What we can’t ship — and what needs special handling.
Some items are prohibited outright; others are restricted or need special handling depending on your country. We flag anything affected at the quote stage.
On this page
The short version.
Prohibited
Narcotics & illegal drugs · weapons, ammunition & explosives · counterfeit goods · hazardous & radioactive materials · endangered species products (ivory, certain skins, coral) · obscene or objectionable material · counterfeit currency.
Restricted / special handling
Large batteries (lithium/power banks) · liquids & aerosols · medicines & supplements · food & perishables · seeds, plants & wood items · currency & negotiable documents · items made from animal products (leather, bone, certain wood).
It varies by country
A few items are fine to one country and barred from another. We check your destination before quoting.
Last updated: 09/06/2026
Restrictions by country
| Country | Notable restrictions | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| USA | US customs rules have tightened recently, and accurate product classification and declared value now matter more than ever — since there’s no de minimis exemption to fall back on, every shipment is reviewed. Certain categories also face additional restrictions regardless of value, including some food items, specific herbal/Ayurvedic ingredients, and select electronics. | Since the 2025 de minimis suspension, every shipment is reviewed regardless of value — see our USA shipping page for the full customs picture. |
| UK | The UK’s low-value import rules are mid-change, so accurate declared value and product classification matter more than ever — once the GBP135 relief is phased out, every shipment becomes a formal import event. Certain categories also face extra restrictions regardless of value, including some food items, specific herbal ingredients, and select electronics. | CITES permit requirements specifically affect some of our Handicrafts & Gifting category — we’ll flag this at the quote stage if it applies to your item. |
| UAE | Alcohol and tobacco carry significantly higher duty rates (50% and 100% respectively) regardless of value, and some categories require additional approvals. For CEPA-eligible commercial orders, a proper Certificate of Origin is essential — without it, standard 5% duty applies even if the goods would otherwise qualify for a reduced rate. | Standard UAE customs duty is 5% of CIF value — see our UAE shipping page for the full India-UAE CEPA picture. |
| Oman | As with the UAE, alcohol and certain restricted categories carry additional rules in Oman regardless of value. For CEPA-eligible orders, a proper Certificate of Origin is required to claim the new preferential rates — without it, standard GCC duty applies. | The new India-Oman CEPA (in force since 1 June 2026) may offer duty advantages for properly documented orders — see our Oman shipping page for details. |
| New Zealand | New Zealand has some of the strictest biosecurity rules globally, particularly for food, plant-based, and wood-based items — this matters more here than in most other destinations on our list. We check this carefully at the quote stage for relevant categories like spices, food, and certain handicrafts. | This directly affects our Spices & Commodities and some Handicrafts orders to New Zealand — we check biosecurity-sensitive items before sourcing, not after they’re seized. |
| South Africa | Because South Africa’s duty-free threshold is low and VAT now applies broadly, it’s worth knowing upfront that most orders will attract some duty and VAT — we build this into your quote rather than letting it surprise you on arrival. Certain categories also face higher duty rates, which we’ll flag if relevant. | South Africa’s low ~R500 de minimis threshold means most orders attract duty and VAT regardless of restricted status — see our South Africa shipping page. |
| Europe | Accurate item-level customs data now matters more than ever across the EU — the new system links duty directly to detailed, item-level declarations, so vague descriptions can cause delays. We prepare proper documentation for every EU-bound order to keep pace with these tightening requirements. | From 1 July 2026, a flat €3 customs duty applies to most parcels under €150 — see our Europe shipping page for the full picture, and our France, Germany, Italy, and Sweden pages for country-specific detail. |
| France | As France’s own handling fee rules firm up, declared value and product classification accuracy matter even more on this lane than the EU baseline. We prepare proper documentation for every France-bound order and will flag if France’s own fee has formally taken effect by the time your order ships. | See our France shipping page for the latest on France’s own fee timeline. |
| Germany | As with the rest of the EU, accurate item-level customs data matters more from July 2026 onward. We prepare proper documentation for every Germany-bound order to keep pace with these requirements. | See our Germany shipping page for the full picture. |
| Italy | Because Italy moved early on import fees, declared value and documentation accuracy have mattered on this lane since January 2026 — earlier than most of the EU. We prepare proper documentation for every Italy-bound order accordingly. | See our Italy shipping page for the full picture. |
| Sweden | As with the rest of the EU, accurate item-level customs data matters more from July 2026 onward. We prepare proper documentation for every Sweden-bound order to keep pace with these requirements. | See our Sweden shipping page for the full picture. |
| Switzerland | Food and agricultural products remain outside the 2024 duty abolition and may still attract customs duty and stricter checks — we flag this clearly for relevant categories like spices and packaged foods. Most other categories benefit from the duty-free treatment. | See our Switzerland shipping page — this is genuinely good news for most of what we source for Swiss buyers. |
Frequently asked questions
Who pays customs and duties?
Import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility and are set by your country, not by DS Corp. We prepare accurate export invoices and never under-declare value. See the by-country table above for current thresholds for your destination, and our pricing page for how customs fits into your total order cost.
What items will DS Corp simply not source, regardless of destination?
Anything that isn’t legal to export from India — narcotics, weapons, counterfeit goods, and similarly prohibited categories. If something isn’t legal to export, we won’t source it, no matter where it’s going.
Will I know if my order is restricted before I pay?
Yes. We check your item against both global restrictions and your specific destination’s rules at the quote stage — before any payment is taken, not after your order is already in transit.
Why is New Zealand mentioned so often for food and plant items?
New Zealand has some of the strictest biosecurity rules in the world — fresh food, plants, seeds, and even small amounts of spices or herbs must be declared and can be seized if undeclared. We check this carefully for New Zealand orders specifically.
What happens if an item I want turns out to be restricted?
We’ll tell you clearly at the quote stage — sometimes an item just needs extra documentation, sometimes it genuinely can’t be shipped to your destination. Either way, you’ll know before you pay, not after.
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