Items we cannot carry

Why these are refused

Everything we carry travels by sea, stacked with other people's goods, and sits in a warehouse at each end. A single leaking container, a damaged lithium cell or a bag of waste can destroy a whole load, so these goods are refused rather than surcharged.

If you are not certain what something is, ask before you buy it. Checking takes a minute; an item turned away at the warehouse costs you the carriage and the delay.

Flammable and explosive

• Explosives Ammunition, blasting caps, Christmas cracker snaps, fireworks, flares, fuses, igniters, nitro-glycerine and party poppers.
• Flammable liquids Acetone, benzene, fuel, paint thinners and removers, petroleum, solvents, varnishes, enamels and nail varnish remover, and any mixture that gives off a flammable vapour.
• Flammable solids Adhesives, calcium carbide, cellulose nitrate products, fire lighters, matches, metallic magnesium, nitro-cellulose film, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, sodium hydride, zinc powder and zirconium hydride.
• Alcohol above 70% ABV Some whiskies, vodkas, spirits and liqueurs, which are treated as a flammable liquid.
• Ammunition Refused, other than lead pellets and air gun or airsoft projectiles.

Chemicals and gases

• Gases Flammable, non-flammable, toxic and compressed gases, new, used and empty cylinders, butane, ethane, lighter refills, fire extinguishers, scuba tanks, life jackets, nitrogen dioxide and carbon dioxide canisters, culinary foaming devices and soda stream cylinders.
• Corrosives Anything that attacks living tissue, other freight or the vehicle: dyes, acids, corrosive paint and rust removers, caustic soda, mercury and gallium.
• Oxidising materials and organic peroxides Disinfectants, nitrates, and hair dyes or colourants containing peroxide.
• Asbestos In any form, in any quantity.
• Radioactive materials and samples Including luminous dials from aircraft.
• Dry ice Including dry ice used as a coolant for other goods.

Batteries and waste

• Loose lithium batteries New or used lithium ion and lithium polymer cells sent on their own, including replacement phone, camera and laptop batteries.
• Defective cells Any battery that is damaged, swollen, recalled or faulty.
• Wet spillable batteries Car batteries and lead alkaline types.
• Environmental waste Used batteries and used engine oil.
• Waste, dirt and refuse Household waste and rubbish of any kind.
• Clinical and medical waste Contaminated dressings, bandages and needles.

Weapons and blades

• Weapons Firearms such as handguns and machine guns, CS gas and pepper sprays, flick knives, knives banned under island law, tasers and stun guns.
• Bladed products Items with a sharp point or blade carried as weapons, including swords, axes and knives.

Food, plants and living things

• Frozen and chilled goods Including frozen and chilled foodstuffs.
• Frozen water Including packs of ice.
• Perishables from the UK Flowers, fresh fruit and anything that will not survive the journey.
• Live creatures from the UK Live animals and reptiles. Pets move between the islands only by arrangement.
• Endangered flora and fauna Including anything covered by CITES.

Health and contamination risks

• Biological substances Diagnostic specimens including urine, blood, faeces and animal remains.
• Anything unhygienic Dirty, contaminated, mouldy or infested goods, and anything likely to attract pests.

Unlawful and controlled goods

• Controlled drugs and narcotics Including cannabis, cocaine, heroin, LSD, opium and amyl nitrate.
• Counterfeit currency, bank notes and postage stamps Except obsolete denominations with collectable value only, which cannot be passed as tender.
• Obscene publications and unlawful indecent images Including extreme pornography and indecent images of children, as defined in Jersey law.
• Tobacco All tobacco products.
• Goods needing a licence you do not hold Anything requiring a certificate or approval to export, import, move or possess.

Valuables we will not carry

• Coin collections Not carried as freight.
• Cash, deeds and securities Not carried as freight.

Jewellery, watches and precious metals are not carried either, unless declared and agreed with us in writing first. See restricted items.

If something is found in a consignment

Goods are weighed, measured and sometimes opened for inspection, in Poole and again in Jersey. Anything on this page is held and not loaded.

You are responsible for the costs of identifying, segregating, storing and disposing of prohibited goods, and for any damage or fine that results from them. We have no liability for delay, loss or damage caused by undeclared items, as set out in our standard terms and removal terms.