Customs & Compliance
What you cannot send abroad.
Every country has its own rules — and customs officers are strict. This page lists the items banned worldwide, plus country-specific restrictions we check on every SAMP International shipment before dispatch.
Banned worldwide
These items are prohibited in every destination we serve. Please do not pack them — customs will seize them and in some countries the sender can be fined.
- Cash, gold bullion, precious metals, unstrung loose gemstones
- Alcohol, liquor, beer, wine of any kind
- Tobacco, cigarettes, pan masala, gutkha, vape products, e-cigarettes
- Lithium batteries above 100 Wh shipped loose (without a device)
- Flammable liquids, aerosols, paint, nail polish remover, perfume above 500 ml
- Fresh fruits, vegetables, seeds without phyto-sanitary certificate
- Raw dairy, meat, eggs, fish (fresh or frozen)
- Live plants, cuttings, soil, bulbs
- Counterfeit items, fake brand goods, pirated media
- Wildlife products — ivory, coral, turtle shell, snake skin, certain feathers
- Narcotics, psychotropics, controlled substances of any form
- Firearms, ammunition, fireworks, explosives, toy guns firing projectiles
- Human remains, body parts, used medical devices with body fluid
- Pornographic or obscene material
Country-specific restrictions
United Arab Emirates & Saudi Arabia
- All alcohol & alcoholic chocolates (even trace amounts)
- Pork products, pork gelatin, non-halal meat extracts
- Religious books / images of other faiths (Saudi only)
- Unlabelled food items — everything needs Arabic/English label
- CBD, poppy seeds, certain herbal supplements
Australia & New Zealand
- Most unprocessed plant & animal material (strict bio-security)
- Homemade food items without commercial labels & best-before
- Wooden items without ISPM-15 fumigation certificate
- Honey, dairy-based sweets (mithai with khoya/mawa)
- Seeds, nuts in shell, dried leaves, tulsi, mehndi leaf
United States
- Ayurvedic products containing heavy metals (lead, mercury, arsenic)
- Kinder eggs & similar confectionery with embedded toys
- Any food without FDA prior-notice (we handle this for you)
- Raw milk, mithai with khoya unless commercially packed
- Cuban cigars or products with Cuban origin
United Kingdom & European Union
- Meat, dairy, honey, fish products (post-Brexit rule)
- Plants, seeds, bulbs without phyto certificate
- Medicines without valid prescription
- Knives with locking blade or disguised as another object
Canada
- Dairy products (very strict), cheese, ghee in unsealed containers
- Meat, poultry, egg products (raw or cooked)
- Unprocessed wood, pinecones, used soil
- Prescription drugs without a Canadian-recognised prescription
We check every parcel before dispatch
You don't have to memorise this list. Tell Pushpak what you want to send on WhatsApp — we'll tell you honestly what will clear customs in your specific destination country, what needs special packaging, and what we cannot accept. Better to know before packing than after customs seizes it.
Frequently asked
Can I send homemade theplas and khakhra abroad?
Yes to USA, UK, UAE, Singapore, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar with proper declaration — they're dry shelf-stable vegetarian items. Australia and New Zealand usually require commercial labelled packaging. Canada prefers factory-packed. We advise you before shipping so nothing gets stopped at customs.
Can I send mithai (sweets) internationally?
Dry mithai like mohanthal, sukhdi, ghughra, chikki, dry peda are allowed to most countries. Mawa/khoya-based sweets (milk cake, kaju katli with fresh khoya) are restricted to USA and banned to Australia/NZ/Canada unless commercially vacuum packed with ingredient labels.
Can I send gold jewellery abroad?
Gold bullion and investment-grade bars are prohibited. Personal gold jewellery up to reasonable quantity (per Indian customs export rules) is allowed with proper declaration, invoice and recipient KYC. For commercial gold exports you need a separate license and channel — we do not handle that.
Why is alcohol banned everywhere from India courier?
Alcohol is classed as dangerous goods by air and is prohibited under IATA regulations in international courier/parcel channels. Even non-alcoholic beer and alcohol-based chocolates fall under stricter rules. We cannot accept these under any circumstance.
Can I send Ayurvedic medicines abroad?
Most Ayurvedic supplements with proper ingredient labels are allowed. USA prohibits Ayurvedic products that contain heavy metals (lead/mercury/arsenic) — common in traditional bhasma preparations. UAE requires ingredient disclosure. We check the brand and formulation before shipping.
Not sure if your item is allowed?
WhatsApp Pushpak with a photo or description. We'll check destination rules and reply within an hour during working days.