Mail Prohibitions and Restrictions

All dangerous goods are prohibited goods.

To comply with strict regulations BFPO does not carry any goods classified as dangerous in the latest edition of the Civil Aviation Organisation's Technical Instructions.  There are nine hazard classes which cover these and the examples quoted below must not be taken as full lists of all dangerous goods. We will not accept other materials and products that may be hazardous to our handling staff.  Dangerous goods are defined as those goods which meet the criteria of one or more of the nine UN hazard classes. These classes relate to the type of hazard and are detailed below.

In addition the BFPO will not carry items listed as prohibited by the country of destination.

All aerosols come under UN Hazard Class 2: Gases compressed, liquefied or dissolved under pressure and will not be accepted by Parcelforce or Royal Mail for delivery by the BFPO for delivery to overseas addresses. The same applies to aerosols being posted from overseas BFPO locations for delivery to UK or other civilian addresses.

Class 1: Explosives
Definition: Any chemical compound, mixture or device capable of producing an explosive-pyrotechnic effect, with substantial instantaneous release of heat and gas. All explosives are prohibited. Examples: Nitroglycerine; Fireworks; Blasting caps; Christmas Cracker Snaps; Igniters; Fuses; Flares; Ammunition, etc.

Class 2: Gases compressed, liquefied or dissolved under pressure
Definition: Permanent gases which cannot be liquified at ambient temperatures; liquified gases, which become liquid under pressure at ambient temperatures; dissolved gases which are dissolved under pressure in a solvent.
1. All flammable compressed gases are prohibited. Examples: Hydrogen; Ethane; Methane; Propane; Butane; Cigarette lighters; Gas Cylinders for camping stoves, blowlamps, etc.
2. All toxic compressed gases are prohibited. Examples: Chlorine; Flourine,etc.
3. All non-flammable compressed gases are prohibited. Examples: Carbon Dioxide; Nitrogen; Neon; Fire Extinguishers containing such gases, etc.
4. All aerosols are prohibited.

Class 3: Flammable Liquids
Definition: Liquids, mixtures of liquids, or liquids containing solids in solution or suspension which give off a flammable vapour. Any liquid with a closed cup flash point below 60.5° C is prohibited. Examples: Acetone; Benzene; Cleaning Compounds; Gasoline; Lighter Fuel; Paint Thinners and Removers; Petroleum; Solvents, etc.

Class 4.1: Flammable solids, self-reactive substances and solid desensitized explosives.

Class 4.2: Substances liable to spontaneous combustion and

Class 4.3: Substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases:

Definition: Substances liable to spontaneous combustion. Substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases. Solid materials which are liable to cause fire by friction, absorption of water, spontaneous chemical changes, or retained heat from manufacturing or processing, or which can be readily ignited and burn vigorously. Examples: Matches (any type inc. safety); Calcium Carbide; Cellulose Nitrate products; Metallic Magnesium; Nitro-cellulose based film; Phosphorous; Potassium; Sodium; Sodium Hydride; Zinc Powder; Zirconium Hydride, etc.Class 5.1: Oxidizing substances and

Class 5.2: Organic peroxides:

Definition: Though not necessarily combustable themselves, these substances may cause or contribute to combustion of other substances. They may also be liable to explosive decomposition, react dangerously with other substances, and be injurious to health. All oxidising substances and organic peroxides are prohibited. Examples: Bromates; Chlorates; Components of Fibreglass repair kits; Nitrates; Perchlorates; Permangamates; Peroxides, etc.Class 5: Oxidising Substances and Organic Peroxides:

Class 6.1: Toxic substances and Class 6.2: Infectious substances:

Definition: Substances liable to cause death or injury if swallowed or inhaled, or by skin contact. All toxic substances are prohibited. Examples: arsenic, beryllium, cyanide, fluorine, hydrogen solenoid, infectious substance containing microorganisms or their toxins which are known or suspected to cause disease,mercury, mercury salts, mustard gas, nitrobenzene, nitrogen dioxide, pesticides,poisons, rat poison. Infectious substances assigned to Category A are prohibited. Examples: ebola, foot and mouth disease, UN3291 clinical waste is prohibited.

Class 7: Radioactive material:

Definition: All materials and samples that are classified as radioactive using Table 2-12 of the latest edition of the International Civil Aviation Organisation's Technical Instructions. Examples: Fissile Material (Uranium 235,etc.); Radioactive Waste Material; Uranium or Thorium Ores, etc.

Class 8: Corrosive substances:

Definition: Substances which can cause severe damage by chemical action to living tissue, other freight, or the means of transport. All corrosive substances are prohibited. Examples: Aluminium Chloride; Caustic Soda; Corrosive Cleaning Fluid; Corrosive Rust Remover/ Preventative; Corrosive Paint Remover; Electric Storage Batteries; Hydrochloric Acid; Nitric Acid; Sulphuric Acid, etc.

Class 9: Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles :

Definition: Substances which present dangers not covered elsewhere. Examples: Asbestos; Dry Ice (solid carbon dioxide); Magnetised Material with a magnetic field strength of 0.159 A/m or more at a distance of 2.1m from the outside of the parcel.

Arms and Ammunition

All firearms including: imitations and antiques; paint-ball or toy guns; taser guns; air rifles and all other items similar to, or resembling the foregoing are prohibited. All ammunition (including components thereof) and airgun pellets are also prohibited.

The movement of all firearms ammunition (including components thereof and airgun pellets), is prohibited for UK and International destinations.

The movement of all firearms, their components, imitation firearms, de-activated guns, antigue firearms, paint-ball guns, toy guns, low-powered air rifles, or any other thing which resembles any of the afore mentioned is prohibited for export or import from the UK.

Further information about UK firearms law can be obtained from the Home Office.Tel: 020 7035 4848

Counterfeit currency

Counterfeit currency and counterfeit stamps are prohibited.

Drugs

Controlled drugs may not be sent by any Parcelforce Worldwide service. Those discovered in transit will be stopped, and handed to Customs or the Police, who may take legal action against the sender and/or recipient. Examples: cocaine, cannabis resin, LSD, leaves from the Catha Edulia plant, narcotics, morphine, opium, psychotropic substances etc.

Filth

Foul or disgusting material is prohibited.

Human and animal remains

Human and animal remains (including ashes) are prohibited.

Indecent, obscene or offensive articles

Indecent, obscene or offensive communications, prints, photographs, books or other articles, and packets bearing grossly offensive, indecent or obscene words, marks or designs are prohibited. Those discovered in transit will be stopped, and handed to Customs or the Police, who may take legal action against the sender and/or recipient.

Illegal lottery tickets

Tickets and related advertisements for illegal lotteries are prohibited.

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

Goods made in foreign prisons, except those imported for a non-commercial purpose of a kind not manufactured in the United Kingdom, or those in transit.

Alcoholic beverages

Alcoholic content should not be greater than 70%. Alcohol that will result in excise duty cannot be sent.

Batteries

Only dry batteries (for example AA or AAA batteries) in good condition and in their original sealed retail packaging may be despatched. Batteries from laptops, cameras, mobile phones and similar electronic goods must be removed from the main body of the item and packaged seperately, but form part of the same parcel/consignment.

Biological Substance, Category B

All Infectious Substances assigned to Category B must be posted in packaging that complies with Packing Instructions 650. The total sample volume/mass in any package shall not exceed 50ml/g. Infectious Substances assigned to Category B are only permitted for destinations within the United Kingdom.

Christmas crackers

May only be posted in complete made-up form and in their retail packaging. If posting using a BFPO service all crackers should have their 'bangers' removed.

Counterfeit currency and postage stamps

Counterfeit currency is prohibited. Postage stamps are prohibited unless franked or no longer usable for postage purposes.

Diagnostic specimens

All diagnostic specimens must be posted in packaging that complies with Packing Instructions 650. The total sample volume/mass in any package shall not exceed 50ml/g. Diagnostic specimens are only permitted for destinations within the United Kingdom.

Infectious substances

Infectious substances assigned to Category A are prohibited.

International export licences and international packaging

Items requiring Parcelforce Worldwide to obtain any special licence or permit for transportation, importation or exportation; or consignments with a declared value for customs in excess of that permitted for the particular destination should not be sent on any international service. Please note: Any items that are wet, leaking or emit an odour of any kind cannot be sent on any of our  services.

Misleading endorsements

Parcels must not bear words, marks or designs which are unauthorised and which may reasonably lead the recipient to believe that the packet has been sent On Her Majesty's Service.

Perishable articles and foodstuffs

Fresh fruit, meat, fish and other perishable articles should be able to withstand transit times of at least 48 hours and must be sent by guaranteed next day service as a minimum requirement within the UK . Packages must be clearly labelled "PERISHABLE". Packages of fish should be smoked or chilled, and sealed in vacuum packs before consignment. In all cases they must be enclosed in adequate polystyrene containment to prevent contamination. It is the responsibility of the shipper to package all perishable articles in such a manner that during transport within the system the contents are kept at an appropriate temperature that is unlikely to give rise to a risk to health. It is prohibited to export any foodstuffs, whether perishable or not, to certain destinations on the globalpriority and globalvalue services. Perishable foodstuff cannot be sent on the globalexpress service. This includes seeds and other vegetable products intended for further processing. Please note that claims for damage caused by late delivery will not be accepted where this was outside of our control. Claims for damage will not be accepted where goods have perished and the parcel was delivered within 48 hours.

Plants

Live plants cannot be exported using the globalexpress service or to certain destinations on the globalpriority and globalvalue services.

Prescription drugs

Prescription drugs sent for medical or scientific purposes, for example from a medical practitioner to a hospital, must contain the address of the sender and telephne number in case of non-delivery, so that they may be returned without delay. The properties of these drugs, should not meet any of the criteria of the 9 UN hazard classes when classified by the sender. Drugs in prescription quantities may be sent by private individuals in the case of emergencies. In all cases, the sender's address and telephone number must be included on the inside of the package.

Sharp objects

These items may only be posted if they are packaged appropriately so that they do not present a risk to employees, other packages or recipients.

Financial documents

Money - bankers drafts, current bank notes, currency notes or coins, credit cards, debit cards, uncrossed postal orders which do not state to whom they are to be paid, cheques or dividend warrants which are uncrossed and made payable to the bearer; bearer securities including share warrants, scrips, or subscription certificates, bonds or relative coupons, unfranked postage or revenue stamps, (except a revenue stamp embossed or impressed on an instrument which has been executed); coupons, vouchers, tokens, lottery tickets, scratch cards or similar documents which can be exchanged themselves or with any other document for money, goods or services; national insurance stamps; all tickets, including travel and events. None of the above can be sent on any Parcelforce Worldwide export service. They can be sent on a Parcelforce Worldwide UK service.

Works of art

Works of art cannot be exported to certain destinations on the globalpriority and globalvalue services and are excluded from compensation for loss and damage with globalexpress although they can be sent using this service.

Human and animal remains

Human and animal remains (including ashes) cannot be sent using any of our services.