Product Restrictions per Country - Shipping
The following guide is a general idea of what type of products might require additional info or be restricted when shipping to specific countries.
Here are the most common items that may require specific shipping regulations or be prohibited:
| Item: | Why? |
| Alcohol | Shipper must have a license to ship alcohol |
| Food | Cannot ship any perishables. Will need to provide confirmation of food makeup/ingredients, and that it is not perishable |
| Animal Products | Any product including Animal products (ex. Hot chocolate packets with milk powder, or cookies with chocolate) will need a complete list of ingredients and percentages of animal products. Might get pulled for veterinary inspection at destination country |
| Cosmetics | Could give off fumes while in transit, might have prohibited ingredients |
| Clothing + Textiles | World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Textiles and Clothing requires us to provide information like country of manufacture and material composition. Clothing including hazardous dyes will be restricted. |
| Seeds | Generally prohibited due to invasive species concerns |
| Batteries | Hazardous while in transit |
| Tea | Due to ingredient concerns, might be confiscated or at the very least inspected |
| Wood Products | Due to concerns with pests / disease, certain wood products can be restricted, and/or require additional fumigation |
*Kotis does not ship hazardous materials internationally*
Below is a list of Required forms and information, along with Restricted product items per country:
Country |
Forms Required |
Restrictions |
Products Needing Additional Info |
Common Challenges |
India-Country Guidelines |
KYC POA |
• Jewelry |
• Cosmetics |
• KYC Form • Incorrect consignee • Business name listed if going to residential area • Phone numbers incorrect • Emails incorrect |
Canada |
POA |
• Animal Products (dairy etc.) • Products made of wood
|
• Cheese
|
• POA Form for shipments of $3,300 CAD or more and / or restricted goods • POA
|
United Kingdom |
EORI |
• Jewelry • Seeds • Beef jerky |
•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) |
|
Ireland |
EORI |
• Jewelry • Seeds |
•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) |
|
Germany |
EORI POA Tax ID |
• Jewelry • Seeds |
•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) |
|
Spain |
POA |
• Cosmetics • Jewelry • Seeds • Plants • Hazmat Items |
•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) |
• POA required for shipments to private persons that is valued over 150 EUR. |
Australia |
|
• Plants • Hazmat Items
|
• Animal Products (dairy etc.) |
•Proof of value may be requested for shipments that have a high weight and low value • Customs holds 5% of all formal entry shipments entering the country for physical examination of goods- can delay transit 24-72 hours |
France |
EORI |
• Plants • Seeds • Hazmat Items |
• Jewelry • Hazmat Items
|
• Shipments must clear customs within 19 days or they will be returned • EORI required for businesses to import |
Brazil - Country Guidelines |
Consignee’s Tax ID |
• Plants • Hazmat Items
|
• Books |
• May need the recipients Tax ID or identification number to clear customs |
Singapore |
|
• Chewing gum • Wood products • Hazmat Items |
|
|
Netherlands-Country Guidelines |
EORI |
• Soil • Seeds • Food • Plants • Hazmat Items |
• Food incl. coffee, tea, honey, etc. |
|
China |
Packing list POA |
• Soil • Plants • Hazmat Items |
• Jewelry • USB Sticks
|
• Single entry POA required for all non-document shipments – no blanket POA |
Israel |
Vat #/personal ID |
• Cosmetics • Hazmat Items |
• Jewelry • USB Sticks |
• Shipments over $100 USD or 5 kg will require the importers VAT # or Personal ID |
Turkey |
POA |
• Cosmetics • Hazmat Items |
• Jewelry • USB Sticks |
• POA approved by a notary and valid tax ID to clear customs • This POA is given only once and is valid until expiration date mentioned by the customer (up to 5 years) |
Trinidad |
|
• Honey • Hazmat Items |
|
|
Mexico-Country Guidelines |
|
• Hazmat Items • Alcohol |
• Animal Products (dairy etc.) |
• Shipments over $999.99 value require the consignee to provide a customs broker • Shipments over $2500 require the consignee to have an import license Mexico limits the quantity of the following commodities for import: • Clothes and accessories (including hats, socks, and scarves): limit 10 pieces • Computer equipment parts/ Electric items: limit 5 pieces of each type |
Japan |
|
• Seeds • Soil • Hazmat
|
• Plants • Tea • Jewelry • Non-roasted coffee beans • Animal Products (dairy, jerky, etc.) |
|
Poland |
EORI |
• Jewelry • Seeds |
•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) |
|
Argentina |
|
• Personal hygiene (soap) • Hazmat Items
|
• Books |
• May need the recipients Tax ID or identification number to clear customs
|
Sweden |
EORI |
• Jewelry • Seeds |
•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) |
• EORI is required for commercial importers |
Switzerland |
EORI |
• Jewelry • Seeds |
•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) |
|
Portugal |
|
• Jewelry • Plants • Seeds |
• Precious metals |
• Shipments that do not clear customs after 20 days are returned automatically |
Egypt |
|
• Products with cameras • Honey • Hazmat |
• Jewelry • Textiles |
• Shipments valued above $2,000 USD and over 50 kg may need to be registered by the consignee for an Advance Cargo ID (ACID)
|
Denmark |
EORI |
• Jewelry • Seeds |
•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) |
|
United Arab Emirates |
|
• Products with cameras • Hazmat |
• Jewelry
|
|
Colombia |
|
• Hazmat |
• Jewelry • Toys |
• May need the recipients Tax ID or identification number to clear customs
|
Taiwan |
POA |
• Soil • Seeds • Hazmat
|
|
• Shipments over $1000 USD require import license obtained by consignee |
Lithuania |
EORI |
• Jewelry • Seeds |
•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) |
• EORI required for personal and commercial shipments
|
Belgium |
EORI POA |
• Jewelry • Seeds |
•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) |
• POA and EORI required for all B2B shipments |
South Africa |
|
• Animal Products (dairy, etc.) • Hazmat
|
• Books |
• Make sure correct values are listed on the invoice. SARS will request CI and Bank proof of payment if they find the values are not accurate. |
Korea |
|
• Soil • Hazmat |
|
• Penalty fees will be charged to shipper if the address on the shipment is incorrect |
Russian Federation |
|
• Liquids of any kind • Hazmat • Animal Products (dairy etc.) • Bakery Products, Dried fruit • Flowers, Seeds, Plants, tea |
• Jewelry • Clothing • Packing Materials • USB Sticks |
• Service not available |
Romania |
EORI Packing list |
• Jewelry • Seeds |
•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) |
•EORI required for personal and commercial shipments • Shipments not cleared from customs will be returned within 14 days |
Indonesia |
POA Proof of payment Packing list |
• Liquids of any kind • Hazmat |
• Jewelry • Toys • Cosmetics • Food |
• B2C shipments might require proof of payment • POA required for shipments exceeding $1500 USD – Expect 2-5 days delay for clearance |