Can goods with lithium batteries, liquids, cosmetics or magnets go by air mail or air small-parcel from China?
Answer
Law first, then the carrier. Lithium batteries are dangerous goods in air transport and must meet China's civil aviation dangerous goods rules and the ICAO Technical Instructions; postal shipments have a separate lithium-battery measure. It also matters whether batteries are installed in equipment, packed with equipment, or shipped on their own (including power banks). Flammable liquids such as alcohol, paint and solvents are on China's prohibited-mail list. Cosmetics must be judged on the full formulation and hazard classification, not one ingredient name. Magnetic items (speakers, magnets) are assessed under the Technical Instructions for international air; we found no specific Chinese rule. A carrier agreeing to accept a parcel does not make it lawful, and cannot override a prohibition.
- Applies to
- Sellers of power banks, battery-powered electronics, perfume, nail polish, sprays, speakers and similar goods who plan to ship overseas by post or air small-parcel.
Rules at a glance
| Goods | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| All dangerous goods | Goods forbidden on aircraft under any circumstances may not be sent by mail; goods forbidden under normal circumstances need approval or exemption; mail containing dangerous goods must also meet postal rules | MOT Order No. 4 of 2024, Civil Aviation Dangerous Goods Rules, Arts. 6–8 |
| Lithium batteries | Dangerous goods in air transport; postal shipments have a separate measure; the UPU sets specific conditions for qualifying batteries installed in equipment (operator approval, quantity and packing limits), which do not cover every battery product | Lithium battery air-mail measures, release notice (2014-06-13; full text not obtained) |
| Flammable liquids | Prohibited: petrol, paint, acetone, alcohol, rosin oil and more | Prohibited mail items list, class 5 |
| Corrosive substances | Prohibited | Same, class 11 |
| Lithium metal | Listed as dangerous when wet, prohibited (this means lithium metal, not that batteries are free to send) | Same |
| Cosmetics | No ban on cosmetics as a whole; judged on the full formulation and hazard classification; items already prohibited, such as perfume, cannot go as ordinary international mail | Same |
| Magnetic items | Assessed under the Technical Instructions for international air; we found no specific Chinese rule, so general classification and transport rules still apply | MOT Order No. 4 of 2024, Art. 4 |
What you can do yourself
- Check the ingredient list and battery specs (watt-hours, lithium content, built-in or separate).
- For lithium batteries: first tell apart installed in equipment, packed with equipment, or shipped alone; check the UPU dangerous goods guidance; then get the carrier's written confirmation for your exact product and the documents it needs (for example a battery test report or transport classification).
- For perfume, nail polish, sprays and similar: where post is not allowed, find a lawful dangerous-goods freight route and check its classification, packing, documents and acceptance terms; sea freight is not automatically permitted.
- For speakers and magnets: ask whether a magnetism test report is needed.
- Do not misdeclare or hide items in mixed parcels: it breaks the rules and puts parcels and flights at risk.
When to use a licensed professional
- A qualified dangerous goods classification or testing body, to report whether your product is dangerous goods and how to pack and mark it.
Check before you pay, and warning signs
- Ask the forwarder to state the channel, whether it accepts batteries or liquids, which reports are needed, and who pays if a parcel is returned.
- "Battery goods at general-cargo rates", "no report needed" or "just change the product name" are warning signs.
Unknowns
- The full text of the lithium battery air-mail measures was not obtained.
- We found no specific Chinese rule for magnetic speakers.
- Import restrictions in the destination country (for example Australian biosecurity) need checking in that country's official rules.
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