The South Africa Post Office has seen a rise in the number of international air-mail parcels that cannot be dispatched by air-mail as they contain items that are classified as unsafe for air cargo.
Regulations regarding the transport of items as air cargo have been tightened. No substance that could combust, explode or leak out in transit may be posted.
Items that are no longer allowed as air-mail include lithium batteries, liquids, creams and lotions.
All outgoing mail bags are scanned for items not allowed as air cargo, and all bags containing banned items are returned after being screened. Customers are therefore requested not to include such items in parcels they send abroad.
Other substances that may not be posted include any flammable or explosive items, living organisms, biological material, animals or animal products. This includes fur and ivory. Most countries do not allow the import of poisons, drugs, or medication without an import permit.
Further, items that may not be posted are uninsured jewellery, precious stones or precious metals, or any film or publication which falls into category XX or X18 of the Films and Publications Act 65 of 1996 as amended.
Make sure your parcel arrives safely
Parcels must be packaged securely, as they are transported in bulk.
If your mail item does not fill the container, fill it with packaging material like shredded paper or polystyrene to act as a shock absorber. The maximum weight of a parcel is 30kg.
When ordering an item from abroad, ask the sender to put your cellphone number on the parcel. That way you can be notified by SMS when the parcel is ready for collection.
