By the Oopbuy Editorial Team · Independent buyer's-guide desk · Last updated 2026-06-17
Items a shopping agent like Oopbuy cannot ship by air in 2026 — batteries, aerosols, liquids
Most refused parcels are not the agent being difficult — they are airline dangerous-goods rules and destination customs law.

One of the most common surprises for new Oopbuy buyers is finding that a perfectly legal product — a power bank, a bottle of perfume, a strong magnetic phone case — can't be shipped, or can only go by a slow sea line. This is rarely the agent being awkward. International parcels are bound by airline dangerous-goods regulations and the customs rules of your country, and an agent that ignores them risks having the whole consolidated box seized or destroyed. This guide explains, in plain terms, what Oopbuy and other agents typically can't ship in 2026, why, and how to get borderline items through legitimately.

Why Some Items Are Banned or Restricted

There are two separate gates every parcel must pass:

  • Air transport safety (IATA / ICAO). Most express and air lines follow the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, whose 67th Edition took effect on 1 January 2026. These rules tightly control batteries, flammables, gases and magnets on aircraft — especially passenger aircraft.
  • Destination customs. Your own country decides what may be imported. Customs authorities can hold, seize or destroy prohibited goods, counterfeit/trademark-infringing items and anything mis-declared, regardless of what the airline allowed.

So an item can be (a) fine everywhere, (b) air-restricted but OK by sea, or (c) banned outright. Knowing which bucket your item falls in before you order saves a refused parcel later. For how the lines themselves differ, see our air vs sea line guide.

Outright Prohibited (Don't Order These)

These cannot be exported by normal post/courier from China and are refused by agents regardless of line:

CategoryExamples
Explosives & ammunitionFireworks, firecrackers, gunpowder, live or blank ammunition
WeaponsFirearms and parts, replica guns, knives marketed as weapons, tasers
Flammable / compressed gasGas canisters, butane refills, large aerosols, fire extinguishers
Corrosives & toxic chemicalsStrong acids and alkalis, mercury, industrial chemicals
Drugs & controlled substancesNarcotics, many prescription medicines, some supplements
Currency & valuablesCash, precious metals/gems and other items carriers won't insure
Protected wildlife (CITES)Real ivory, tortoiseshell, many exotic skins and furs, certain seeds/plants

Restricted — Sea Line Only or Conditional

These are the items most buyers actually trip over. They are legal to own but limited in transit, so an agent will usually route them by sea, ask for special handling, or decline depending on the destination:

ItemThe catchUsual workaround
Power banks & spare batteriesStandalone lithium batteries are the most restricted air cargo of all (see below)Sea line, or skip it
Electronics with built-in batteriesPhones, earbuds, watches — allowed but rule-bound; charge level capped under 2026 rulesOften OK by air; confirm at checkout
Perfume & alcohol-based liquidsCounted as flammable liquids by airSea line
Aerosols & spraysPressurised; deodorant, hairspray, spray paintSea line or omit
Strong magnetsMagnetised material can interfere with aircraft instrumentsSea line / declare
Vapes, e-cigarettes, lightersBattery + flammable; banned on many air lines and at some destinationsOften refused
Large powders / liquidsBig quantities flagged by air security and some customsKeep small / sea line
Food, seeds, plantsAgricultural import rules vary sharply by countryCheck your customs first

Exact handling depends on the line, the parcel and the destination — always confirm in the agent's checkout or with support before ordering a borderline item. General carrier lists: China Post forbidden items; USPS international restrictions.

Lithium Batteries & Power Banks: The 2026 Rules

This is the single biggest source of refused parcels, so it is worth understanding. Under the IATA 2026 Dangerous Goods Regulations:

  • Standalone lithium-ion batteries (UN 3480) are forbidden as cargo on passenger aircraft and restricted to cargo aircraft only. That is why a loose power bank or spare battery so often can't go by air.
  • Batteries packed with or inside equipment (a phone, earbuds, a camera) are allowed but rule-bound: cells over 2.7 Wh must be shipped at a state of charge no higher than 30%, and anything over 100 Wh needs airline approval.
  • For passengers, power banks count as spare batteries and must travel in the cabin — they cannot be checked. Couriers apply the same caution, which is why agents route them by sea or decline them.

Practical takeaway: a gadget with a sealed-in battery (earbuds, a watch) usually ships fine by air; a loose power bank or spare battery usually needs a sea line or gets left out. If a battery item matters to you, plan a sea consolidation from the start.

Sources: IATA Lithium Batteries fact sheet; IATA 67th Edition Dangerous Goods Regulations (effective 1 Jan 2026). Rules evolve — confirm current limits with the agent and your carrier.

A parcel routed by sea line because it contains restricted items like a power bank or perfume
The usual fix for a restricted-but-legal item is a sea line and an honest declaration — not a workaround that risks the whole box.

Counterfeit & Trademark Goods: A Customs Risk

Separate from airline safety rules, your destination's customs can seize goods that infringe a trademark or are counterfeit. Authorities such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection and EU customs routinely detain such shipments, and the parcel — not just the item — can be held or destroyed. This is a customs-and-IP matter, not something an agent controls; we cover the broader legal and safety picture in how Chinese shopping agents work. Know your own country's rules before you order, and never mis-declare contents to get a parcel through — under-declaration is itself a customs offence and the fastest way to lose a shipment.

How to Ship Borderline Items the Right Way

  1. Check the item's bucket first. Banned, air-restricted, or fine — decide before you buy, not after the warehouse flags it.
  2. Use a sea line for restricted-but-legal items (perfume, magnets, some batteries). Slower, but it is the legitimate path. See the air vs sea guide.
  3. Prefer built-in batteries over loose ones. A device with a sealed battery ships far more easily than a standalone power bank.
  4. Check your destination's customs for food, supplements, plants and anything unusual — rules differ by country.
  5. Declare honestly. Accurate contents and value keep the whole consolidated box safe; mis-declaring risks the lot.

FAQ — Oopbuy Prohibited & Restricted Items

Can Oopbuy ship power banks and batteries?
Standalone lithium batteries and power banks are heavily restricted: under IATA 2026 rules they are forbidden as cargo on passenger aircraft. Agents typically route them by sea line where allowed, or decline them. Electronics with built-in batteries are usually easier to ship by air.
Can Oopbuy ship perfume?
Perfume is alcohol-based and treated as a flammable liquid by air, so it normally can't go on an air line. It can often be sent by a sea line instead — confirm at checkout.
Why was my item refused or removed from my parcel?
Almost always because it is a dangerous good under airline rules (battery, flammable, aerosol, magnet) or restricted by destination customs. The agent removes it to protect the rest of the consolidated box from seizure.
Can I ship vapes or e-cigarettes with Oopbuy?
Vapes, e-cigarettes and lighters combine a battery with flammable material and are banned on many air lines and at several destinations, so they are frequently refused. Check both the agent and your own country's import rules.
What happens if customs finds a prohibited item?
Customs can hold, seize or destroy the item and sometimes delay or penalise the whole parcel. Counterfeit or trademark-infringing goods are routinely detained. Declaring honestly and avoiding banned items is the only safe approach.
How do I ship a restricted-but-legal item?
Use a sea line where the carrier allows it, prefer built-in over loose batteries, keep liquids and powders small, declare accurately, and verify your destination's customs rules before ordering.

Planning a haul? Browse the live Oopbuy spreadsheet, keep batteries, perfume and aerosols in mind when you build the basket, and pick the right line with our 2026 shipping & customs guide so nothing gets pulled from your box at the warehouse.