Want to Know What You Can and Can’t Ship from the USA?

And what US customs consider hazardous materials?

International shoppers sending their packages to Stackry’s US-based address for shipping overseas often have questions about what you can and can’t ship from the USA. We at Stackry strive to make your shipping experience quick and easy. Learn more about prohibited goods and hazardous materials in this article.

Shipping from the USA to international destinations can be confusing. As a result, we constantly receive inquiries at Stackry from international shoppers wanting to know if an item can be shipped or not.

If you’re like most, you’ve probably had this same question. And we hope we can help shed light on the issue for you.

You need to be aware of two classifications when shipping your purchases from the US - prohibited and hazardous. First, a prohibited item cannot be shipped to your country from the US. It is illegal to ship prohibited goods.

While prohibited items are relatively straightforward, hazardous materials are not. These items can be confusing to identify. While they can be shipped, they must be appropriately labeled for transport, with some exceptions. Mis-labeling can cause significant delays in your shipments - even to the point you never receive them.

So, how do you find out what is prohibited and what is considered hazardous when shipping?

Our Stackry customers often have the same questions about prohibited and hazardous goods. That’s why we have web pages dedicated to informing our customers about these items to help ensure their shipping experience is smooth and successful.

Trust us. It’s much easier to figure this out before you purchase and ship your items to your Stackry locker.

Prohibited Items You Can’t Ship

Prohibited goods come in many shapes and sizes. However, they typically fall under these categories:

• Animal / Plants / Food
• Military Items
• High-Value Items
• Weapons
• Unidentifiable Items
• Hazardous Materials
• Alcohol, Drugs, and Tobacco Products
• Monetary Items
• Pornography (prohibited in some countries)

For a more detailed list and explanation of what goods fall under these categories, please visit Stackry’s Prohibited Items page.

Items That Must Be Labeled as Hazardous Materials

While some items are easily identifiable as “hazardous,” there are many that may surprise you.

For example, perfumes, nail polishes, Clorox wipes, and lithium-ion batteries are common goods we see that should be labeled as hazardous but are not. Typically, customers fail to label these properly for one or both of the following reasons:

1. A customer doesn’t know which materials are hazardous, or
2. A customer doesn’t realize that items can contain hazardous materials.

According to ICAO/IATA, which regulates the transport of hazardous materials via air, an item must be labeled as hazardous if it contains any item that these regulatory agencies deem to be hazardous.

Even though a product, like a hand sanitizer, may seem completely harmless, it still must be treated with care when being shipped by air - especially internationally.

You can read more on Stackry’s Hazmat (hazardous materials) page.

You’ll find more information on the hundreds of other items that fall into the hazmat category. And if you still have questions about your purchases, you can contact Stackry at support@stackry.com.