PROHIBITED AND RESTRICTED GOODS

We can transport almost everything that is transportable but some types of things simply may not be transported or may only be transported under special conditions. Below are examples of things that may not be contained in a consignment at all or only under certain conditions. The list is not exhaustive but provides you with a brief and clear excerpt from our terms and conditions.

For full details, please refer to the Postal Terms and Conditions – Basic Services – Article 2 (pdf, 3MB) (PDF, 3 MB) (domestic consignments) and Article 102 (pdf, 3MB) (PDF, 3 MB) (international consignments).

CONSIGNMENTS MAY NOT CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING THINGS

Explosives

Weapons, ammunition, grenades, replica weapons, detonators, fuses, ignition cords, flares, toy capsules, Christmas pyrotechnics (sparkles, firecrackers, fireworks, etc.).

Radioactive materials

Nuclear materials and radioactive substances.

Caustic substances

Poisonous and caustic substances, acids, lyes, caustic rust removers, battery acid.

Substances stimulating combustion and organic peroxides

 

Hair or textile bleaches, fibreglass repair kits.

Gases / pressure vessels

Pressure vessels and fire-extinguishing devices containing compressed or liquefied gases and gas solutions, sprays, butane-filled cigarette lighters, etc.

Poisonous and infectious substances

Biological agents and toxins, infectious biological agents, and human or animal samples.

Combustibles (liquid and solid)

Oxidising, flammable and other substances and mixtures, acetone, benzine, cellulose thinners, matches, sulphur, red phosphorus, Christmas sparklers.

Animals

Live vertebrates, protected wild animals and protected wild plants.

Also...

Dry carbon dioxide (so-called dry ice), narcotic and psychotropic substances.

THINGS TRANSPORTED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS

The following things may be transported only under special conditions set out in the full version of the Postal Terms and Conditions (Articles 2 and 102).

Perishable biological substances

  • that will not cause odour nuisance to their surroundings
  • that will not penetrate the packaging of the consignment

Living animals other than vertebrates and protected wild animals

  • that will not require any special care and attention during the provision of the postal services

Things that are easy to break

  • that will be packed in such a way that they cannot be damaged during handling

Liquids, fluids and easily liquefiable substances

  • that will not leak out of or through the packaging of the consignment

Human or animal samples with minimum likelihood of containing disease agents

  • whose packaging complies with the packaging requirements for this type of samples

Tyres

  • that are packed in a sealed rigid package containing the entire contents of the consignment
  • unwrapped tyres may only be included in a consignment if the particular service specifically allows it

DO YOU WANT TO SEND SOMETHING VALUABLE? USE NOTHING BUT AN INSURED LETTER OR INSURED PARCEL

The following things are considered valuable: Money, activated payment cards and other means of payment; vouchers for goods or services; bills of exchange, cheques and other securities; objects of cultural, artistic or collectible value regardless of their age and price; jewellery, precious stones, precious metals and products made of them, and other similarly valuable objects.

WHAT ELSE MAY NOT BE CONTAINED IN INTERNATIONAL CONSINGMENTS?

  • Any objects whose transportation by air is prohibited by IATA and ICAO regulations on the transportation of hazardous goods;
  • Any objects on the list of dangerous goods contained in Annex A to the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR);
  • Contents prohibited in the country of destination – restrictions on the contents of consignments by country can be found here;
  • Pirated and counterfeit objects;
  • Objects that may be considered obscene or immoral in the country of destination;
  • Objects including live animals other than vertebrates whose import or postal transportation is not permitted in the country of destination;
  • Objects of cultural value listed in Annex 1 to the Act No. 71/1994 Coll., on the sale and export of objects of cultural value, unless they are accompanied by an export certificate.

Things that are not recommended to be included in consignments and that will be returned to you by airport security personnel:

All kinds of fireworks, sparklers, liquids, magnetic materials, accumulators or batteries, dry ice, animal products (meat, cheese, eggs, etc.), perfumes, hair sprays, lithium batteries, mobile phones with embedded batteries, non-functioning dummy weapons, laptops with embedded batteries, tablets with embedded batteries, electronic cigarettes, etc.

It is also important to know that most international consignments sent as economy consignments are eventually transported by air.

 

How does it work at the airport?

All consignments that may be transported by air are checked by Prague Airport Security at the first point of entry to the airport premises before being handed over to the air carriers. Similar checks are carried out at airports in other countries. Consignments found to contain dangerous contents are immediately removed from transport. The reason is to protect the life, health and property of passengers, air carriers and their employees. The prohibited substance may be dangerous on its own but also in combination with other substances or conditions, such as air or certain pressure.

Aircraft security regulations are so stringent that some consignments that meet the normal requirements for domestic postal transportation are excluded during airport checks.