Cayman Islands

Letter mail

Parcel

EMS

Prohibited articles list

Weight / size limit admitted:

üPostcard – maximum weight 20g. maximum size - 240X340mm; maximum thickness – 5mm.

üLetter – maxsimum weight 250g. maximum size - 240X340mm; maximum thickness: 5mm.

üSmall packets – maxsimum weight 2kg. maximum size - 240X340mm; maximum thickness: 50mm.

üM bag – maxsimum weight 30kg. maximum height - 80cm; maximum circumference -120cm.

Insured* letters admitted – no;

Maximum insured value –

On-line tracking provided – yes;

Payments for inbound items in case, when content is a goods:

ü Customs clearance fee - 3 local currency / $3.57;

ü Threshold level below which items are free of customs duties and other taxes -

Numbers of customs declarations required for inbound letter – 1;

Languages in which customs declarations must be completed – English;

Delivery charge for small packets exceeding 500 g – 2.47 SDR**;

Period of retention for letters – 30 days;

Web site address of postal administration – www.caymanpost.gov.ky

*Insured Parcel–Type of Registered Parcel, which is insured at cost declared by the sender. Insured value should not be more than the actual cost of the package content and should not exceed 10 000 GEL.

**SDR–Monetary unit (Special Drawing Rights) created by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) - The value of the SDR in terms of the US dollar is determined daily based on exchange rates quoted at noon each day in the London market and posted on the IMF’s

***Custom declaration for letter post is required only in case, when content is a goods.

Weight / size limit admitted:

ü Max weight – 10 kg

ü Max size - 1,05m X 1,05m X 1,05m (or 2m length & greatest circumference);

Insured* parcels admitted – yes;

Maximum insured value - 30 SDR**;

On-line tracking provided – yes;

Numbers of customs declarations required for inbound parcels – 1;

Languages in which customs declarations must be completed – English;

Payments for inbound parcels:

ü Customs clearance fee - 3 local currency / $3.57;

ü Threshold level below which parcels are free of customs duties and other taxes -

To customers’ address:

ü Free – no;

ü Paid service – yes;

Period of retention for parcels:

ü Min – 35 days;

ü Max –

Web site address of postal administration – www.caymanpost.gov.ky

*Insured Parcel–Type of Registered Parcel, which is insured at cost declared by the sender. Insured value should not be more than the actual cost of the package content and should not exceed 10 000 GEL.

Weight / size limit admitted:

ü Max weight – 20 kg

ü Max size - 1,05m X 1,05m X 1,05m (or 2m length & greatest circumference);

Maximum insured value:

for documents: 4000 GEL

for merchandise: 10 000 GEL

Numbers of customs declarations required for inbound EMS – 1;

Languages in which customs declarations must be completed – English;

Payments for inbound parcels:

ü Customs clearance fee - 3 KYD;

ü Threshold level below which parcels are free of customs duties and other taxes:

For private customers -

For business customers -

How many attempts at delivery are made: 3

Period of retention for EMS items: 15 days;

Coverage: entire territory

Days of the week on which EMS items are delivered: 1/2/3/4/5

EMS item delivery to P.O. Box: Yes

National holidays on which EMS items are not delivered: 1,28 January, 6,28 March, 19,22 April, 20 May, 10 June, 1 July, 11 November, 25,26 December

Web site address of postal administration – www.caymanpost.gov.ky

*SDR–Monetary unit (Special Drawing Rights) created by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) - The value of the SDR in terms of the US dollar is determined daily based on exchange rates quoted at noon each day in the London market and posted on the IMF’s

The amount of insurance paid by the customer should not exceed the actual value of the contents of the parcel

Definition of Terms

· Prohibited items – items whose import into the country is prohibited.

· Items admitted conditionally – items whose importation into the country is allowed with the term if a document issued by the relevant authorities of the exporting country is presented.

· Items admitted without conditions – items whose import into the country is allowed.

Detailed information on the HS codes and their titles can be found on the Revenue Service web-page (http://www.rs.ge/4509) or at the following address: http://www.foreign-trade.com/reference/hscode.htm

For easy search for a desired item, you can use the “ctrl+F” combination. A search field will appear in the right upper corner where you can write the title of the item. Pressing the “Enter” button will highlight the search word provided by you throughout the text in a different color.

The below information is based upon the official source of Great Britain

Part I:

List of articles prohibited as imports (or in transit) or admitted conditionally

Section I		Live animals; animal products
Chapter 1		Live animals
Heading	HS Code	■ Prohibited articles
01.01-01.06		All live animals except those listed in this Chapter as "Articles admitted conditionally".
		■ Articles admitted conditionally
01.06	0106.90	Bees, leeches, silkworms, parasites and destroyers of noxious insects intended for the control of those insects, eg ladybirds/ladybugs, and flies of the family Drosophilidae for biomedical research. A consignment of live bees must contain only queen bees and their attendant workers; colonies are not permitted. Each consignment must be accompanied by an import licence issued by the Department of Agriculture (DEFRA) and a health certificate issued by the Government Department of the country of origin indicating that: (a) the colonies in which the bees were reared have been inspected and are free from blood diseases, (b) microscopic examination of 30 bees from each colony shows no evidence of acarine, nosema, amoeba, apimyasis or varroasis. Some species may be subject to CITES.
Chapter 2		Meat and edible meat offal
Heading	HS Code	■ Prohibited articles
02.01-02.10		Certain types of meat often derived from non-domestic species, and sometimes referred to as "bushmeat", are subject to strict health controls and must not be imported through the post. “Bush meat” is defined as the meat of any wild animal hunted for food, not necessarily from endangered species. Endangered species are covered by the Convention on International Trade in EndangeredSpecies (CITES) and penalties for importation into the EU are high with up to 7 years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. Such meats may include primates (eg gorilla), whales, dolphins, porpoises, dugongs, manatees, snakes, tortoises and turtles.
		■ Articles admitted conditionally
		Meat, offal and meat products and animal products (including dry sausage, animal casings, hams) of bovine, ovine, caprine, porcine and equine species, poultry, rabbits, game, are subject to animal and/or public health import controls – check with DEFRA (see Part III).
Chapter 3		Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates
Heading	HS Code	■ Prohibited articles
03.01		Live fish.
		■ Articles admitted conditionally
03.05		Subject to animal and/or public health import controls – check with DEFRA (see Part III). Frogs’ legs,
03.07
Chapter 4		Dairy produce; birds' eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included
		■ Articles admitted conditionally
04.01-04.10		Milks and milk products for human consumption, eggs and egg products, apiculture products (e.g. honey), processed animal protein for human consumption, gelatin, lard and fats are subject to animal and/or public health import controls – check with DEFRA (see Part III).
Chapter 5		Products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included
Heading	HS Code	■ Prohibited articles
05.01-05.11		Category A. Pathogens.
05.11	0511.99	Non-indigenous plant pest and disease organisms, from all countries.
		The postal administration of Great Britain decided to discontinue the perishable infectious biological substances delivery service, from 31 March 1998 for outward items and from 31 May 1998 for inward items (UPU Convention, art. 16, and Letter Post Regulations, art. RL 129 and RL 130).

snails and giant land snails are of particular concern.

Heading 05.06	HS Code	■ Articles admitted conditionally Bones and bone products, horns and horn products, hooves and hoof products, hunting trophies,
05.11	0511.99	manufacture of petfood are subject to animal and/or public health controls – check with DEFRA – see Part III. Goods derived from animals such as coral, ivory, tortoiseshell, whalebone and certain animal teeth or antlers, ambergris, castoreum, civet and musk; cantharides; bile, whether or not dried; glands and other animal products used in the preparation of pharmaceutical products, are subject to the controls on endangered species (CITES) and can be imported only with valid permits. Infectious and non-infectious perishable biological substances are acceptable only if they are packed and labelled in accordance with the Bucharest UPU Convention, art. 16, and Letter Post Regulations, art. RL 129 and RL 130. These substances must be sent by registered airmail letter service.
05.07	0507.10	Ivory, worked or unworked must be accompanied by an import licence issued by the Department of Trade and Industry.
Section II		Vegetable products
Chapter 6		Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots and the like; cut flowers and ornamental foliage
Heading	HS Code	■ Prohibited articles
06.01-06.04		Plant and plant products (unless accompanied by an import licence issued by the appropriate Agricultural Department) as follows: Annual and biennial plants grown outside the Euro-Mediterranean area and (A) Plants of herbaceous perennials of the families Caryophyllaceae (except carnations), Compositae (except florists' chrysanthemum), Cruciferae, Leguminosae and Rosacae grown outside the Euro-Mediterranean area. (B) Plants of the family Solanaceae (except potato) originating outside the Euro-Mediterranean area. (C) Plants of trees and shrubs (except plants of the following genera of forest trees: Abies, Castanea, Larix, Picea, Pinus, Populus, Pseudotsuga, Quercus, Tsuga and Ulmus), originating in South America or in temperate areas of the world outside the Euro- Mediterranean area of North America. (D) Plants of the following genera of forest trees: Abies, Castanea, Larix, Picea, Pinus, Populus (with leaves), Pseudotsuga, Quercus, Tsuga and Ulmus originating outside Europe. (E) Plants of Beta grown outside the EC. (F) Plants of the family Gramineae grown outside the EC. (G) Plants of florists' chrysanthemum grown in the Canary Islands, Kenya, the Americas, Australia, the Far East, South Africa, New Zealand, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine or Uzbekistan. (H) Plants of Prunus species susceptible of Plum Pox (Sharka) virus, Cydonia Malus and Pyrus originating elsewhere than in the EC, Algeria, Canada, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Libyan Jamahiriya, Morocco, Norway, Syrian Arab Rep., Tunisia or the United States of America (except Hawaii). (I) Host plants of San José. Scale grown in, consigned from and transported through regions of EC Member States or non-EC countries where that pest is known to occur. (This prohibition applies only during the period 16 April to 30 September. During the remainder of the year this material may be imported if it has been fumigated.) (J) Cut flowers of gladiolus originating in countries in which gladiolus rusts are known to occur. (This prohibition applies during the period 1 June to 31 October.) (K) Plants of strawberry (Fragaria) originating elsewhere than in Europe, Africa, Australia, Canada, Israel, Lebanon, New Zealand, Syrian Arab Rep., Turkey and the United States of America (except Hawaii).
Chapter 7		Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers
Heading	HS Code	■ Prohibited articles
07.01-07.09		All potato tubers and potato plant material (including true seed), except those listed as conditionally acceptable.
		■ Articles admitted conditionally
07.01	0701.10	Tubers of seed potatoes grown in and consigned from an EC Member State (other than Denmark and Greece) or Switzerland, but entry into the Protected Region of Great Britain continues to be prohibited by the Prevention of Spread of Pests (Seed Potatoes (Britain)) Order 1974.
	0701.90	Tubers of ware potatoes grown in and consigned from the countries mentioned in the preceding subparagraph of Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Libyan Jamahiriya, Malta, Morocco and Tunisia.
Chapter 8		Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons
Heading	HS Code
08.01-08.14		Articles admitted without conditions.

processed animal protein not for human consumption, processed petfoods and raw material for the

Chapter 9 Heading	HS Code	Coffee, tea, maté and spices
09.01-09.10		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 10		Cereals
Heading	HS Code
10.01-10.08		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 11		Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten
Heading	HS Code
11.01-11.09		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 12		Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder
Heading	HS Code	■ Prohibited articles
12.09	1209.21	Lucerne seed grown in Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine or Uzbekistan or in any other country in which Lucerne bacterial wilt is known to occur. (This prohibition does not apply to seed produced in a Member State of the EC or in Australia, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, Romania, South Africa or the United States of America and does not apply to trade with the EC.)
		■ Articles admitted conditionally
12.01-12.14		The following articles are admitted only if accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the Plant Protection Service of the country where they were grown, and, where appropriate, by a reforwarding certificate. The certificate should be enclosed in an envelope marked "For the attention of British Customs" and securely attached to the outside of the package: (1) Imports from EC Member States: (A) Consignments of all rooted plants except aquarium plants and unrooted vegetative propagating material (including bulbs of narcissus and tulip, corms of gladiolus and seeds of lettuce, lucerne, pea, tomato and Rubus, but excluding other bulbs, corms and seeds), potato tubers and raw vegetables of beet, brassica, chicory, endive, carrot and lettuce may not be landed in Britain unless they are accompanied by a reforwarding phytosanitary certificate. (B) Consignments of bulbs (other than tulip and narcissus), corms (except gladiolus), raw fruit of cydonia, malus, prunus and citrus (except lemons and citron) and cut flowers and other decorative material of castanea, florists' chrysanthemum, dianthus, gladiolus, prunus, quercus, rosa, salix, syringa and vitis must be accompanied by either: a phytosanitary certificate issued by the Plant Protection Service of the Member State from which it was consigned, or the latest phytosanitary certificate relating to the consignment issued by the Plant Protection Service of a country from which it was consigned and,where appropriate, by a reforwarding phytosanitary certificate. (2) Imports from countries outside the EC: (A) All plants and trees which are not prohibited under 15. (B) Lettuce, tomato, pea of the genusRubus and lucerne seed (except from those countries from which it is prohibited) and grasses of the families Cruciferae and Gramineae and of the genus Trifolium from Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. (C) Raw vegetables of beta, brassica, cichorium, daucus, lactuca, with foliage from all countries, and all other raw vegetables except asparagus, aubergine, beans and peas, other than in pod; capsicum, chilli, paprika, peppers and pimento; globe artichoke, mushroom and other edible fungi; and raw vegetables of the family Cucurbitaceae from the Americas, Australia, the People's Rep of China, Europe (other than an EC Member State), Hong Kong, Japan, Korea (North and South), Macao, New Zealand, South Africa, Taiwan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. (D) Potatoes for planting from Switzerland. Potatoes other than for planting from Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Libyan Jamahiriya, Morocco, Switzerland and Tunisia. (E) Raw fruit of citrus, other than lemons and citrons, quince (Cydonia), strawberry (Fragaria), apple (Malus), apricot, cherry, plums and peaches (Prunus), pear (Pyrus), blackcurrant, redcurrant, whitecurrant and gooseberry (Ribes), blackberry, loganberry, raspberry and wineberry (Rubus), bilberry (Vaccinium), and grape (Vitis) from all countries. (F) Cut flowers and parts of plants for decoration of castanea, florists' chrysanthemum, dianthus, prunus, quercus, rosa, salix, syringa, and vitis from all countries. (G) Cut flowers of gladiolus from any country in which gladiolus rusts occur between 1 November and 31 May (prohibited at other times). (H) Cut flowers of protea from South Africa.
Chapter 13		Lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts
Heading	HS Code
13.01-13.02		Articles admitted without conditions.

Chapter 14 Vegetable plaiting materials; vegetable products not elsewhere specified or included

Heading HS Code

14.01-14.04 Articles admitted without conditions.

Section III		Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes
Chapter 15		Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes
Heading	HS Code
15.01-15.22		Articles admitted without conditions.
Section IV		Prepared foodstuffs; beverages, spirits and vinegar; tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes
Chapter 16		Preparations of meat, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates
Heading	HS Code
16.01-16.05		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 17		Sugars and sugar confectionery
Heading	HS Code
17.01-17.04		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 18		Cocoa and cocoa preparations
Heading	HS Code
18.01-18.06		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 19		Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; pastrycooks' products
Heading	HS Code
19.01-19.05		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 20		Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants
Heading	HS Code
20.01-20.09		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 21		Miscellaneous edible preparations
Heading	HS Code
21.01-21.06		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 22		Beverages, spirits and vinegar
Heading	HS Code
22.01-22.09		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 23		Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal fodder
Heading	HS Code
23.01-23.08		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 24		Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes
Heading	HS Code
24.01-24.03		Articles admitted without conditions.

Section V		Mineral products
Chapter 25		Salt; sulphur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement
Heading	HS Code	■ Prohibited articles
25.01-25.30		Soil in isolation, excluding peat from outside the EC and soil in association with a growing plant or plant product consigned from outside the Euro-Mediterranean area. Soil is defined as the upper layer of the earth's surface which has weathered and contains vegetative material. Clay, subsoils and minerals are excluded.
Chapter 26		Ores, slag and ash
Heading	HS Code
26.01-26.21		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 27		Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineralwaxes
Heading	HS Code
27.01-27.16		Articles admitted without conditions.
Section VI		Products of the chemical or allied industries
Chapter 28		Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals, of radioactive elements or of isotopes
Heading	HS Code	■ Prohibited articles
28.44-28.45		All radioactive substances which emit alpha, beta or gamma rays of neutrons, including manufactured articles such as luminous dials or preparations, etc.
		■ Articles admitted conditionally
28.44	2844.40	Dispatches of radioactive substances complying strictly with the provisions of part B of the International Atomic Energy Agency's Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive materials are admitted on the conditions laid down in the Convention and its Detailed Regulations.
Chapter 29		Organic chemicals
Heading	HS Code
29.01-29.42		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 30		Pharmaceutical products

Heading HS Code ■ Articles admitted conditionally

30.01-30.06 Narcotics substances sent for a medical or scientific purpose, but only with an Import Licence from the Home Office. Psychotropic substances with either an Import Licence from the Home Office or an Import Licence from the responsible authority. Vaccines, Sera, Toxins, Anti-toxins and Antigens; Insulin; Preparations of the Pituitary (Posterior Lobe); Corticotrophin; Heparin and Hyaluronidase, when the addressee has obtained an Import Licence from the responsible authority.

Raw material, blood, blood products, glands and organs for pharmaceutical use are subject to animal and/or public health import controls – check with DEFRA (see Part III).

Chapter 31 Fertilizers

Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles

31.01-31.05 In accordance with the IATA List of Hazardous Goods.

Chapter 32 Tanning or dyeing extracts; tannins and their derivatives; dyes, pigments and other colouring matter; paints and varnishes; putty and other mastics; inks

Heading HS Code

32.01-32.15 Articles admitted without conditions.

Chapter 33 Heading	HS Code	Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery; cosmetic or toilet preparations
33.01-33.07		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 34		Soap, organic surface-active agents, washing preparations, lubricating preparations, artificialwaxes, prepared waxes, polishing or scouring preparations, candles and similar articles, modelling pastes, "dental waxes" and dental preparations with a basis of plaster
Heading	HS Code
34.01-34.07		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 35		Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes
Heading	HS Code
35.01-35.07		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 36		Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations
Heading	HS Code	■ Prohibited articles
36.01-36.06		In accordance with the IATA List of Hazardous Goods.
		■ Articles admitted conditionally
36.04-36.05		Christmas crackers and similar festive articles must be kept in the manufacturer's original packaging and must not be sent in quantities of more than 24 to a package.
Chapter 37		Photographic or cinematographic goods
Heading	HS Code
37.01-37.07		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 38		Miscellaneous chemical products
Heading	HS Code
38.01-38.25		Articles admitted without conditions.
Section VII		Plastics and articles thereof; rubber and articles thereof
Chapter 39		Plastics and articles thereof
Heading	HS Code
39.01-39.26		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 40		Rubber and articles thereof
Heading	HS Code
40.01-40.17		Articles admitted without conditions.
Section VIII		Raw hides and skins, leather, furskins and articles thereof; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silk-worm gut)
Chapter 41		Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather
Heading	HS Code	■ Articles admitted conditionally
41.01-41.15		Subject to animal and/or public health import controls – check with DEFRA (see Part III).
Chapter 42		Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silk-worm gut)
Heading	HS Code
42.01-42.06		Articles admitted without conditions.

Chapter 43 Furskins and artificial fur; manufactures thereof

Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles

43.01-43.04 Seal skins, except those from an accepted source.

■ Articles admitted conditionally

Seal skins, only from a source acceptable to the British Department of Trade and Industry.

Section IX		Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal; cork and articles of cork; manufactures of straw,of esparto or of other plaiting materials; basketware and wickerwork
Chapter 44		Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal
Heading	HS Code
44.01-44.21		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 45		Cork and articles of cork
Heading	HS Code
45.01-45.04		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 46		Manufactures of straw, of esparto or of other plaiting materials; basketware and wickerwork
Heading	HS Code
46.01-46.02		Articles admitted without conditions.
Section X		Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulose material; waste and scrap of paper or paperboard; paper and paperboard and articles thereof
Chapter 47		Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulose material; waste and scrap of paper or paperboard
Heading	HS Code
47.01-47.07		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 48		Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard
Heading	HS Code
48.01-48.23		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 49		Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans
Heading	HS Code	■ Prohibited articles
49.01-49.11		Indecent and obscene prints, paintings, books, cards, lithographs and other engravings, films, video tapes or any other indecent or obscene articles. Horror comics and matrices. The prohibition of matrices used in the printing of horror comics applies to printing-blocks, photographics and other materials prepared for that purpose. Imitations, etc, of any postage stamp for denoting any rate of postage. Items bearing on the outside or in the address, words, marks or drawings which, in the opinion of the Post Office, might embarrass postal officials called upon to handle them. The importation of a counterfeit of a currency note without the consent of the Treasury is prohibited by the British Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981. Items bearing on the outside or in the address, words, letters or marks (used without formal authority) indicating or leading the addressee to suppose that the items are on British Government/On Her Majesty's Service (OHMS). Demands for payment in respect of unordered directory entries. Any advertisement or notice, imported for publication, about the drawing or intended drawing of any lottery, which in the opinion of the British Customs Commissioners contravenes any Act relating to lotteries. Items posted abroad requesting payment for goods which may have been reserved, but not previously ordered by the addressee.

		Items posted abroad and offering prizes or inducements on attending promo-tional presentations. Any postal item consisting of two or more separate items or containing two or more items addressed to different persons at different addresses. Goods bearing a false indication or origin unless they are for private use of the addressee. Articles bearing a counterfeit trademark or a false trade description and articles of foreign manufacture bearing a name or mark which represents or purports to represent the name or mark of any manufacturer or merchant in Britain, unless the name or trademark is accompanied by an indication of origin.
Heading	HS Code	■ Articles admitted conditionally
49.01		Books, printed matter, etc., which are protected by copyright in Britain.
49.09		Cards decorated with mica or ground glass or other similar materials are acceptable if they are placed in envelopes. Only cards which are rectangular in shape with corners that are either square or rounded to a maximum radius of 10 mm are admissible. Cards, folders, labels or envelopes should preferably be white, but there is no objection to colours (other than red) provided that the shades are not glaring, vivid, dazzling in effect, or too dark, and provided that the dyes used do not contain phosphorescent substances.
Section XI		Textiles and textile articles
Chapter 50		Silk
Heading	HS Code
50.01-50.07		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 51		Wool, fine or coarse animal hair; horsehair yarn and woven fabric
Heading	HS Code	■ Prohibited articles
51.01-51.13		Animal hair and animal wool which has either originated in Egypt or the Sudan or which has passed through those countries, including goods mixed with those materials, except for genuine trade samples in packages not exceeding 2 kg in the letter service, and 10 kg in the parcel service in any one importation and which are completely enclosed in the packings and wrappings used for transit purposes. Tops and yarns made wholly or partly of goat hair, including goods mixed with these materials.
Chapter 52		Cotton
Heading	HS Code
52.01-52.12		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 53		Other vegetable textile fibres; paper yarn and woven fabrics of paper yarn
Heading	HS Code
53.01-53.11		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 54		Man-made filaments; strip and the like of man-made textile materials
Heading	HS Code
54.01-54.08		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 55		Man-made staple fibres
Heading	HS Code
55.01-55.16		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 56		Wadding, felt and non-wovens; special yarns; twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof
Heading	HS Code
56.01-56.09		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 57		Carpets and other textile floor coverings
Heading	HS Code	■ Articles admitted conditionally
57.01-57.05		Carpets and rugs must be rolled or folded no larger than 1 m x 60 cm x 60 cm.

Chapter 58 Heading	HS Code	Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace; tapestries; trimmings; embroidery
58.01-58.11		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 59		Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use
Heading	HS Code
59.01-59.11		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 60		Knitted or crocheted fabrics
Heading	HS Code
60.01-60.06		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 61		Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted
Heading	HS Code	■ Prohibited articles
61.01-61.17		Soiled clothes and rags.
Chapter 62		Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted
Heading	HS Code	■ Prohibited articles
62.01-62.17		Soiled clothes and rags.
Chapter 63		Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags
Heading	HS Code	■ Prohibited articles
63.01-63.10		Soiled clothes and rags.
Section XII		Footwear, headgear, umbrellas, sun umbrellas, walking-sticks, seat-sticks, whips, riding- crops and parts thereof; prepared feathers and articles made therewith; artificial flowers; articles of human hair
Chapter 64		Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles
Heading	HS Code
64.01-64.06		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 65		Headgear and parts thereof
Heading	HS Code
65.01-65.07		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 66		Umbrellas, sun umbrellas, walking-sticks, seat-sticks, whips, riding-crops and parts thereof
Heading	HS Code
66.01-66.03		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 67		Prepared feathers and down and articles made of feathers or of down; artificial flowers; articles of human hair
Heading	HS Code
67.01-67.04		Articles admitted without conditions.

Section XIII		Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials; ceramic products; glass and glassware
Chapter 68		Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials
Heading	HS Code
68.01-68.15		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 69		Ceramic products
Heading	HS Code
69.01-69.14		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 70		Glass and glassware
Heading	HS Code
70.01-70.20		Articles admitted without conditions.
Section XIV		Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals cladwith precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin
Chapter 71		Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin
Heading	HS Code	■ Prohibited articles
71.18		The importation of a counterfeit of a protected coin without the consent of the Treasury is prohibited by the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981.
		■ Articles admitted conditionally
71.01-71.18		Coins, platinum, gold or silver (manufactured or not), precious stones, jewels and other valuable articles, must be sent by registered post or in insured letters.
Section XV		Base metals and articles of base metal
Chapter 72		Iron and steel
Heading	HS Code
72.01-72.29		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 73		Articles of iron or steel
Heading	HS Code
73.01-73.26		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 74		Copper and articles thereof
Heading	HS Code
74.01-74.19		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 75		Nickel and articles thereof
Heading	HS Code
75.01-75.08		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 76		Aluminium and articles thereof
Heading	HS Code
76.01-76.16		Articles admitted without conditions.

Chapter 77 Chapter 78		(Reserved for possible future use in the harmonized system) Lead and articles thereof
Heading	HS Code
78.01-78.06		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 79		Zinc and articles thereof
Heading	HS Code
79.01-79.07		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 80		Tin and articles thereof
Heading	HS Code
80.01-80.07		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 81		Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof
Heading	HS Code
81.01-81.13		Articles admitted without conditions.
Chapter 82		Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal
Heading	HS Code	■ Prohibited articles
82.11	8211.92	Flick knives and gravity knives.
	8211.93
Chapter 83		Miscellaneous articles of base metal
Heading	HS Code
83.01-83.11		Articles admitted without conditions.
Section XVI		Machinery and mechanical appliances; electrical equipment; parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles
Chapter 84		Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof
Heading	HS Code	■ Prohibited articles
84.42-84.43		Dies and other equipment for making imitations, etc., of any current postage stamp for denoting any rate of postage.
		■ Articles admitted conditionally
84.01-84.87		Parts for items under this Chapter are subject to British Import Licence.
Chapter 85		Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles
Heading	HS Code	■ Prohibited articles
85.18-85.27		Radio transmitters (Citizens Band Radios, "walkie-talkies" microbugs and radio microphones) which are capable of transmitting on any frequency between 26.1 and 29.7 megacycles per second and 88 to 108 Mhz per second.
		■ Articles admitted conditionally
		Radio transmitters (Citizens Band Radios, "walkie-talkies" microbugs and radio microphones) which are capable of transmitting on any frequency between 26.1 and 29.7 megacycles per second and 88 to 108 Mhz per second, other than sets of a type approved for use in the United Kingdom.

Section XVII Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

Chapter 86 Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof; railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings and parts thereof; mechanical (includingelectro-mechanical) traffic signalling equipment of all kinds

Heading HS Code

86.01-86.09 Articles admitted without conditions.

Chapter 87 Vehicles, other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof

Heading HS Code

87.01-87.16 Articles admitted without conditions.

Chapter 88 Aircraft, spacecraft and parts thereof

Heading HS Code

88.01-88.05 Articles admitted without conditions.

Chapter 89 Ships, boats and floating structures

Heading HS Code

89.01-89.08 Articles admitted without conditions.

Section XVIII Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; clocks and watches; musical instruments; parts and accessories thereof

Chapter 90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof

Heading HS Code

90.01-90.33 Articles admitted without conditions.

Chapter 91 Clocks and watches and parts thereof

Heading HS Code

91.01-91.14 Articles admitted without conditions.

Chapter 92 Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles

Heading HS Code

92.01-92.09 Articles admitted without conditions.

Section XIX Arms and ammunition; parts and accessories thereof

Chapter 93 Arms and ammunition; parts and accessories thereof

Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles

93.01-93.06 Arms, or parts of arms. Arms and component parts classified as munitions of war.

Most firearms are not permitted to be imported into Britain nor sent in transit via Britain without prior approval of the Secretary of State for the British Home Office.

However, as there are strict controls on the possession of and, in particular, the transportation and storage of firearms within Britain, it should be noted that handguns controlled under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 (especially as amended in 1997) are subject to seizure. Such firearms must therefore not be sent to or via Britain using the services of Royal Mail Group plc.

The import and transit of the following are prohibited in Britain: automatic weapons (machine-guns and sub-machine guns); self-loading rifles; most handguns and pistols; anti-tank rocket launchers, mortars and other military weapons; electric stun guns, CS gas sprays and pepper sprays.

Heading HS Code ■ Articles admitted conditionally

93.02-93.06 Arms intended for sporting purposes. The sender must ensure that the addressee has obtained an import licence.

Sporting firearms (bolt- and lever-action rifles; most shotguns; muzzle-loading guns) and most ammunition are subject to licensing in Britain.

Visitors will need to obtain a Britain Visitors Permit (EVP) from the appropriate local police authority. The EVP should be applied for through the organizers of shooting events in Britain and received by the sender prior to the item being dispatched, accompanied by the permit.

Any queries relating to import licensing requirements for firearms, ammunition and component parts should be routed through the British Department of Trade and Industry's Import Licensing Branch Enquiry Point; e-mail: enquiries.ilb@dti.gov.uk

Further information about British firearms law can be obtained from the Home Office; e-mail:

public.enquiries@homeoffice.org.uk

Please note that all e-mail inquiries sent to the Home Office or the Department of Trade and Industry should include the inquirer's full name and postal address in the body of the message.

Section XX Miscellaneous manufactured articles

Chapter 94 Furniture; bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions and similar stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings, not elsewhere specified or included;illuminated signs, illuminated name-plates and the like; prefabricated buildings

Heading HS Code

94.01-94.06 Articles admitted without conditions.

Chapter 95 Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof

Heading HS Code

95.01-95.08 Articles admitted without conditions.

Chapter 96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles

Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles

96.01-96.18 Goods made in foreign prisons, except those imported for a non-commercial purpose or of a kind not manufactured in the United Kingdom, or those in transit.

■ Articles admitted conditionally

96.01 Worked ivory, bone, tortoise-shell, horn, antlers, coral, mother-of-pearl and other animal carving material, and articles of these materials (including articles obtained by moulding) may be subject to CITES.

Section XXI Works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques

Chapter 97 Works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques

Heading HS Code ■ Prohibited articles

97.01-97.06 Goods contravening CITES.

Part II:

Conditions of admission of articles imported or in transit

Note:

Regardless of statements contained in this list, or statements by any employee of Royal Mail Group, the burden rests with the customer (exporter) to ensure they comply withprescribed laws governing domestic and international mail, both those of the United Kingdom and the country of origin.

Some hyperlinks to the websites of competent authorities in the UK have been provided to help customers and staff.

Part III:

Special provisions, Customs and other

1. Drawing up of customs declarations

Customs declarations should contain the information necessary to aid assessment of duties and taxes, and to allow control measures to be taken both on importation and exportation.

Customs declarations should be completed in English or French.

For consignments sent by letter mails with a value of 300 SDR (£270) or less, a CN 22 declaration is required. For letters exceeding 300 SDR in value, and for all parcels, declarations should be made on a CN 23.

2. Need to insert invoices

Commercial invoices should always accompany goods being sent by businesses.

3. Need to attest to the origin of the goods

The origin must be proved for any goods imported under a preferential tariff system, under agreements concluded by the EC with various countries or groups or associations of countries of Dependent States. The declaration of origin must be in the form prescribed under the various agreements.

Detail of the country of origin is also important for quota and import control purposes.

4. Miscellaneous customs provisions

Consignments not exceeding £18 in value, except for alcoholic or tobacco products, are admitted free of import duty and VAT. Private gifts of an occasional nature intended for the personal or family use of the addressee are admitted free of duty and VAT

up to a value of £36 provided the following quantity limits are not exceeded:

– Alcoholic beverages: 1 litre spirits or 1 litre sparkling/fortified wine plus 2 litres still wine.

– Perfume: 50 grammes perfumed spirit or 0.25 litres toilet water.

– Tobacco products: 50 cigarettes or 25 cigarillos or 10 cigars or 50 grammes tobacco.

A "flat rate" of import duty (10%) is applied to consignments of a value of £140 or less if this rate is favourable to the importer. Some more information can be found in Notice 143 – A guide for international post users which can be downloaded from the

HM Revenue & Customs website (www.hmrc.gov.uk) or requested in hard copy from the HMRC National Advice Service, tel.: (within the UK) 0845 010 9000 or +44 208 929 0152 (for international callers) Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm.

5. Tobacco and tobacco products sent by businesses

Despite the EU’s single market, there is still a requirement for UK excise duty to be paid on tobacco and tobacco products being sent to the UK by businesses in other parts of the EU – especially in fulfilment of mail order/internet orders. This duty must be paid to HM Revenue & Customs before the packages are sent by the company. More details are available in publications on the HMRC website such as Customs Notice 237.

Imports by post of tobacco and tobacco products from other parts of the world will be subject to appropriate UK taxation on arrival in the UK, despite some internet companies claiming that all taxes are included in the purchase price – or not mentioning the possibility of a liability for UK duties and taxes.

Where HM Revenue & Customs have reason to suspect that a declaration is fraudulent, eg claimed to be a gift when it is really being sent from a company in fulfilment of an order, then theyreserve the right to seize the goods.

6. Provision on infringements

Any package on which the goods are not fully and correctly declared, both as to the nature of the goods and their value, is liable to forfeiture and its contents may be disposed of or destroyed.

Any infringement falls within the provisions of the laws relating to fraudulent importation or exportation.

Britain is a signatory to the CITES Convention and therefore items are checked to ensure the correct documentation is accompanying goods. Any goods found to be in contravention of the CITES regulations are subject to seizure.

7. Important information about controls on imports to the UK:

Great Britain (along with other members of the European Union) requires compliance from both private individuals and businesses with regard to the import of animal products, plants and plant products and excise goods, such as tobacco. There are differences according to the type of sender (ie business or private individual) and country of origin of the goods and senders should ensure they have made appropriate arrangements for provision of any supporting documents or pre-payment of duties and taxes to the British authorities (where required) before sending their goods.

Single market rules dictate that there are no routine animal or public health checks at ports of entry from other EU Member

States, but random, non-discriminatory spot checks in the country of destination are permitted.

Please note that import requirements may change at short notice because of disease outbreaks (eg avian influenza), etc., and DEFRA is the competent UK authority for providing up-to-date information on current requirements and will publish these on its website.

8. Animal product imports to the UK by private individuals around the world

DEFRA has produced a guidance table to help private individuals understand whether the import by mail of meat, milk and their products, eggs and egg products, frogs’ legs, snail meat, shellfish and fish and fish products is permitted or is subject

to a weight restriction:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/illegali/pdf/personal_import.pdf

9. Animal product imports from EU Member States

Most products of animal origin consigned to the UK from businesses in other EU Member states must originate in an approved establishment and be accompanied by an official health certificate or commercial document (depending on the product). The certificate or document contains information on the origin and destination of the products and may include public or animal health attestations.

10. Animal product imports by businesses

There is a lot of European legislation governing imports of animal products and lists of specific restrictions are available on the

DEFRA website, http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/int-trde/prod-im/eu-imp.htm, organised by product type:

Fresh meat – general; fresh red meat; fresh poultry meat; wild game meat; milk and milk products (intended for human consumption); meat products – general; red meat products; poultry meat products; minced meat/meat preparations; "Balai" products: milk/milk products not intended for human consumption, animal casings, hides and skins of ungulates, petfood, bones/bone products, hooves/hoof products, horns/horn products, processed animal protein/fishmeal, blood/blood products of ungulates and poultry, equine serum, lard and rendered fats, raw material intended for the manufacture of petfood

or technical/ pharmaceutical products, farmed game meat and rabbit meat, apiculture products, game trophies, manure, unprocessed wool/hair/bristles/feathers, meat products, gelatine intended for human consumption, honey, eggs/egg products, reptile meat/meat products, milk/milk products for human consumption obtained from species not covered by Directive

92/46/EEC, frogs legs and snails.

DEFRA also publishes Trader Information Notes (TINs) on its website to aid compliance.

If the product in question is not listed, the DEFRA Product Imports Section should be contacted.

11. Veterinary Checks

Veterinary legislation which affects all products is included in a separate section on the DEFRA website:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/int-trde/prod-im/vet

12. Plants and plant products

There is a vast amount of legislation governing the import of plants and plant products, especially according to type of plant and the country of origin. Some information is given here in Part B, but may be subject to change.

Please note that the information provided on the DEFRA website regarding personal imports of plants and plant products only covers accompanied baggage and not imports by mail.

For guidance on plant health controls in general, consult the DEFRA booklet "The Plant Health Guide for Importers" or contact

DEFRA’s Plant Health Service Delivery Unit, from 8 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday, tel.: +44 (0) 1904 455174, fax: +44 (0) 1904 455199, or from 5 pm to 8 am Monday to Fridayand all day Saturday and Sunday,

tel.: +44 (0) 1904 455174, fax: +44 (0) 1904 455 199 or by e-mail: planthealth.info@defra.gsi.gov.uk

13. Contact points for enquiries concerning the importation of:

Live animals, insects or birds, animal products (including meat, poultry, sausage, ham, etc.), plants, fruits and vegetables: Dept of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA): in the UK 08459 335577, outside the UK +44 20 7270 8961 or check the

DEFRA website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/illegali/default.htm

Some specific contacts are:

Fish products (for human consumption) – Food Standards Agency, tel.: +44 (0) 20 7276 8991

Fish products (not for human consumption) – the by-products contact in the Imports Policy Branch, DEFRA Hay and straw -contact Imports Policy Branch, DEFRA

Pathogens – contact the DEFRA Pathogens Section, tel.: +44 (0) 207 904 6144

Semen, embryos and ova of livestock species – contact Germplasm Imports, DEFRA Horse semen and embryos – contact Germplasm Imports, DEFRA

Hatching eggs – contact Imports Policy Branch, DEFRA

Endangered species and their parts/derivatives (i.e. CITES): DEFRA, tel.: +44 (0) 117 372 8749, e-mail: cites.ukma@defra.gsi.gov.uk

For further information about CITES please visit the UK's CITES website at: www.ukcites.gov.uk/

Forestry products such as timber or bark: Forestry Commission, tel.: +44 (0) 131 314 6120

Radio apparatus and phones: Radio Communications Agency, tel.: +44 (0) 020 7211 0463

Any queries relating to import licensing requirements for firearms, ammunition and component parts should be routed through the British Department of Trade and Industry’s Import Licensing Branch Enquiry Point, e-mail: enquiries.ilb@dti.gov.uk

Further information about British firearms law can be obtained from the Home Office, e-mail:

public.enquiries@homeoffice.org.uk

Please note that all e-mail inquiries sent to the Home Office or the Department of Trade and Industry should include the inquirer’s full name and postal address in the body of the message.