Why Was Your Parcel Seized? Unveiling the “Regulars” on International Prohibited Item Lists

“Parcel has arrived at the destination country’s customs, pending inspection” — when cross-border logistics tracking freezes on this line, many people fall into anxiety. What’s even more frustrating is often the subsequent notifications: “Parcel seized for containing prohibited items,” “Cargo to be destroyed,” or “High fines required.” Data shows that the average seizure rate of cross-border parcels worldwide is approximately 8%, with 70% of seizures related to “illegally shipping ‘regulars’ on international prohibited item lists.”

From seemingly ordinary powders and batteries to overlooked drones and pharmaceuticals, many daily items harbor hidden “seizure risks.” These frequent “regulars” on international prohibited item lists are backed by the dual logic of safety prevention and regulatory supervision. This article will reveal the high-frequency “blacklist” on international prohibited item lists through real seizure cases, explain the reasons for their prohibition, and provide actionable compliant shipping guidelines to help you avoid “minefields” in cross-border logistics.

I. Top 5 Most Frequently Seized Items: “Permanent Guests” on International Prohibited Item Lists

International prohibited item lists are not static, but several categories of items consistently top the “seizure rankings,” becoming high-frequency “minefields” for cross-border shipping. Their common traits: high safety risks, difficulty in supervision, and high compliance thresholds — even a minor oversight can lead to parcel seizure.

(I) Powdered Items: The No.1 Culprit of Seizures Due to “Unknown Identity”

Powdered items are the “hardest-hit area” for cross-border parcel seizures, with a seizure rate of 35%, firmly topping the list of prohibited “regulars.” From small cosmetic loose powders and milk powder to large quantities of chemical raw materials and scientific research reagents, almost all will be intercepted by customs without complete compliance documents.

Real Case: Overseas student Li shipped 3 cans of baby milk powder from China to Canada without obtaining a health quarantine certificate. The parcel was seized at Vancouver Customs, which required documents such as a Certificate of Origin and quarantine report, otherwise, the cargo would be destroyed. In the end, Li spent 1 month supplementing the documents and paid an additional 2,000 yuan in handling fees to retrieve the milk powder.

The core reason for frequent seizures of powdered items is “difficulty in identifying components.” Prohibited items such as drugs, explosives, and hazardous chemicals can all be disguised as ordinary powders to evade inspection. To reduce risks, customs authorities worldwide implement “strict supervision” on powdered items: those without a “Component Identification Report” and MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) issued by a third-party institution are detained for inspection; dangerous goods (such as aluminum powder and corrosive powder) not packaged in accordance with regulations are directly destroyed.

(II) Lithium Battery-Containing Items: Invisible Risks of “Flammability and Explosiveness”

Items containing lithium batteries (such as drones, power banks, mobile phones, and Bluetooth headsets) are the second most frequently seized category, with a seizure rate of approximately 25%. Due to the risk of short circuits and explosions, lithium batteries are classified as “Class 9 Dangerous Goods” by the United Nations, with strict packaging and declaration requirements for cross-border transportation.

Real Case: An e-commerce seller shipped 10 wireless headsets with lithium batteries to Europe without separately packaging and insulating the batteries or declaring “contains lithium batteries.” The parcel was seized at German Customs on the grounds that “the lithium battery packaging does not meet IATA DGR standards and poses safety hazards.” Ultimately, the cargo was confiscated, and the seller was fined 5,000 euros.

Common reasons for the seizure of lithium battery-containing items include: battery capacity exceeding 100Wh without obtaining a dangerous goods transport permit; batteries not separately packaged or electrodes not insulated; failure to truthfully declare “contains lithium batteries”; and logistics providers lacking dangerous goods transport qualifications. Even ordinary power banks with a capacity >100Wh are prohibited from air transport and can only be shipped by land or sea, requiring a UN38.3 safety test report.

(III) Drones and Accessories: A Compliance Maze of “Dual-Use (Civil-Military) Nature”

Drones and related accessories (such as high-definition cameras, high-power batteries, and autonomous driving modules) have a seizure rate of 20%, emerging as “regulars” on prohibited lists in recent years. Due to their dual “consumer and military attributes,” these items are trapped in dual supervision of export controls and destination country regulations.

Real Case: Photography enthusiast Zhang shipped a DJI Mavic 3 drone from China to the United States without obtaining a “Dual-Use Items Export License” or US FAA certification. The parcel was seized at Los Angeles Customs, which determined that the drone “meets controlled technical parameters and is suspected of illegal export.” Ultimately, the cargo was confiscated, and Zhang was blacklisted by customs, prohibited from conducting cross-border shipping business for 3 years.

The core reason for drone seizures is “lack of compliance documents”: failure to obtain an export license (required for drones with a maximum takeoff weight of 250g-25kg); failure to provide destination import permits (such as EU CE certification or US FAA registration); excessive battery capacity without compliant packaging; and accessories containing sensitive technologies (such as facial recognition modules and mapping functions) not undergoing technical review.

(IV) Pharmaceuticals and Health Products: Regulatory Red Lines for “Sensitive Components”

Pharmaceuticals and health products (such as traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces, vitamins, and weight-loss capsules) have a seizure rate of approximately 15%. Due to their relevance to public health and significant differences in regulatory standards among countries, they are easily overlooked “regulars” on prohibited lists.

Real Case: Retiree Wang shipped a box of traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces (containing deer antler and ginseng) to Australia without obtaining import permits or quarantine certificates. The parcel was seized at Sydney Customs on the grounds that “unquarantined animal and plant-derived pharmaceuticals may carry pests and diseases, violating biosafety regulations.” Ultimately, the cargo was destroyed, and Wang received a warning letter from customs.

Main reasons for the seizure of pharmaceuticals and health products: containing prohibited components (such as endangered animal and plant ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine or prohibited additives like sibutramine in health products); failure to obtain destination import permits (such as FDA registration for the US or EMA certification for the EU); being prescription drugs without providing a doctor’s prescription; and failure to obtain health quarantine certificates, suspected of spreading diseases.

(V) Infringing and Prohibited Items: “Absolute Prohibited Items” Touching Legal Red Lines

Infringing goods (such as counterfeit brand-name bags and pirated discs) and prohibited items (such as imitation guns, controlled knives, and drugs) are “absolute prohibited items.” Although their seizure rate is lower than the previous four categories, the consequences are the most severe — cargo is directly destroyed, and senders may face fines and criminal liability.

Real Case: A seller shipped 20 counterfeit bags of a luxury brand to the United States. The parcel was seized at New York Customs, which confirmed the items as infringing goods after identification by the brand owner. The cargo was directly destroyed, and the seller was fined 100,000 US dollars. Due to the large amount involved, the seller was also transferred to judicial authorities for criminal liability.

The reason for the prohibition of these items is “touching legal red lines”: infringing goods violate intellectual property protection laws; imitation guns and controlled knives are “items endangering public safety”; drugs and explosives are prohibited from transportation globally. There is no compliant shipping path for such items — any attempt to ship them will result in seizure and severe penalties.

II. The Deep Logic Behind Seizures: Why Are These Items Perennially Prohibited?

The frequent seizure of these “prohibited regulars” essentially stems from conflicts between their characteristics and the three underlying logics of cross-border logistics: “safety requirements,” “regulatory systems,” and “global coordinated supervision.” Understanding these logics is the key to avoiding seizure risks at the source.

(I) Safety First: Proactive Prevention of Uncontrollable Risks

The core principle of cross-border logistics is “safety first.” The formulation of prohibited item lists is essentially the proactive avoidance of “uncontrollable risks”:

• Items such as powders and lithium batteries pose safety hazards such as flammability, explosiveness, and difficulty in component identification, which may trigger transportation accidents (such as dust explosions and battery explosions);
• Drones and sensitive technical accessories may be used for military and terrorist activities, threatening geopolitical security;
• Unquarantined pharmaceuticals and food may carry diseases and pests, endangering the public health and ecological security of importing countries.

To reduce risks, customs authorities and logistics providers worldwide adopt a “better to seize mistakenly than let pass” strategy for such high-risk items, resulting in extremely high compliance thresholds.

(II) Regulatory Coordination: Globally Unified Supervision Standards

The formulation of international prohibited item lists is not a “unilateral policy” of a single country but is based on a globally coordinated regulatory system:

• The United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (TDG) unifies classification, packaging, and labeling standards for dangerous goods, with powders, lithium batteries, and drones clearly listed as “items requiring strict supervision”;
• The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have formulated prohibited transportation rules for air transport, prohibiting lithium battery-containing items and dangerous powders from being casually carried on civil aviation flights;
• Domestic regulations of various countries (such as China’s Export Control Law, the US Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and the EU REACH Regulation) further refine prohibited requirements, forming a dual regulatory network of “international conventions + domestic regulations.”

Any shipping behavior violating these regulations will be identified and seized by customs.

(III) Supervision Technology: Improved Identification Capabilities Leading to Higher Seizure Rates

With the advancement of supervision technology, customs’ ability to identify prohibited items has greatly improved, leading to higher seizure rates:

• Equipment such as X-ray detection, CT scanning, and liquid/powder detectors can quickly identify suspicious items in parcels;
• Big data analysis and artificial intelligence technologies can lock high-risk parcels through parcel information (such as sender, recipient, and item description);
• The improvement of the global customs information sharing mechanism means that information on illegal parcels seized by one country will be synchronized to the global customs system. Senders may be blacklisted, and subsequent parcels will face stricter inspections.

III. Compliance Guide to Avoid Pitfalls: Bypass “Prohibited Regulars” for Smooth Customs Clearance

To avoid parcel seizures, the core is to “recognize prohibited rules, prepare complete compliance documents in advance, and select appropriate shipping channels.” The following actionable compliance guidelines are provided for the five major “prohibited regulars”:

(I) Powdered Items: Three-Step Compliant Shipping Method

1. Pre-Verify Attributes: Obtain the ingredient list through official brand channels to confirm whether it contains flammable or corrosive components; log on to the importing country’s customs official website to check if an import permit is required (e.g., Australia prohibits unquarantined milk powder, requiring advance permits).
2. Prepare Compliance Documents: Entrust a third-party institution with CMA and CNAS qualifications (such as SGS, CCIC) to issue a “Component Identification Report”; obtain a “Health Quarantine Certificate” for food powders; compile an MSDS for chemical powders and translate it into the language of the importing country.
3. Compliant Packaging and Declaration: Adopt “double-layer sealing + buffering + moisture-proof” packaging, marking ordinary powders as “non-dangerous goods”; use UN-certified packaging for dangerous powders with corresponding hazard labels attached; truthfully fill in “item name, components, and purpose” during customs declaration, and attach all compliance documents.

(II) Lithium Battery-Containing Items: Compliance Checklist

• Battery Capacity Limit: The capacity of lithium batteries shipped by individuals must be ≤100Wh; exceeding this requires obtaining a “Dangerous Goods Transport Permit”;
• Packaging Requirements: Separate batteries from equipment, insulate electrodes with insulating tape, and place them in fireproof battery cases;
• Declaration Requirements: Truthfully declare “contains lithium batteries” and provide a UN38.3 test report (logistics providers can assist with processing);
• Channel Selection: Choose logistics providers with dangerous goods transport qualifications (such as SF International, DHL) and avoid small logistics providers.

(III) Drones and Accessories: Five-Step Compliant Shipping Method

1. Verify Technical Parameters: Confirm the drone’s maximum takeoff weight, battery capacity, and functional modules to determine if a “Dual-Use Items Export License” is required (mandatory for drones weighing 250g-25kg);
2. Obtain Destination Certification: Apply for certifications such as CE certification (EU), FAA registration (US), and CASA registration (Australia) according to destination requirements;
3. Apply for Export License: Submit an application for an “Export License” to the Ministry of Commerce, providing technical parameter sheets and non-military use statements. The processing cycle is approximately 15-20 working days;
4. Compliant Packaging: Separate the drone body from accessories, insulate batteries individually, and attach “Lithium Battery” and “Fragile” labels;
5. Truthful Declaration: Indicate “Drone (non-military use)” during customs declaration, and attach documents such as the export license, destination certification, and battery safety certificate.

(IV) Pharmaceuticals and Health Products: Core Compliance Requirements

• Component Verification: Confirm no prohibited components (such as endangered animals/plants or prohibited additives) by consulting the brand or drug regulatory authorities;
• Document Preparation: Provide a doctor’s prescription for prescription drugs; prepare ingredient lists and brand qualification certificates for health products; obtain a “Health Quarantine Certificate” for animal and plant-derived pharmaceuticals;
• Destination Permits: Apply for import permits in advance (such as FDA registration for the US, EMA certification for the EU). Consult the destination country’s embassy in China for application procedures;
• Quantity Limits: Control the quantity of pharmaceuticals for personal use (generally ≤3 months’ supply); obtain relevant qualifications for commercial exports.

(V) Absolute Prohibited Items: 坚决 Avoid Shipping

The following items have no compliant shipping paths — do not attempt to ship them:

• Prohibited items: Drugs, explosives, controlled knives, imitation guns, radioactive substances;
• Infringing goods: Counterfeit brand-name products, pirated discs, goods infringing intellectual property rights;
• Other prohibited items: Unquarantined live animals, endangered animal/plant products, pornographic materials.

IV. What to Do If Your Parcel Is Seized? Remedial Measures and Precautions

If your parcel is seized, there’s no need to panic excessively. Remedial measures can be taken based on the specific situation, but avoid “secondary violations”:

(I) Promptly Inquire About the Reason for Seizure

Check the reason for seizure through the logistics provider’s official website or customer service. Common reasons include: missing documents, non-compliant packaging, false declaration, and containing prohibited components. Customs generally issues a “Seizure Notice” specifying the required supplementary documents or handling methods.

(II) Targeted Remedial Measures

• Missing Documents: Supplement the required documents (such as identification reports and quarantine certificates) as requested and submit them to customs or the logistics provider promptly;
• Non-Compliant Packaging: If permitted by customs, entrust the logistics provider to repackage and re-declare after rectification in accordance with regulations;
• False Declaration: Voluntarily explain the situation to customs and revise the declaration information. If no prohibited items are involved, release may be allowed after paying fines.

(III) Irremediable Situations

If the parcel contains absolute prohibited items (such as drugs or infringing goods) or the violation is serious (such as repeated violations or large amounts involved), customs will directly destroy the cargo. There is no need to waste time on remedies — accept the handling and avoid future violations.

(IV) Precautions

• Do not provide false documents: Forging identification reports or qualification certificates may result in more severe penalties (such as fines or criminal liability);
• Timely handling: The general detention period for parcels by customs is 30-90 days. Parcels not processed within the time limit will be automatically destroyed — complete remedies within the specified period;
• Retain evidence: Keep shopping invoices, original documents, and logistics receipts for subsequent rights protection or document supplementation.

V. Conclusion: Compliance Is the Only “Pass” for Cross-Border Shipping

The core of cross-border logistics is “compliance.” The frequent seizure of “regulars” on international prohibited item lists essentially stems from senders’ neglect of safety risks and regulatory requirements. Whether you are an individual user or an enterprise, you should do three things before cross-border shipping: first, confirm if the item is on the prohibited list; second, prepare complete compliance documents; third, select a qualified logistics provider.

Remember: There are no “shortcuts” for cross-border shipping — compliance is the only “pass” to avoid parcel seizures and ensure smooth customs clearance. It is hoped that this article will help you recognize prohibited “minefields,” avoid pitfalls in cross-border logistics, and ensure that every parcel arrives safely and smoothly at its destination.