The items below cannot be tendered to Atlas Bridge for shipment under any circumstances. This list is in addition to (and does not replace) the prohibited-items lists published by individual Carriers (UPS, FedEx, DHL, USPS, ocean lines, etc.) and the laws of the origin and destination countries.
You are responsible for ensuring your shipment complies with this list and with all applicable Carrier and government rules. Tendering a prohibited item may result in confiscation, fines, criminal prosecution, immediate Account termination, and forfeiture of any payment.
1. Universally Prohibited (All Modes, All Destinations)
- Illegal drugs and narcotics— controlled substances under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act and any equivalent law of the destination country, including recreational marijuana (regardless of state legality) and any THC-containing product (excluding hemp-derived CBD that meets the legal definition under the 2018 Farm Bill).
- Weapons: firearms (including replicas and parts), ammunition, explosives, fireworks, flares, gunpowder, dynamite, blasting caps, signal flares.
- Currency & bullion— cash, bank notes, travelers checks, gold or silver bullion, precious metals, loose gemstones, raw uncut diamonds, money orders, negotiable instruments in bearer form.
- Counterfeit goods and items that infringe intellectual-property rights.
- Stolen property.
- Live animals of any kind, including mammals, reptiles, fish, insects, or birds.
- Human remains, cremated ashes, organs, or tissue (separate, regulated funerary-shipping services are required).
- Pornography depicting minors in any form.
- Items requiring an export license you do not possess — including but not limited to items subject to ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations), the EAR (Export Administration Regulations), or destination-country restrictions.
- Items destined to OFAC-sanctioned parties or jurisdictions— current comprehensively sanctioned jurisdictions include but are not limited to Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, the Crimea region, the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, and any party named on the U.S. Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list.
2. Hazardous Materials — Pre-approval Required
Hazardous materials may be shipped only with Atlas Bridge’s prior written approval and full compliance with IATA DGR, IMDG Code, and 49 CFR. The following may not be shipped without an approved hazmat profile, a valid dangerous-goods declaration, and proper UN packaging:
- Class 1 — Explosives: ammunition, fireworks, flares, blasting agents.
- Class 2 — Gases: compressed gas cylinders, aerosols, fire extinguishers (some quantities), butane, propane.
- Class 3 — Flammable liquids:gasoline, alcohol over 70% ABV, paint thinners, certain perfumes > 24% alcohol.
- Class 4 — Flammable solids: matches, magnesium, lithium-metal batteries.
- Class 5 — Oxidizers / organic peroxides: pool chemicals, hair-bleach, certain fertilizers.
- Class 6 — Toxic / infectious substances: pesticides, biological samples, medical waste.
- Class 7 — Radioactive materials.
- Class 8 — Corrosives: battery acid, drain cleaner, mercury, sodium hydroxide.
- Class 9 — Miscellaneous: dry ice, lithium-ion batteries (loose or with equipment), magnetized materials, environmentally hazardous substances, asbestos.
Lithium batteriesdeserve special attention. Lithium-ion batteries by themselves (UN 3480), lithium-metal batteries by themselves (UN 3090), and damaged or defective cells are subject to strict quantity, packaging, and labeling requirements that vary by carrier and mode. When in doubt, ask before tendering.
3. Restricted by Mode
Air Freight (additional restrictions)
- Magnetized materials above 0.159 A/m at 2.1 m;
- Wet-cell or spillable batteries (most);
- Self-defense sprays (mace, pepper spray);
- Gas-powered tools or vehicles with fuel in the tank;
- Loose lithium batteries on passenger aircraft.
Ocean Freight (additional restrictions)
- Cargo not declared per the IMDG Code may be refused at the port;
- Used vehicles, vehicle parts, and engines have country-specific import restrictions;
- Wood packaging must comply with ISPM 15;
- Hazmat may require advance booking with the vessel operator.
4. Restricted by Carrier
Each Carrier publishes its own prohibited-items list. By tendering a Shipment you confirm that none of the contents are on the relevant Carrier’s list. Non-exhaustive examples:
- UPS: alcohol over 70% ABV (most lanes), tobacco products, marijuana products, animal pelts, ivory, certain perfumes.
- FedEx: alcohol (without an approved alcohol shipper agreement), firearms (without an FFL agreement), certain age-restricted products.
- DHL Express: certain perishables, prepaid debit cards over a threshold, lottery tickets.
- USPS: most international mail prohibits perishables, liquids over a small volume, lithium batteries by themselves, alcohol.
5. Restricted by Destination
Each country maintains its own import-prohibition and import-licensing rules. It is your responsibility to verify that your shipment is importable into the destination country. Common categories prohibited or heavily restricted in many destinations:
- Pork or pork by-products (Muslim-majority countries);
- Beef and bovine by-products (BSE-regulated countries);
- Pornography, religious items deemed offensive, or politically sensitive material (varies by jurisdiction);
- Used clothing or textiles (some African countries);
- Gambling devices, lottery tickets, sweepstakes material;
- Drones, two-way radios, GPS devices;
- Plant material, seeds, soil, or any agricultural product without a phytosanitary certificate;
- Cosmetics, dietary supplements, or pharmaceuticals without destination-country health-authority registration.
6. Special-Handling Categories (Quote Required)
These items are not strictly prohibited but require a custom freight quote and may not be shipped via parcel:
- High-value goods over USD 5,000 declared value (insurance required);
- Fragile electronics requiring climate-controlled or shock-mitigating handling;
- Antiques, fine art, collectibles;
- Musical instruments;
- Oversized or heavy items (over 150 lb / 70 kg per piece);
- Refrigerated or frozen perishables;
- Pharmaceuticals (subject to chain-of-custody temperature monitoring).
7. If You Have a Question
When in doubt, ask before you ship. Email compliance@atlasbridgelogistics.com with a description of the item, the origin, the destination, and any relevant safety data sheet (SDS) for hazardous materials. We’ll respond within one business day.
We reserve the right to refuse, abandon, return, or destroy any Shipment found to contain a prohibited item, without refund and at your expense, and to report the Shipment to law-enforcement or customs authorities. See our Terms of Service for details.