3 items that you thought couldn’t be shipped
You may be familiar with this scenario during your travels: Bags packed and ready to go, you check-in for your flight and are reminded that commonplace items like batteries are not allowed in your checked luggage. You quickly scramble aside, unpack your bags, and curse yourself for your blunder.
As you know, certain items cannot be brought onto commercial flights, namely batteries, liquids, and powders. These items are usually prohibited when sending parcels overseas as well, but that’s just because it is a lot of hassle to do so and there is additional paperwork involved. To give you an idea of how much effort it requires, here is the documentation you need for these items.
Batteries
If batteries are being sent overseas, then you will need to include Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) in order to pass customs. Whether it is a battery for your phone or laptop, you will still have to declare it to customs. Luckily, specialised courier services have MSDSs on hand that they can provide for most electronic gadgets in your parcel. That way, you won’t need to call up every factory for every electronic gadget you have in order to obtain the MSDS!
Liquids and powders
Liquids and powders are usually prohibited because it is hard to predict their flammability due to pressure changes in the cabin, but if you are really keen on sending them overseas anyway, there is a way of doing it. You simply need to obtain the lab reports and specifications of your liquids and powders, and it may take more time for special items, too. This all sounds intimidating, but specialised courier services can actually take care of all of that for you.
Alcohol
For items containing more than 26 percent ABV, such as antiseptic wipes, a special permit is needed, as these items fall under the Dangerous Goods License. You need to study for this license and take an exam in order to be certified—and who wants to do that just to send a few parcels overseas? Fortunately, there is a way: If a specialised courier service has this license, they can help you create specialised packaging for your items so that your parcel will pass customs.