Do you have a small business that needs to ship items to Canada, Mexico or another country? Or do you have family in a foreign country that you want to send a care package to? You’re about to find out that shipping items internationally can be complicated. Figuring out the difference between prohibited items and what is OK to pack and ship is tricky. Even simple details or the wrong label can get your package detained and confiscated. It’s important to know the specific restrictions on international shipments.
But first, there are some items that are always illegal to ship that you should know about. Many of these items are obvious. You cannot ship anything that could be a danger in transit. This includes explosives, ammunition and gasoline.
If these items were to come into contact with a spark, caused by a car accident or other incident, they could be deadly. Airbags also pose a risk of explosion. Don’t bother trying to ship them either. Other restricted items in domestic and international shipments are not always dangerous.
But they do violate shipping or state and international laws. Guns and marijuana are two such items. Laws on both items vary from state to state and country to country. Therefore, shipping them is illegal.
Each of these items requires a certified commercial carrier to move them from one state to another or to an international destination. The list of items prohibited for non-commercial mail within the United States is short. But there is a much longer list of items prohibited internationally. First and foremost, items sent abroad from the United States
Must have labels printed in English. Or they need an FDA-approved label if the package includes cosmetics, food or non-prescription drugs. Perishable items cannot be mailed. In addition to the dangerous goods that cannot be included in the above list, fire extinguishers, air guns, stun guns, pepper spray or related items cannot be sent.
Weapons accessories and military supplies, such as handcuffs, shields or batons, are also prohibited. Diseases and pests transmitted by wild animals or plants vary from country to country. Preventing the spread of such pests and diseases is an international objective. For that reason, no live or dead plants, animals, insects, or other agriculture-related items may be shipped out of the United States.
Also restricted are any items that are illicit or illegal. This includes counterfeits, contraband, lock-picking devices, or snake or alligator skins. These are not the only items that cannot be sent abroad. Some countries have restrictions on what can and cannot be imported into their country that may not be on the list.
For example, Mexico prohibits the import of used clothing. This is unless it is part of an individual’s personal luggage. Check with the country you are shipping to to see if your items may be restricted. It is illegal to ship perishable items to a foreign country.
But there are options and ways of packing food that will allow you to send it abroad. For example, items that have a shelf life of at least 6 months can be shipped if they are in their sealed store-bought packaging. Food cannot be something that needs refrigeration if you are sending it by regular, non-commercial mail. It is also important to keep in mind that your packages may be exposed to temperature changes, as well as occasional rough handling.
If your item needs to remain upright, such as muffins, to stay in good condition, it is best not to send it. Although any store-bought item that is not perishable can be shipped from the U.S. Another large category of items that cannot be shipped internationally are prescription drugs. To ship prescription drugs, there are a number of complicated procedures to go through.
Medications will also have to be shipped commercially by an approved carrier. If you are an individual, you will not be able to ship prescription medicines. Do you need to ship something out of the country, for business or personal reasons? You should be aware of the restrictions on international shipments. Once you have followed the above guidelines, the next thing to do is to find the right carrier.
Before entrusting valuable or time-sensitive packages to the postal service, consider a carrier. When the postal service tends to have slow shipping times and many lost packages, a private carrier service is a great solution. You’ll get fast shipping that fits your schedule, as well as a door-to-door freight service, so you won’t have to wait in long lines at the post office to drop off your package. In some cases, you can even choose same-day shipping for domestic destinations.
Some locations in Canada and some international cities are also available. These trends show the growing concern of regional consumers for their health and well-being, a concern that vitamin and dietary supplement retailers can capitalise on. While the overall health of the Latin American population has improved, the region is experiencing three trends that represent opportunities for vitamin and supplement shipping to Latin America, including an increase in chronic diseases, a growing geriatric population and increasingly active lifestyles. If you are thinking about shipping prescription medicines and health supplements internationally, here are several important things to consider before you start packaging them.
The Brazilian government is even running campaigns to promote healthy lifestyle values, which is helping the market for ethical dietary supplements. Many e-commerce retailers choose to ship vitamins and supplements through the postal service to avoid the stricter inspections they face with other methods. As a result, Latin America is one of the fastest growing markets for weight loss supplements in the world. The incidence of chronic diseases is one of the trends driving this shift towards vitamins and dietary supplements, according to the research.
Demand for vitamins and dietary supplements in Argentina is growing at a rate of more than 13 per cent year-on-year, thanks to “increased health spending, imports of medical and food products and regulations governing dietary supplements”. While Latin America as a whole has a growing taste for vitamins and dietary supplements, individual countries in the region present unique opportunities for retailers. In recent years, imports of dietary supplements into the country have been dominated by calcium products and weight loss supplements. As the middle class continues to grow and adopt healthier habits, more companies will ship vitamins and supplements to Latin America to meet demand.
Most countries have different regulations and restrictions on health supplement products, and some may require prior declaration. One of the biggest challenges of shipping vitamins and dietary supplements to Latin America is navigating the various regulations imposed on these products, as they vary from country to country. With pharmacies everywhere in Hong Kong, one of the easiest things to source would be health supplements and medicines. To ship vitamins and supplements to consumers in Mexico, items require approval from COFEPRIS, the Mexican health authority.
