What you cannot ship to China
The categories Chinese customs prohibits or restricts in a personal effects shipment, the ones that genuinely surprise people, and what happens if something turns up at inspection.
Verify before you pack, not after. What may be imported into mainland China is determined by the General Administration of Customs of the PRC and by other Chinese authorities, and the detail changes. This page describes the categories as they apply in practice to household shipments. It is a guide to what to ask about, not a substitute for confirming your specific items. If you are moving with us, ask our China office — that is what they are there for, and the question is free.
The categories that cause real problems on a household shipment are not the obvious ones. Nobody packs firearms by accident. What actually turns up at inspection is printed matter, media, drone equipment, unlabelled medication, food, and items made from protected species — usually because the owner had no idea the category applied to them.
The rule that keeps you out of trouble: if you are unsure about an item, ask before it is packed. An item declared and queried in advance is a conversation. The same item found in a carton at a Chinese port is a problem for the whole shipment.
Categories that are prohibited outright
These do not go in a shipment to China under any circumstances. This is not an exhaustive list, and it is not the interesting part of the page, but it needs stating.
- Weapons, ammunition, replica firearms and explosives of any kind.
- Controlled drugs and narcotics.
- Counterfeit currency and counterfeit securities.
- Printed matter, film, photographs, recordings and digital media deemed harmful to China's politics, economy, culture or morals — a category defined by Chinese law and interpreted by Chinese authorities.
- Poisons, and hazardous or radioactive material.
- Animals, plants and products carrying disease risk, from affected regions.
- Foodstuffs and other items originating in areas subject to a current epidemic restriction.
Categories that are restricted
These may be permitted but are conditional — on quantity, on licensing, on declaration, or on the specific item. They are where advance questions pay off.
| Category | What to know | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Printed matter and media | Books, films, recordings and digital media may be examined. Political, religious and certain historical material attracts scrutiny. | Declare it accurately. Do not attempt to conceal it. Ask about anything you have doubts over. |
| Medication | Prescription and over-the-counter medicines are treated carefully, and some substances routine in the UK are controlled in China. | Keep it in labelled original packaging with a copy of the prescription. Check any specific drug before you travel. |
| Alcohol and tobacco | Restricted in quantity in personal effects and dutiable. | Declare it. Do not treat a wine collection as ordinary household goods. |
| Food | Meat, dairy, fresh produce, seeds and plants face import restrictions on biosecurity grounds. | Do not pack food in an international shipment. Empty the cupboards. |
| Drones and radio transmitting equipment | Drones and equipment that transmits are subject to control and registration requirements. | Ask specifically about your model before it is packed. |
| Ivory, tortoiseshell, certain woods, coral and exotic leathers | Covered by CITES and by Chinese wildlife protection law. This applies to antiques and inherited items as much as to new purchases. | Ask. An antique piano with genuine ivory keys is a real example of this problem. |
| Cultural relics and antiques | Both import and export of cultural property are regulated, and items may need documentation of provenance. | Declare, and be able to evidence provenance. |
| Currency and precious metals | Amounts above declaration thresholds must be declared. | Do not ship cash or bullion in a household shipment. |
| Satellite and broadcast receiving equipment | Satellite receiving equipment is subject to control. | Assume it will be questioned; ask first. |
The ones that surprise people
From what actually comes up on this lane, these five catch out otherwise careful people:
- Books. A normal domestic library is fine. But printed matter is a category Chinese customs genuinely examines, and people who own politically sensitive material about China frequently have not thought of it as a customs question at all.
- The drone in the cupboard. Bought for a holiday, forgotten, packed by a crew who have no reason to flag it. Drones are controlled.
- Grandmother's piano. Pre-1970s pianos may have genuine ivory key facings, which brings them under CITES regardless of age or sentiment.
- The medicine cabinet. People pack it wholesale. Loose unlabelled tablets in a shipment are a bad idea anywhere, and some UK-routine substances are controlled in China.
- The half-used kitchen. Opened packets, spices, seeds for the garden. Food and plant material should not travel in an international shipment at all.
What happens if something is found
It depends entirely on what it is, and the range of outcomes is wide.
- A restricted item, properly declared: usually resolved with documentation, duty, or by holding the item. Slow, but manageable.
- A restricted item, undeclared: the shipment is held while it is resolved, and the whole consignment waits. Storage accrues.
- A prohibited item: forfeiture at minimum, and potentially consequences considerably more serious than the loss of the item. Not a risk worth running for a possession.
Our position, plainly. If we find something on this list while packing, we will tell you and we will not pack it. That is not us being difficult — an undeclared restricted item risks your entire shipment and, potentially, your standing with the authorities in the country you are moving to. We would rather have an awkward conversation in your living room than a serious one at a Chinese port.
Sources and how we checked this
Where to verify anything on this page.
- General Administration of Customs of the PRC — The authoritative list of what may be brought into mainland China and on what conditions.
- CITES — Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species — Ivory, tortoiseshell, coral, certain timbers and exotic leathers, including in antique items.
- The Chinese embassy or consulate in the UK — Questions about specific items and current restrictions before you travel.
Questions people ask before booking
Can I ship books to China?
A normal household library, generally yes. Printed matter is nonetheless a category Chinese customs examines, and material deemed harmful to China's politics, economy, culture or morals is prohibited — a judgement made by the Chinese authorities, not by you or by us. If you own material you think might fall into that category, raise it before packing.
Can I take my medication to China?
Keep prescription medicine in labelled original packaging with a copy of the prescription, and check your specific drug in advance — some substances routine in the UK are controlled in China. Do not pack loose or unlabelled tablets in a shipment.
Can I ship alcohol to China?
Alcohol is restricted in quantity in personal effects and is dutiable. A bottle or two is a different proposition from a cellar. Declare it and ask before you pack it.
What about my drone?
Drones are controlled and subject to registration requirements in China. Ask about your specific model before it is packed rather than assuming.
Will you check my things for prohibited items?
Our packers flag anything they recognise, and our China office will answer specific questions before packing. But we cannot inspect the contents of every carton on your behalf, which is why the responsibility for declaring accurately sits with you — and why asking early costs nothing.