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Prohibited and restricted items

This page contains advice regarding prohibited and restricted items when sending with An Post. For further information on prohibited and restricted items on importation to Ireland visit the Revenue website.

Prohibited items

To ensure the safety of its customers, employees and the general public, An Post prohibits or restricts the sending of certain potentially hazardous items.

We cannot deliver:

  • Flammable, toxic or poisonous liquids, including most paints
  • Items that could be harmful to employees or members of the public
  • Items that are prohibited by law
  • Items that are prohibited by any federal, state or local government of any country to or through which the shipment may be carried

You can get further advice about individual countries at your local post office or by contacting Customer Services.

If you send prohibited items through the post we will return them to the sender, dispose of them or contact the relevant authorities.

For security and legal reasons, An Post prohibits the following items from international mail services:

  • Aerosols of any kind including saline solution and cosmetics
  • Corrosive substances such as acids or batteries
  • Explosive substances including fireworks, gas cylinders, ammunition or crackers
  • Firearms and replica firearms, including toys
  • Flammable substances such as matches or lighters
  • Infectious substances like medical samples, biological samples or serums
  • Liquids of any kind including water, alcohol, gels, creams, aftershaves and perfumes
  • Toner and ink cartridges, either separately packed or in printers

Get the full list of prohibited items. To ensure compliance with airline security regulations, you must attach an Aviation Security Declaration to any packet or parcel containing goods sent within the EU, excluding Northern Ireland.

The following items are restricted only on the International Courier Service:

  • Debit and credit cards and blank cheques
  • Fibreglass compounds
  • Flowers
  • Furs
  • Negotiable instruments
  • Plant and plant products such as seeds and tobacco

The list of prohibited items is not exhaustive and should be used as a guide. If in doubt, check with An Post Customer Services on 353 (1) 705 7600.

An Post tries to facilitate customers where possible and may carry prohibited items provided:

  • You fully comply with our special requirements
  • You meet any insurance requirements fully
  • You indemnify An Post against all claims which may be made against you
  • An Post has agreed in writing to carry such items

Restricted items

An Post restricts a number of items on both its national and international postal services. These items can only be sent using the Registered Post service, although they may not always be insured.

You cannot send restricted items by Standard or Express Post, with the exception of cheques and bank drafts, which can be posted in Ireland by Standard Post at the sender’s risk. Restricted items include:

  • Cash and coin
  • Ceramics and glass
  • Cheques and bank drafts
  • Fragile items
  • Jewellery and precious metals
  • Passports
  • Vouchers with monetary value
  • Works of art

Full list of prohibited items:

  • Acetone
  • Aerosols of any kind including saline solution and cosmetics
  • Aluminium chloride
  • Antiques
  • Arsenic
  • Asbestos
  • Batteries including lithium-ion batteries, sent individually or as part of an electric device
  • Benzene
  • Beryllium
  • Blasting caps
  • Bromates
  • Bullion
  • Butane
  • Calcium carbide
  • Carbon dioxide
  • Caustic soda
  • Cellulose
  • Chlorates
  • Chlorine
  • Cleaning fluids
  • Corrosive fluids
  • Corrosive paint remover
  • Corrosive substances including acids and batteries
  • Cyanide
  • Drugs and pharmaceutical products
  • Dry Ice or solid carbon dioxide)
  • Ethane
  • Explosive substances such as fireworks, gas cylinders, ammunition or crackers
  • Firearms & replica firearms including toys
  • Fire extinguishers
  • Fissile material such as uranium 235
  • Flammable substances including matches and lighters
  • Flares
  • Fluorine
  • Fuses
  • Gasoline
  • Hazardous or combustible material as defined in the regulations of the International Air Transport Association (IATA)
  • Human remains including ashes
  • Hydrochloric acid
  • Hydrogen
  • Igniters
  • Illegal narcotics
  • Industrial diamonds
  • Infectious substances such as medical samples, biological samples or serums
  • Ivory
  • Lighter fuel
  • Liquids of any kind including water, alcohol, gels, creams, aftershaves and perfumes
  • Luggage
  • Magnetised material
  • Matches
  • Mercury
  • Mercury salts
  • Metallic magnesium
  • Methane
  • Mustard gas
  • Neon
  • Nitrates
  • Nitrobenzine
  • Nitrocellulose film
  • Nitrogen
  • Nitrogen dioxide
  • Nitroglycerine
  • Nitric acid
  • Paint remover
  • Paint thinner
  • Paraffin
  • Pathogenic material
  • Perchlorates
  • Perishable items
  • Permanganates
  • Peroxides
  • Petroleum
  • Phosphorous
  • Pornography
  • Potassium
  • Propane
  • Radioactive waste material such as uranium or thorium ores
  • Rat poison
  • Selenide
  • Serum
  • Sodiums
  • Sodium hydride
  • Solvents
  • Sulphuric acid
  • Toner and ink cartridges, separately packed or in printers
  • Vaccines
  • Works of art
  • Zinc powder

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