As an overseas shopper who frequently purchases items from Taobao and ships them to my home country, it is crucial to understand which items are prohibited from being exported from China or cannot be purchased due to export restrictions. These items are categorized as “prohibited goods” and might be rejected by general forwarding agents or even Taobao’s official consolidated shipping services.
Today, we have compiled a list of items that are forbidden for export from Mainland China. This information is intended to assist you in identifying goods that you may not be able to ship internationally due to these restrictions. It’s important to be aware of these limitations to avoid any inconvenience or legal issues with your overseas purchases from Taobao.
List of items prohibited for export in Chinese mainland
| Category of Goods | Specific Items | Reason for Prohibition |
|---|---|---|
| Various potent poisons, biochemicals, and infectious items | Anthrax, dangerous pathogens, pesticides, cyanides, etc. | China’s list of prohibited or strictly controlled toxic chemicals |
| Narcotic and psychotropic substances causing addiction | Drugs, opium, heroin, cannabis, etc. | Psychotropic Drug Control Catalogue |
| Items prohibited from circulation or shipment by national laws | Antiques, controlled knives, weapons, replica weapons, etc. | Regulations under Chinese law |
| Politically, economically, culturally, morally harmful items | Reactionary, obscene materials, Falun Gong related items | Chinese Constitution, Criminal Law, etc. |
| Items obstructing public health | Human remains, untreated animal bones, soil, etc. | First batch of the Prohibited Export Goods Catalog |
| Animals, plants, and their specimens | Rhino horns, tiger bones, animal skins, etc. | First, second, fourth, fifth batches of the Prohibited Export Goods Catalog |
| Radioactive and hazardous items | Explosives, nuclear materials, etc. | Radioactive Material Transportation Safety Regulations, Civil Explosives Import and Export Management Regulations |
| Medical waste, chemical waste, industrial waste | Used disposable syringes, etc. | Environmental Protection Law |
| Gases | Compressed gases, fire extinguishers, aerosols, etc. | Impact on transportation safety |
| Flammable items | Fireworks, paint, gasoline, etc. | Impact on transportation safety |
| Flammable solids | Coal, rosin, paraffin, etc. | Impact on transportation safety |
| Chemical drugs, laboratory supplies | Potassium permanganate, sulfuric acid, etc. | Third batch of the Prohibited Export Goods Catalog |
| Oxidizers and organic peroxides | Hydrogen peroxide, sodium peroxide, etc. | Impact on transportation safety |
| Toxic and infectious items | Insecticides, pesticides, mercury compounds, etc. | First, third batches of the Prohibited Export Goods Catalog, Pesticide Catalog |
| Corrosives | Sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, etc. | Impact on transportation safety |
| Various currencies, gambling equipment, etc. | Various national currencies, gambling devices, etc. | Chinese legal regulations |
| Precious items | Gold, silver, platinum, pearls, etc. | First batch of the Prohibited Export Goods Catalog |
| Wireless transceivers, encryption devices, etc. | Radar transmitters, receivers, etc. | National security concerns, certification requirements |
| Electronically charged items and lithium battery products | Specific permitted electronic products | Certification requirements, impact on transportation safety |
| Magnetic objects | Unshielded magnets, steel with strong magnetic fields | Impact on transportation safety |
| Liquids | Alcohol, moisturizers, cosmetics, etc. | Unidentifiable components, impact on transportation safety |
| Fresh and frozen meat | Fresh and frozen beef, pork, chicken, etc. | Certification and inspection sensitivity |
| Cigarettes | Cigarettes | Domestic tobacco monopoly, high taxes abroad |
| Items with sensitive shapes or internal structures | Electrical appliance components, electronic instruments, etc. | Certification and inspection sensitivity |
| Optical discs | CDs, DVDs, etc. | Certification and inspection sensitivity |
| Rare mineral and natural resources | Copper, aluminum, and other primary raw materials | Export quota items |
| Food items | Edible products | Certification and inspection sensitivity |
| Pharmaceutical products | All medications | Certification and inspection sensitivity |
| Export-controlled items | Drones and related items | Regulations under Chinese Export Control Law |
| Batteries, alkaline batteries, etc. | Storage batteries, alkaline batteries | Impact on transportation safety |
Special Requirements for Various Destination Ports
The prohibited items for shipment to Taiwan
| Category | Specific Item Description | Reason for Prohibition |
|---|---|---|
| Various strong poisons, biochemical products, and infectious items | Such as anthrax, dangerous bacteria, medical waste, pesticides, thallium, cyanide, dioxins, DDT, non-domestic poisons, chloradan, ractopamine, hydrochloride ractopamine, arsenic, tear gas, white crystalline, etc. | Third batch of 'Prohibited Export Goods Catalog', 'List of Toxic Chemicals Banned or Strictly Restricted in China' |
| Addictive narcotics and psychotropic substances | Such as psychotropic drugs, narcotics, drugs, opium (including poppy shells, flowers, buds, leaves, etc.), morphine, cocaine, heroin, cannabis, methamphetamine, etc. | 'List of Controlled Varieties of Psychotropic Drugs' |
| Firearms (including replicas, main components) | Such as pistols, rifles, submachine guns, riot guns, air guns, shotguns, sports guns, anesthesia injection guns, pellet guns, tear gas guns, sights, handcuffs, firearm accessories (stocks, mounts, holsters, barrels, bolts, magazines/clips, etc.). Gun-shaped, weapon-shaped items (gun-shaped, bullets, grenades, toy guns, weapon-shaped keychains, etc.) under X-ray, sights (scopes, red dot sights, holographic lenses, etc.). Smash guns, starter guns, Taser guns. | Refer to laws: 'Cultural Relics Protection Law', 'Public Security Department Controlled Knives Catalog', 'People's Republic of China Firearms Control Law', 'Civil Explosives Safety Management Regulations' |
| Ammunition (including replicas) | Such as bullets, bombs, hand grenades, rocket bombs, flare bombs, incendiary bombs, smoke (fog) bombs, BB bullets, signal bombs, tear gas bombs, poison gas bombs, landmines, grenades, shells, gunpowder, etc. Grenade-shaped various commodities, various toys of bullets, hand grenades, steel balls, clay balls, bullet pendants, etc. | Refer to laws: 'Cultural Relics Protection Law', 'Public Security Department Controlled Knives Catalog', 'People's Republic of China Firearms Control Law', 'Civil Explosives Safety Management Regulations' |
| Export control related items | Drones, drone-related items | 'People's Republic of China Export Control Law', 'People's Republic of China Foreign Trade Law', 'People's Republic of China Customs Law' and related provisions |
The prohibited items for shipment to Hongkong
- Toxic and Infectious Substances: Includes potent poisons, biochemical products, infectious agents like anthrax, hazardous bacteria, medical waste, pesticides, cyanide, dioxins, tear gas, etc.
- Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances: Psychotropic medicines, narcotics, drugs like opium, morphine, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, etc.
- Firearms and Imitations: Includes pistols, rifles, shotguns, sports guns, anesthetic guns, aiming devices, handcuffs, and firearm accessories.
- Ammunition (Including Imitations): Bullets, bombs, grenades, rockets, flares, incendiary and smoke bombs, BB bullets, signal and tear gas grenades, mines, etc.
- Controlled Knives: Exceedingly long blades over 10cm, daggers, triangular scrapers, spring and jumping knives, and other similar sharp instruments.
- Politically or Religiously Sensitive Items: Books and media containing political/religious content, items harmful to China’s politics, economy, culture, or morality.
- Public Health Hazard Items: Items like corpses, ashes, coffins, untreated animal skins and bones, soil, animal carcasses, plant pathogens.
- Endangered Animals and Plants: Items made from endangered species, rhino horns, tiger bones, fur, musk, etc.
- Radioactive and Hazardous Materials: Explosives, nuclear materials, etc.
- Medical, Chemical, and Industrial Wastes: Used syringes and other medical waste.
- Explosives: Fireworks, detonators, dry ice, lighters, gas cylinders, etc.
- Flammable Liquids: Inks, paint thinners, oils, petrol, diesel, benzene, alcohols, engine starting fluids, industrial adhesives.
- Flammable Solids: Chemical substances, coal, rosin, paraffin, activated carbon, safety matches, white and yellow phosphorus.
- Chemicals and Laboratory Supplies: Potassium permanganate, sulfuric acid, vaccines, blood products, etc.
- Poisonous and Infectious Items: Adhesives, rust removers, corrosives, pesticides, veterinary medicines, herbicides, mercury compounds.
- Currency and Gambling Devices: All forms of currency, gambling machines and accessories.
- Fertilizers: Urea, ammonium nitrate, calcium superphosphate, ammonia.
- Religious and Cultural Items: Insulting or rebellious materials against any country’s religion, culture, or politics.
- Perishable and Live Items: Live animals, fresh meat, eggs, fresh and frozen meats.
- National Economy and Livelihood Controlled Goods: Coal, crude oil, antimony products, tungsten, timber, coke, rare earth, zinc ore, tin, indium, molybdenum, phosphate rock.
- Export Quota and Permit-Controlled Goods: Raw materials like linseed products, silicon carbide, fluorite, talc, magnesia, alumina, licorice products, paraffin, zinc and zinc alloys, citric acid, penicillin salt, sodium sulfate.
- Forest Protection Items: Raw charcoal, etc.
- Precious Metals and Valuables: Gold, silver, platinum, gemstones, jewelry, pearls, ivory.
- Radio Communication Devices: Radar transmitters, receivers, etc.
- Hazardous Batteries: Accumulators, alkaline batteries, hydrogen fuel cells.
- Tobacco and Alcohol Products: Cigarettes, cigars, rolling tobacco, electronic cigarettes and vaping products, soluble tobacco or nicotine, other alternative tobacco products, various alcoholic beverages.
- Intellectual Property Infringement: Counterfeit or pirated items.
- Export-Controlled Items: Drones and related equipment.
- Miscellaneous: Excess quantities of personal use items, such as grains, oils, gardening nutrients, liquids with low alcohol content, limited boxed items like power banks, lithium batteries, brand items, non-flammable pressurized cans, medicines, perfumes, nail polishes.
The prohibited items for shipment to Macau
- Live Animals: Require health and animal quarantine. Importation of animals, birds, and reptiles requires pre-approval from the Municipal Affairs Bureau of Macau and compliance with health quarantine regulations.
- Plants: Subject to health and plant quarantine. Import of live plants, bulbs, tubers, seeds, fruits, and spores requires health quarantine, issued by the Municipal Affairs Bureau of Macau.
- Endangered Animals and Plants: Governed by the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) implementation law. Import/export requires prior permission from the Economic Bureau and a CITES certificate.
- Fresh Food: Subject to health and plant quarantine. Import of meat, seafood, dairy products, eggs, vegetables, fruits, and mushrooms requires health inspection and import permit from the Municipal Affairs Bureau, except for personal consumption.
- Medical Equipment and Pharmaceuticals: Import of any medical products requires pre-approval from the Health Bureau of Macau. Personal medications in reasonable quantities are exempt, provided they are not narcotics or psychotropic drugs.
- Chemicals: Import of many chemicals requires a permit from the Health Bureau of Macau.
- Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances: Strictly regulated under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances law. Import/export of controlled substances requires a license from the Health Bureau.
- Alcohol: Import subject to consumption tax and requires a permit from the Economic Bureau of Macau, except for personal consumption.
- Tobacco: Subject to consumption tax and import permit from the Economic Bureau of Macau, except for personal use.
- Motor Vehicles: Import of vehicles requires a permit from the Transport Bureau of Macau.
- Laser Disc Manufacturing Equipment and Raw Materials: Import/export governed by the Foreign Trade Law and requires a permit from the Economic Bureau of Macau.
- Radio Receivers: Import of specific radio receivers and navigation instruments requires a permit from the Post and Telecommunications Bureau of Macau.
- Fluorides: Import/export of fluoride-containing products is regulated under the specific environmental decree-law.
- Prohibited Weapons and Drugs: Import/transfer of firearms, knives, grenades, and other offensive tools is regulated. Requires a permit and compliance with specific laws regarding weapons and ammunition.
- Rough Diamonds: Import/export of rough diamonds is regulated under the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and the Foreign Trade Law, requiring a Kimberley certificate.
- Export-Controlled Items: Drones and related equipment are regulated under the export control laws of the People’s Republic of China.
- Other Prohibited Items and Services: Governed by applicable laws and regulations, and platform notifications prohibiting import or sale in Macau.
The prohibited items for shipment to Canada
- Customs and Taxes: For mailed items imported into Canada, if the value exceeds 20 Canadian dollars, customs duty and goods tax are applicable.
- Prohibited Items for Mailing: Currency, bonds, stocks, or other negotiable instruments, fresh flowers, marine products, poultry (fresh/frozen), perfumes, aerosols, tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and items exceeding 3 meters in length are not accepted for mailing.
- Controlled Items: Human medications, narcotics, controlled and restricted drugs; edible meats and meat products, dairy products, eggs and processed egg products (including inedible products); fresh fruits and vegetables, honey and syrup products, edible grains, seeds, and nuts, seeds for propagation; animal feed, plants and plant products; fertilizers, supplements, soil and growth mediums; insecticides; other unspecified animal products, and fish and fish products.
Conclusion
In summary, when purchasing prohibited items on platforms like Taobao, it’s crucial to be fully informed to avoid the goods being rejected by the forwarding service, which can cause unnecessary complications. However, there are solutions for handling such items. You could consult Taobao agents or some shipping companies, as some are equipped to deal with these restricted goods. Overall, it’s best to adhere to legal and regulatory requirements to prevent any unnecessary troubles.
