37 Things China Taobao Can't Ship Internationally
With the rapid development of global e-commerce, more and more people are choosing to purchase goods through online platforms like Taobao. However, it's important to note that certain categories of products cannot be shipped internationally by China Taobao.
Due to limited information available in Taobao's English version, many beginners may feel confused. Therefore, in this article, I will provide a detailed overview of the 37 types of products that cannot be internationally shipped through China Taobao. Before making any purchases, please make sure to check and confirm that the desired items are not included in this list.
- Various highly toxic drugs, biochemical products, and infectious substances
Example
Such as anthrax, dangerous pathogenic bacteria, medical waste, pesticides, thallium, cyanides, dioxins, DDT, chlorodane, clenbuterol, clenbuterol hydrochloride, arsenic, tear gas, white crystalline, powdery, paste-like items, etc.,
Prohibited Reason
"Catalogue of Prohibited Export Commodities" (Third Batch) and the "List of Toxic Chemicals Prohibited or Strictly Restricted in China.
2. Addictive anesthetic drugs and psychoactive substances
Example
Such as drugs, opium (including poppy shells, flowers, bracts, leaves, etc.), morphine, cocaine, heroin, cannabis, methamphetamine, etc.
Prohibited Reason
"List of Controlled Psychotropic Drugs"
3. Items prohibited from circulation or shipping by national laws and regulations
Example
Such as cultural relics, controlled knives, antiques, various weapons, simulated weapons (such as toy guns), ammunition, national currency (cash, etc.), securities, counterfeit currency and securities, raw blood plasma, forced labor products, etc.
Prohibited Reason
"Law on the Protection of Cultural Relics," "Catalog of Controlled Knives by the Ministry of Public Security," "Firearms Administration Law of the People's Republic of China," "Regulations on the Safety Management of Civil Explosive Materials"
4. Items harmful to Chinese politics, economy, culture, and morality (such as Falun Gong), items involving state secrets, goods and packaging violating the "One China" principle. Such items include publications, books, images, propaganda materials, audio-visual products containing reactionary, obscene, morally corrupt content or related to Falun Gong, computer disks, and CDs.
Example
The carriers of items such as CDs, tapes, and video tapes.
Prohibited Reason
"The Constitution," "Criminal Law," "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of State Secrets," etc.
5. Items that disrupt public health
Example
Include human remains, ashes, coffins, untreated animal hides, untreated animal bones, unprocessed or defatted tiger bones, soil, animal carcasses, animal and plant pathogens (including strains and toxins), etc.
Prohibited Reason
Catalog of Prohibited Export Commodities, First Batch.
6. Animals, plants, specimens thereof, and some natural resources
Example
Rhino horn, musk, tiger bones, animal skins, fur (pelts), saffron, sea cucumber, ephedra, wild redwood, timber, charcoal, forest litter, peat (sod), silica sand, quartz sand, and other natural sands and stones, rosewood, seeds (other breeding materials), flora and fauna.
Prohibited Reason
Prohibited Export Goods Catalog: First, Second, Fourth, and Fifth Batches
7. Radioactive items and various dangerous goods (items with hazardous markings on the outer packaging)
Example
Explosive items (detonators, fuses, gunpowder, explosives, etc.), nuclear materials, etc.
Prohibited Reason
Regulations on the Safety Management of Radioactive Goods Transport, Measures for the Import and Export Management of Civil Explosives
8. Medical waste, chemical waste, industrial waste, etc.
Example
Such as used disposable syringes, etc.
Prohibited Reason
Environmental Protection Law
9. Gases (of any color)
Example
Such as compressed gases, dry ice, fire extinguishers, gas cylinders, inflatable balloons, life-saving devices, deployed automotive airbags, aerosols, gas lighters, gas cylinders for gas stoves, light bulbs, etc.
Prohibited Reason
Impact transport safety and are not accepted for shipping.
10. Explosive Materials
Example
Such as fireworks (firecrackers, crackers, aerial shells, etc.), detonating paper, dry ice, lighters with gas, gas stoves, gas cylinders, firearms, etc.
Prohibited Reason
Impact transport safety and are not accepted for shipping.
11. Flammable Liquids
Example
Such as ink, nail polish remover, paint, petroleum, gasoline, kerosene, diesel, benzene, alcohol, engine oil, camphor oil, engine starting fluid, turpentine, acetone, adhesive (like super glue, epoxy glue, foam glue, etc.), perfume, aerosol insecticides, air fresheners, cosmetics, etc.
Prohibited Reason
Impact transport safety and are not accepted for shipping.
12. Flammable Solids (including substances that are prone to spontaneous combustion, substances that release flammable gases when in contact with water, etc.)
Example
Such as coal, rosin, paraffin wax, activated carbon, titanium powder, coconut jerky, castor bean products, rubber scraps, safety matches (both box and strip types), white phosphorus, yellow phosphorus, linseed oil, metallic sodium, aluminum powder, magnesium powder, solid adhesives (including white glue), stamp pad ink, air fresheners, asphalt, etc.
Prohibited Reason
Impact transport safety and are not accepted for shipping.
13. Chemical Pharmaceuticals, Chemical Laboratory Supplies, Medical Products, etc.
Example
Such as potassium permanganate, sulfuric acid, furan, vaccines, blood products, etc.
Prohibited Reason
Listed in the "Prohibited Export Goods Catalog" (Third Batch).
14. Oxidizers and Organic Peroxides
Example
Such as hydrogen peroxide, sodium peroxide, calcium hypochlorite, potassium chlorate, potassium nitrate, items with unknown chemical compositions, etc.
Prohibited Reason
Impact transport safety, not accepted for shipping.
15. Toxic and Infectious Substances: Refers to items that are easily toxic or infectious during transportation.
Example
Such as insecticides, pesticides, veterinary drugs, herbicides, arsenic and its compounds, mercury and its compounds, cyanide and its compounds, chloroform, benzyl ammonium compounds, raw lacquer, blood, urine, bodily fluids, carbon tetrachloride used for cleaning agents, 1,1,1-trichloroethane (methyl chloroform) and trichlorotrifluoroethane, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), asbestos, etc.
Prohibited Reason
Prohibited for export according to Batch 1 and Batch 3 of the "Prohibited Export Goods Catalog" and the "Pesticide Directory."
16. Corrosive substances (including solid and liquid substances that can burn human tissue and damage metals, etc.)
Example
Such as sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, chlorosulfonic acid, glacial acetic acid, caustic soda, hydrogen peroxide, etc.
Prohibited Reason
Impact transport safety; not accepted for shipping.
17. Various currencies in circulation, gambling equipment, and apparatus.
Example
Including currencies from different countries, gambling devices, etc.
Prohibited Reason
Prohibited for shipment as per the Postal Law of the People's Republic of China and the Regulations on the Import and Export of Goods of the People's Republic of China.
18. Fertilizers
Example
Such as urea, ammonium nitrate, calcium superphosphate, aqua ammonia, etc.
Prohibited Reason
Goods subject to national export quotas are not accepted for shipment via express delivery services.
19. Live animals, perishable items, dairy products, etc.
Example
Such as honey, eggs, alcohol, sugar, food, etc.
Prohibited Reason
Sensitive goods subject to certification and inspection are not accepted for shipment via express delivery services.
20. Goods related to national economy and people's livelihood, subject to state-controlled trade.
Example
Such as corn, rice, coal, cotton, crude oil, refined oil, antimony and antimony products, tungsten and tungsten products, silver, wheat, cornmeal, rice flour, wheat flour, timber, coal, coke, rare earths, zinc ore, tin and tin products, indium and indium products, molybdenum, phosphate ore, etc.
Prohibited Reason
Goods subject to national export quotas are not accepted for shipment via express delivery services.
21. Goods subject to export quota bidding and export license management.
Example
Such as reeds and reed products, silicon carbide, fluorspar (powder), talcum (powder), light (heavy) burned magnesia, alumina, licorice and licorice products, paraffin wax, zinc and zinc-based alloys, automobiles and their chassis, motorcycles and their engines and frames, citric acid, vitamin C, penicillin industrial salt, disodium sulfate, etc.
Prohibited Reason
Goods subject to export license management are not accepted for shipment via express delivery services.
22. Protect forest resources and prevent over-exploitation.
Example
Such as charcoal, etc.
Prohibited Reason
Not accepted for shipment according to the "Prohibited Export Goods Catalog" Batch 2.
23. Gold, silver, platinum, and other precious metal products, as well as other valuable items.
Example
Such as gold, silver, platinum, gemstones, jewelry, pearls, ivory, etc.
Prohibited Reason
Not accepted for shipment according to the "Prohibited Export Goods Catalog" Batch 1.
24. Wireless transceivers, communication encryption machines, etc.
Example
Such as radar transmitters, receivers, and other communication equipment.
Prohibited Reason
Not accepted for shipment via express delivery due to national security concerns and involvement in sensitive documents.
25. Electrically charged items (excluding electronic products with lithium batteries)
Example
Accepted for shipment via land transport.
Prohibited Reason
Sensitive items requiring certification or inspection are not accepted for shipment via express delivery.
26. Rechargeable batteries, alkaline batteries, alkaline battery fluid, etc.
Example
Rechargeable batteries, alkaline batteries, etc.
Prohibited Reason
Impact transport safety and are not accepted for shipment.
27. Electronic products containing lithium batteries
Example
Allowed for transportation by land
Prohibited Reason
Sensitive goods subject to certification and inspection, not accepted for express delivery
28. Magnetic objects (including items with strong magnets such as unmagnetized magnetic iron, magnetic steel, etc., without demagnetization protective packaging)
Example
Allowed for transportation by land
Prohibited Reason
Magnetic materials affecting transportation safety, not accepted for shipping
29. Liquids (regardless of packaging)
Example
Examples include alcohol, moisturizing water, eyeliner, sunscreen oil, contact lens solution, eye drops, saline solution, mosquito repellent, gold plating solution, aluminum paste, glow sticks, mercury thermometers, ice packs, etc.
Prohibited Reason
Due to inability to identify contents, affecting the safety of express delivery, not accepted for shipping.
30. Frozen fresh meat
Example
Examples include frozen fresh beef, frozen beef, frozen fresh pork, frozen pork, frozen fresh chicken, frozen chicken, etc.
Prohibited Reason
Sensitive to inspection and certification requirements, not accepted for shipping via express delivery.
31. Cigarettes
Example
Cigarettes
Prohibited Reason
Due to domestic tobacco monopoly and high taxes in destination countries, not accepted for shipping.
32. Items with sensitive shapes or internal structures that cannot be disassembled
Example
Such as electrical components, electronic instruments, and unidentified particles
Prohibited Reason
Sensitive goods requiring certification and inspection are not eligible for express delivery.
33. Discs
Example
Discs
Prohibited Reason
Sensitive goods requiring certification and inspection are not eligible for express delivery.
34. Rare mineral resources and other natural resources
Example
47 types of goods such as copper, aluminum, and other primary materials
Prohibited Reason
Goods subject to export quotas are not allowed for shipment via express delivery.
35. Food items
Example
Including edible products
Prohibited Reason
Sensitive goods subject to inspection and certification are not accepted for shipment.
36. Medicines
Example
All medications
Prohibited Reason
Sensitive items subject to inspection and certification are not accepted for mailing.
37. Export-Controlled Items
Example
Drones and related items
Prohibited Reason
Items subject to the regulations of the Export Control Law of the People's Republic of China, the Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China, and the Customs Law of the People's Republic of China.
In the era of online shopping, we can enjoy unprecedented convenience and choices. However, it is crucial to understand and comply with relevant regulations and restrictions. We hope that the list of 37 categories of products that cannot be shipped internationally via China Taobao, as mentioned in this article, will help you better plan your online purchasing experience. Before selecting any items, please make sure to carefully read the relevant policies and choose appropriate buying channels to ensure a smooth and error-free shopping process.
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