10 items you are not allowed to post via air mail
No item that is declared illegal by law in the country of dispatch or destination may be posted.
THE South African Post Office has seen an increase in the number of items, sent through the air mail service, returned as the content may pose a danger to the aircraft and the passengers on board.
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The Post Office urges its airmail customers to refrain from sending any item abroad that is not permitted in the hold of an aircraft.
These items are not allowed in postal parcels:
- Explosives such as firecrackers, gunpowder and ammunition.
- Aerosols and any container under pressure. These can explode in an aeroplane.
- Flammable liquids, including perfume, aftershave, adhesives, nail polish and alcohol.
- Toxic substances. These include chemicals, pesticides, and anything containing mercury, including thermometers.
- Corrosives, including batteries and lithium batteries.
- Magnetised goods. These can affect the navigation system of the aircraft.
- Cash, jewellery or precious metals. An export and import permit is required for these items.
- Medication. An export and import permit is required for these items.
- Drugs and other illegal substances.
- Biological items. Animals, plants or animal and plant matter. Naturally, no live animals, including reptiles and insects, may be posted.
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“No item that is declared illegal by law in the country of dispatch or destination may be posted,” said the SA Post Office’s spokesperson, Johan Kruger.
Kruger reiterated that every item is x-rayed and screened before it is loaded onto the aircraft.
“Should an item contain prohibited goods, it will be returned,” said Kruger.
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