PROHIBITED ITEMS:
These items cannot be shipped into the UK. Do not include these items in your shipment.
a.Controlled Drugs - includes opium, heroin, morphine, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamines, and lysergic acid (LSD).
b.Weapons - Licenses are not obtainable for these weapons in the UK (see PPCIG, Vol. II, General Instructions - United Kingdom for permitted firearms). All prohibited weapons are seized and destroyed by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise (HMCE) officials. Prohibited weapons include:
(1) Mace and tear gas.
(2) Flick (switchblade) knives, butterfly knives, sword sticks, knuckle dusters, telescopic truncheons and some types of martial arts equipment.
(3) All handguns (pistols/revolvers). NOTE: Possession of handguns is an offense punishable by a lengthy prison sentence.
(4) Burst fire weapons (includes fully automatic firearms).
(5) Self-loading (includes semi-automatic firearms).
(6) Pump action rifles (except those chambered for
.22 RIM fire ammunition).
(7) Repeating shotguns with a barrel less than 24 inches or overall length less than 40 inches (combat type shotguns).
(8) Any firearm disguised as another object (e.g., walking stick or umbrella shotguns, air canes, pen pistols, and belt buckle pistols).
(9) Stun guns.
c.Ammunition and explosives; includes fireworks.
d.Meat, poultry, and animal products (whether cooked or not), including ham, bacon, sausage pate, eggs and milk.
e.Plants, parts thereof, and plant produce including trees and shrubs, potatoes, and certain other vegetables, fruit, bulbs, and seeds.
f.Counterfeit coins and bank notes.
g.Sexually explicit material - prohibited material portrays scenes of explicit sexual activity (i.e. anal fisting, bestiality, bondage, coprophilia, defecation, enemas (use of), fisting, insertion of an object, masochism, necrophilia, pedophilia, sadism, sado-masochism, scatphagy, urolangnia, and vaginal fisting). In addition, prohibited material includes anything consisting of indecent photographs of children under 16, and scenes of excessive violence toward people or animals. The restriction applies to all mediums (videotapes, magazines, cinematographic films, computer disks, CD ROM, laser disk, etc.).
h.Material depicting violence - This must be visually explicit to bring it within the prohibition. Shipments containing articles portraying excessive violence against humans and animals such as scenes of decapitation, excision of limbs, gouging of eyes, cannibalism, garroting, torture, and dog fighting may not be imported. In general terms, scenes of mutilation are considered to fall within the prohibition. In particular, graphic scenes of violence against women also fall within the scope. Comparisons should not be made with scenes shown at the movie theater. The criteria applied to films for presentation in movie theaters is not as strict as for video material where access by children cannot be effectively controlled. The restriction applies to all mediums (video tapes, magazines, cinematographic films, computer disk, CD ROM, laser disk, etc.).
i.Radio transmitters.
RESTRICTED ITEMS:
These items should not be shipped without consulting the appropriate UK agency listed in the PPCIG General Instruction pages, or HQ 3AF/LGTT for further details.
a.All firearms not listed in the prohibited category (see PPCIG, Vol. II, General Instructions, United Kingdom.
b.Gas pistols, BB pistols, and similar weapons.
c.Wood with bark attached.
d.Most animal and bird articles derived from rare species whether alive or dead (stuffed), including fur skins, ivory, reptile leather, and goods made from them.
e.Wildlife trophies - (deer antlers, moose racks, elk horns, etc.). Prior to shipment of these items in the restricted category personnel should contact the Department of Environment, Wildlife Conservation, Licensing Section, Tollgate House, Houlton Street, Bristol BS2 9DJ, United Kingdom, for permission to import these items. Failure to do so could delay clearance of the shipment on arrival. (NOTE: the term stuffed animals in the UK means wildlife trophies. Ensure the carrier annotates stuffed toys on the inventory as stuffed toys instead of stuffed animals to avoid shipment being delayed while UK customs inspect the items).
To obtain further information on prohibited or restricted items, please write HMCE, Alexandra Dock, Kings Lynn, Norfolk PE30 2ET, United Kingdom, or fax 011-44-1553-767140.