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Product Restrictions per Country - Shipping

  • updated 9 mths ago

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 
• Hazmat Items 

• Cosmetics 
• Food incl. Vitamins 
• Telecom. Equipment 
• USB Sticks 

• KYC Form 

• Incorrect consignee 

• Business name listed if going to residential area 

• Phone numbers incorrect 

• Emails incorrect 

Canada 

POA 

• Animal Products (dairy etc.) 
• Plants 

• Products made of wood 
• Hazmat Items 

 

• Cheese 
• Food 
• Hazmat Items 

 

• POA Form for shipments of $3,300 CAD or more and / or restricted goods 

• POA 

 

United Kingdom 

EORI 

• Jewelry 
• Plants 

• Seeds 

• Beef jerky 
• Hazmat 

•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) 
• Food incl. coffee, tea, honey, etc. 
• Toys 
• USB Sticks 

 

Ireland 

EORI 

• Jewelry 
• Plants  

• Seeds 
• Hazmat 

•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) 
• Food incl. coffee, tea, honey, etc. 
• Toys 
• USB Sticks 

 

Germany 

EORI 

POA 

Tax ID 

• Jewelry 
• Plants 

• Seeds 
• Hazmat 

•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) 
• Food incl. coffee, tea, honey, etc. 
• Toys 
• USB Sticks 

 

Spain 

POA 

• Cosmetics 

• Jewelry 

• Seeds 

• Plants 

• Hazmat Items 

•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) 
• Food incl. coffee, tea, honey, etc. 
• Toys 
• USB Sticks 

• POA required for shipments to private persons that is valued over 150 EUR. 

Australia 

 

• Plants 

• Hazmat Items 

 

 

• Animal Products (dairy etc.) 
• Clothing 
• Coffee 
• Cosmetics 
• Food 
• Jewelry 
• Toys 
• Products made of Wood 

•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 
• Cosmetics 
• Clothing 
• Food 
• Leather 
• Jewelry 

• 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. 
• Toys 
• USB Sticks 

 

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.) 
• Consumables, incl. Food 
• Products that will come into contact with the human body 
• Products made of Wood 

• 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 
• Plants 

• Seeds 
• Hazmat 

•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) 
• Food incl. coffee, tea, honey, etc. 
• Toys 
• USB Sticks 

 

Argentina 

 

• Personal hygiene (soap) 

• Hazmat Items 

 

• Books 
• Cosmetics 
• Clothing 
• Food 
• Leather 
• Jewelry 

• May need the recipients Tax ID or identification number to clear customs 

 

Sweden 

EORI 

• Jewelry 
• Plants 

• Seeds 
• Hazmat 

•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) 
• Food incl. coffee, tea, honey, etc. 
• Toys 
• USB Sticks 

• EORI is required for commercial importers 

Switzerland 

EORI 

• Jewelry 
• Plants 

• Seeds 
• Hazmat 

•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) 
• Food incl. coffee, tea, honey, etc. 
• Toys 
• USB Sticks 

 

Portugal 

 

• Jewelry 

• Plants 

• Seeds 
• Hazmat 

• 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 
• Plants 

• Seeds 
• Hazmat 

•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) 
• Food incl. coffee, tea, honey, etc. 
• Toys 
• USB Sticks 

 

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 
• Plants 

• Seeds 
• Hazmat 

•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) 
• Food incl. coffee, tea, honey, etc. 
• Toys 
• USB Sticks 

• EORI required for personal and commercial shipments 

 

Belgium 

EORI 

POA 

• Jewelry 
• Plants 

• Seeds 
• Hazmat 

•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) 
• Food incl. coffee, tea, honey, etc. 
• Toys 
• USB Sticks 

• POA and EORI required for all B2B shipments 

South Africa 

 

• Animal Products (dairy, etc.) 

• Hazmat 

 

• Books 
• Cosmetics 
• Food 
• Leather 
• Jewelry 

• 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 
• Jerky, hams & sausage 

• 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 
• Plants 

• Seeds 
• Hazmat 

•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) 
• Food incl. coffee, tea, honey, etc. 
• Toys 
• USB Sticks 

•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 

 

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