United States

Import Prohibitions

• All pipes related to the use of illicit drugs such as ‘smoking pipes’ used as drug paraphernalia
• Articles containing dog or cat fur
• Hemp products such as cosmetics, clothing, food, etc. that contains tetrahydrocannabinols (THC)
• Immoral articles (as defined in 19 CFR 12.4) including films, pictures, writings, etc.
• Importation of prescription drugs by an individual U.S. consumer for personal use is prohibited unless FDA approved. There are exceptions/restrictions: 1. prescription drugs, which are made in the U.S. and then exported, can only be returned to the U.S. manufacturer. 2. Under limited circumstances as defined and allowed by FDA regulations, a small quantity of a prescription drug for personal use might be eligible for import in which case the following minimum information and documentation must be included on the commercial invoice and accompany the shipment: a copy of a valid, written doctor’s prescription; complete name, address and phone number of the U.S. licensed treating physician, name and address of the drug manufacturer; form of medicine (tablets, capsules, liquid, etc.); quantity; type of packaging; type of medical condition being treated; if the medication can be purchased in the U.S.; dosage and strength. Effective August 3, 2007 commercial shipments of live pigs, swine meat and by-products from the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) are prohibited and will be refused entry and must be destroyed or exported.
• Kinder Surprise Eggs (Easter Chocolate Eggs with surprise inside)
• Merchandise from countries under U.S. Sanction or embargo
• Merchandise produced by convict, forced or indentured labor (as defined in 19 CFR 12.42)
• Petroleum or petroleum products of Syrian origin
• Switchblade/Balisong/gravity/ballistic knives
• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife (FWS) issued a Director’s Order announcing it will prohibit the import, export, and sale of elephant ivory, items made of rhinoceros horn, and other products made from protected species listed in the Endangered Species Act (ESA), with a few exceptions. Under this new order, ESA listed species are prohibited without an ESA permit except for those goods that qualify as an antique. Shipments of African elephant ivory, including antiques imported for commercial use are prohibited. In order to qualify as antique, the importer, exporter or seller must provide documentation that the goods are 1 years or older; have not been repaired or modified, were legally imported through an antique port, and were wholly made or containing part of an endgandered species. FWS also required documented proof of the species identification.
• White phosphorus matches

The following items are prohibited via Canada to U.S.

• Alcohol beverages
• Animals, such as birds, fish, reptiles, dead animals or animals that have been mounted
• Articles of unusual value, such as priceless art, jewelry, collectibles and antiques
• Cash, coins, currency, stamps, negotiable stocks, bonds, bank drafts, cash letters, and other negotiable instruments equivalent to cash
• Common fireworks
• Containers of liquids with a volume exceeding 8 gallons (32 litres) or 70 lbs. (32 kg) in weight
• Cut flowers
• Dangerous Goods or Hazardous Materials: Corrosives, explosives, toxics or other substances including Other Regulated Materials (ORM-Ds) controlled by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and/or Transport Canada and Environment Canada
• Explosives, fireworks, flares, and matches
• Flammable goods
• Furs
• Hazardous Materials, hazardous waste, including, but not limited to, used hypodermic needles, syringes or other medical wastes, and biohazards such as blood, urine, fluids and other noninfectious diagnostic specimens
• Human or animal remains, corpses, organs, embryos, body parts, or cremated or disinterred human remains
• Improperly packaged shipments
• Lottery tickets and gambling devices where prohibited by federal/national, provincial, state or local law
• Packages that are wet, leaking or that emit an odor of any kind
• Perishables, including, but not limited to, food, foodstuffs, beverages requiring refrigeration, pharmaceuticals
• Personal Effects (i.e., household articles, household furnishings, and/or clothing, often associated with a customer relocating from one residence to another)
• Plants, plant materials, seeds, including cut flowers
• Pornographic materials
• Shipments that may cause damage to, or delay of, equipment, personnel or other shipments
• Shipments that require FedEx Ground to obtain any special license or permit for transportation, importation or exportation
• Tobacco, cigarettes, tobacco products
• Unaccompanied baggage
• Used gasoline tanks (filled or empty) or any used gasoline-powered device or equipment with an integral fuel tank (full or empty). New, empty gasoline tanks or gasoline-powered devices are acceptable in original unopened packaging
• Any articles which require a U.S. Department of State import license or a Canadian Export Permit
• Any shipment moving under an A.T.A. carnet

IMPORT RESTRICTIONS

• Prescription drugs, which are made in the U.S. and then exported, can only be returned to the U.S. manufacturer.
• Under limited circumstances as defined and allowed by FDA regulations, a small quantity of a prescription drug for personal use might be eligible for import in which case the following minimum information and documentation must be included on the commercial invoice and accompany the shipment
• Viruses, Serums, Toxins, Anti-Toxins and analogous products
• Domestic Animal Products and Animal Feeding Material
• Products derived from Wild Animals, Birds and Insects (furs, eggs, plumage, honey, etc.)
• Seeds and non-propagating Agricultural Products
• Non-perishable Foodstuffs (canned goods, etc.)
• Motor vehicles, Boats and their associated equipment
• Electronic Products
• Cultural Property, including Pre-Columbian monumental or architectural sculpture or mural
• Textiles, Wool and Fur Products
• Chemical substances (including Fertilizers and Pesticides)
• Medicine, Medical Devices, Cosmetics
• Liquors, Alcohol
• Nuclear/Radioactive Materials
• Hemp seeds must be sterilized and Import Permits may be required
• Hemp products such as cosmetics, clothing, food, etc. is acceptable if they do not contain tetrahydrocannabinols (THC)