Prohibited commodities
It is important that you familiarise yourself with the rules and regulations regarding what you can and can’t ship. DHL prohibits the shipping of certain goods. Check the complete list for account holders here.
You should also be aware of county-specific regulations, which are controlled by Customs. These range from the mundane to the weird and wonderful. Our shipping tools will guide you on this, or you can contact Customer Service for advice.
Restricted commodities
There are certain items that are restricted on the DHL network and you will need to discuss what is possible with your account manager. These items include antiques, cigarettes, high value jewellery and dangerous/hazardous goods.
You can find the full list for account holders here.
For dangerous/hazardous goods these are accepted in limited quantities subject to approval from the DHL Restricted Commodities Group to ensure the correct training and procedures are in place.
Lithium Batteries (present in most consumer electronic devices such as smart phones, tablets, and laptops) are classed as a restricted commodity. They can be highly flammable when under pressure, and burn at very high temperatures; for this reason, there are regulations governing the type and number of batteries that can be carried in a single shipment. Shipping of a single electronic device containing a lithium battery is still classed as a restricted commodity, therefore needs to be shipped in a rigid outer package and protected against significant movement and accidental activation. Detailed information on shipping lithium batteries can be found here.
You can find out more about shipping Dangerous Goods with DHL Express here.
