing through TSA, shipping via air will come with more restrictions than shipping via sea.

After all, the best way to find out which items are prohibited is to get in touch with your movers and nearest consulate/embassy. They will surely communicate with you about every detail and item you want to move. This will help you decide what items you're planning on moving. This will also help to avoid risking sending something that is forbidden. If you do happen to send such an item, it can cause large fines from national governments, confiscation, and the item potentially being destroyed. Even when packing boxes, you should always double-check its contents. This can save you a lot of trouble in the future.

Hopefully this list of items to not ship internationally has been helpful to you. Before considering what to have movers pack, always ask yourself the following questions:

• Can this item be repurchased once we arrive?
• Would I be devastated to lose this item?
• What will I need while traveling (applies to moving documents, passports, etc.)?

Now that you know the prohibited items international movers won't move, you're ready.

This content created by Uplift Movers provides information for the majority of countries and territories around the world detailing the most common prohibited items. These comprehensive guides help ensure that customs processes go as smoothly as possible. Due to the current coronavirus/COVID-19 situation and restrictions in various countries, the below information may not be accurate. While this information is correct at posting, regulations, procedures and charges are subject to change. Always check with authorities for local laws and restrictions concerning movements. Uplift Movers does not accept liability for errors, omissions, inaccuracies or misinterpretation. This information does not purport to be provided or sanctioned by the customs authorities of the country/territory concerned.