Information on unpermitted goods
If you send goods that are not permitted, the mail item may be stopped by PostNord or customs if it is being sent outside the EU.
You are not permitted to send items or substances classed as dangerous goods. With certain services, what is known as a limited amount of dangerous goods may be sent. Shipments sent by air may be subject to particular limitations.
The sender is responsible for ensuring that it is permitted to send the contents of a shipment.
What are dangerous goods?
Here are a few examples of goods that you are not permitted to send.
Cold and heat
Goods that need cold storage so as not to shorten their shelf life. Exceptions: Goods packed in dry ice as per IATA’s packing instructions
Dead or living animals
Read more about general exceptions and dead animals to be sent to SVA – the Swedish National Veterinary Institute and the Swedish Museum of Natural History.
General exceptions: Bees, leeches, silkworms, fruit flies of the Drosophilidae family, and parasites and destroyers of insect pests being sent between officially recognized institutions.
Exceptions – PostNord Parcel: Dead animals to be sent to SVA – the Swedish National Veterinary Institute and the Swedish Museum of Natural History. They should be packed as per the instructions on the respective website and sent using the PostNord Parcel. If approved packaging is not sent as per the instructions, the parcel is returned to the sender.
Instructions SVA
Instructions, Swedish Museum of Natural History
Valuables
Valuables include gold, silver, gemstones, coins, notes and securities.
Exception – Valuables can be sent with the service Registered Mail Domestic.
Weapons and weapon components, and copies of these
Exception – Weapons and weapon components sent within Sweden using the service Valuables.
Narcotics and drugs
You are not permitted to send items or substances classed as dangerous goods. With certain services, what is known as a limited amount of dangerous goods may be sent. You can get more information on dangerous goods from MSB - Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency.
Examples of contents classed as dangerous goods:
Explosives
- Ammunition
- pyrotechnic materials
- lighters
- fuses
- blasting caps for toy guns
Compressed, condensed gases
- Fire extinguishers that contain gases under pressure
- Aerosol products/spray cans
- Butane
- Gas lighters
Flammable liquids
- Gasoline
- Solvents
- Cleaning agents
- Paint
- White spirit
- Perfume
Flammable solids
- Spontaneously combustible substances and substances that emit gas on contact with water, e.g. matches
- Nitrocellulose film
- Material that becomes dangerous when wet
Oxidizing agents and organic peroxides
- Substances easily ignited by oxygen
- Hair and textile dyes
- Some bleaching agents/powders
- Some glues and binders
- Poisons, medicines and toxins, including drugs
Toxic and infectious substances
- Category A infectious substances, UN 2814 and UN 2900
Exceptions: UN 3373 Biological substances Category B may be sent provided they are packed in accordance with ICAO-TI and IATA-DGR packing instruction PI 650.
Radioactive substances
- Medical samples or research samples that contain radioactive substances
Corrosive substances
- Corrosive cleaning fluids
- Corrosive rust prevention and removal agents
- Instruments containing mercury or battery fluids
Miscellaneous hazardous materials
- Materials that have soporific, harmful, toxic or other properties and that can cause major discomfort if they leak
- Materials that are strongly magnetic
- Mail items that contain batteries
Exceptions – International mail: Max. 2 lithium batteries or 4 lithium cells may be sent in international mail, and they must then be installed in the equipment and packed as per PI 967 or PI 970, section II in the ICAO regulations.
Please note that the following countries do not accept lithium batteries or lithium cells: China, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Laos, Madagascar.