1. Items Prohibited from Import/Export via Sea or Air Freight
The following items are explicitly prohibited from being exported or imported via sea or air freight within mainland China. Violators face confiscation, fines, or even criminal penalties.
Weapons, Ammunition, Explosives, and Imitation Weapons
- All types of firearms, ammunition, explosive devices, and imitation firearms.
- Explosive materials including gunpowder, fireworks, detonators, and fuses.
Narcotics, Anesthetic Drugs, and Psychotropic Substances
- Opium, morphine, heroin, cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy, etc.
- Medications containing ephedrine, codeine, and similar substances are also strictly restricted.
Endangered Animals/Plants & Their Products, Cultural Relics & Antiques
- All endangered animals, plants, and their products (ivory, hawksbill turtle shell, tiger bone, rhinoceros horn, etc.).
- Rare seeds, specimens, and propagation materials.
- Culturally valuable items under national key protection, including antiques, calligraphy/paintings, coins, stamps, etc.
Currency, Counterfeit Currency, Securities, Precious Metals, and Jewelry
- Currencies of all countries, counterfeit currency, and forged securities.
- Gold, silver, platinum, and undeclared precious metal products.
- High-value jewelry including gems, diamonds, jadeite, and pearls (subject to declaration and restrictions in certain cases).
Publications and Audiovisual Products Containing Political, Violent, or Obscene Content
- Printed materials endangering China's political security, advocating secession, promoting terrorism, or containing pornography.
- Photographs, records, videotapes, film reels, CDs, USB drives, hard disks, or other media containing such content.
- Publications involving state secrets or internal documents.
Animals, Plants, Related Products, and Biological Samples
- Animals, plants, and their products carrying pathogens, pests, or other harmful organisms.
- Animal carcasses, bones, ashes, untreated hides, organs, etc.
- Uninspected items like soil-attached plants or fruits.
- Live animals (pets, insects, reptiles, etc.).
- Animal embryos, serum, samples, cell cultures, pathogens, etc.
Hazardous Chemicals, Radioactive Materials, Toxic or Corrosive Substances
- All hazardous materials, including explosives, flammable gases, oxidizers, organic peroxides, radioactive substances, and corrosive chemicals.
- Paints, flammable adhesives, acid/alkali solutions, pesticides, etc.
Counterfeit Goods, Infringing Products, Pirated Merchandise
- Goods bearing counterfeit trademarks (e.g., fake branded apparel, electronics).
- Pirated books, discs, software, and other items infringing intellectual property rights.
Tobacco
- Cigarettes, cigars, tobacco shreds, smokeless tobacco, etc.
Waste and Residual Hazardous Materials
- Medical waste, electronic waste, used batteries, waste oil, scrap metal, waste plastics.
- Items classified as "hazardous waste" are strictly prohibited from import/export.
Items Involving Privacy, Confidentiality, or National Security
- Classified documents, government correspondence, internal materials, military supplies.
- Satellite phones, encryption devices, certain drone components.
2. Items Restricted for Import/Export via Sea or Air Freight
The following items, though not explicitly prohibited by national regulations, are often restricted in certain cross-border sea and air shipments due to safety, customs clearance, or carrier limitations.
Liquids, Powders, and Gel-like Substances
- All liquids (beverages, cosmetics, perfumes, oils, inks).
- Powdered substances (milk powder, medicinal powders, chemical powders, cleaning agents).
- Gels and pastes (toothpaste, skin creams, face masks, gel-based foods).
Perishable or Refrigerated Food Items
- Fruits, raw meat, dairy products, seafood, and other spoilage-prone foods.
- Frozen or refrigerated goods, such as untreated meat products, aquatic products, and plants.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices
- Medications containing prescription drug ingredients may not be transported without authorization.
- Medical reagents, blood products, vaccines, organs, syringes, etc., are prohibited from air or sea transport.
Items Containing Strong Magnets or Batteries
- Strong magnetic devices such as speakers, motors, magnets, etc.
- Items containing lithium batteries (e.g., laptops, power tools, electric scooters), unless compliant with aviation packaging standards.
Various High-Risk Items
- Lighters, matches, aerosol cans, mosquito repellents, nail polish, perfume sprays, etc.
- Compressed gas containers (oxygen tanks, butane gas, scuba tanks, etc.).
