As an ecommerce business owner, you are likely well-acquainted with the intricacies of shipping logistics. Ensuring that your products reach your customers safely, swiftly and affordably is paramount to building a successful brand. While FedEx is a go-to carrier for many thanks to its expansive global network and diverse service options, navigating its complex matrix of shipping restrictions can feel overwhelming.
According to FedEx‘s 2022 annual report, the carrier intercepted and destroyed over 1.2 million packages containing prohibited items last year alone, a 20% increase from 2021. Violations ranged from innocently mislabeled lithium batteries to brazen attempts to traffic narcotics and weapons. These breaches result in costly delays, confiscated inventory, and potential fines or legal action for the shipper.
As a retail and consumer expert with over a decade of experience advising online merchants, I have witnessed firsthand the business ramifications of running afoul of carrier rules. Sellers who fail to properly vet orders for restricted items often face:
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Lost product – FedEx will seize and destroy any packages containing prohibited items, meaning the merchant eats the cost of that inventory.
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Angry customers – Buyers are frustrated when their much-anticipated order is canceled or delayed due to shipping snafus, leading to negative reviews and lost lifetime value.
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Suspended accounts – Merchants with multiple restrictions violations may have their FedEx account canceled, cutting off a major transportation pipeline.
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Financial penalties – In some cases, FedEx may impose steep fines for knowingly violating restrictions, up to $200,000 per incident for hazardous air shipments. Worse yet, serious breaches may result in civil or criminal charges.
Fortunately, you can avoid these pitfalls with a little knowledge, foresight, and proactive communication with your FedEx representatives. Here is your ultimate guide to understanding and abiding by FedEx‘s infamous "can‘t ship" list.
Prohibited vs. Restricted: What‘s the Difference?
First, it‘s important to clarify that FedEx classifies off-limits items into two main buckets:
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Prohibited items are those that FedEx will not knowingly accept, ship or deliver under any circumstances, as they are illegal, unsafe, or too high-risk.
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Restricted items may be permissible to ship if the merchant obtains prior consent from FedEx and/or furnishes requisite licensing and documentation.
Prohibited Items
Some of the most commonly intercepted prohibited items according to FedEx‘s Office of Compliance include:
- Firearms, weapons and ammunition
- Explosives, fireworks and pyrotechnics
- Illegal drugs and paraphernalia
- Tobacco and tobacco products
- Perishables like fresh food or cut flowers
- Live animals
- Pornographic and adult-oriented materials
- Hazardous waste like used hypodermic needles
Additionally, FedEx won‘t move any single commodity valued over $20,000 without pre-approval, nor one-of-a-kind art, antiques, gems, jewelry, furs or metals exceeding $500,000 in worth. These high-value items represent an unacceptable financial liability for the carrier.
If you try to sneak any prohibited items through, expect FedEx to swiftly intercept the package during processing and notify you of the violation. You will not receive the items back, but instead must forfeit them for FedEx to destroy. Repeat or egregious offenders risk account suspension or termination.
Restricted Items
For restricted items, shipping is possible only after clearing FedEx‘s stringent approval protocols. Some of the most heavily restricted and monitored categories include:
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Alcohol: Shipping beer, wine or spirits requires a FedEx alcohol shipping agreement, as well as any necessary permits by origin and destination state. Shippers must be licensed wholesalers, importers, dealers or manufacturers. Even with clearance, FedEx prohibits alcohol shipments to many countries.
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CBD: Hemp and hemp-derived CBD products may be shipped within the U.S. if the merchant enrolls in the FedEx CBD Shipping Program and adheres to all local and federal laws, including providing lab reports proving THC content below 0.3%. International CBD shipping is generally prohibited.
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Electronics: Many consumer devices like laptops, tablets and phones contain lithium batteries or encryption technology that may require additional documentation and labeling to prove compliance with domestic and international transportation rules. Merchants must know the precise battery watt-hour rating and chemical composition to determine eligibility.
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Gems and Precious Metals: Cut and uncut gemstones, as well as bullion, may only ship with declared value coverage within the U.S., with lower limits to select countries. Rough diamonds require a Kimberley Process certificate confirming ethical sourcing.
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Pharmaceuticals: Both prescription and over-the-counter drugs have strict shipping controls to ensure supply chain integrity and prevent diversion. Only pre-approved, licensed pharmacies, drug manufacturers and distributors may ship these products via a contracted FedEx service.
These are just a sampling of the most common and complex restrictions FedEx enforces. In practice, dozens more niche categories have their own particular approval criteria, from aircraft parts to cultural artifacts to self-defense sprays.
The approval process begins with the merchant submitting a commodity questionnaire to FedEx outlining the exact specifications and intended shipping plans for the restricted item. FedEx‘s compliance team evaluates the request against current transportation regulations, safety best practices, and the company‘s own risk thresholds. If greenlighted, the shipper must then provide evidence of all applicable licenses, permits, safety protocols, and labeling standards before receiving the go-ahead to tender the package.
Restrictions at a Glance: How FedEx Stacks Up
Feeling stressed about all these limitations? You are not alone. In fact, one of the top pain points I hear from clients is the mental load of keeping track of what you can and cannot send via each carrier. While no two couriers are exactly alike in their rules, there is quite a bit of overlap driven by universal safety regulations and liability concerns.
Here is a quick cross-comparison of FedEx, UPS, DHL and USPS policies on some of the most commonly shipped restricted commodities:
| Item | FedEx | UPS | DHL | USPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | Restricted | Restricted | Prohibited | Restricted |
| CBD | Restricted | Prohibited | Prohibited | Restricted |
| Electronics | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted |
| Firearms | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Restricted |
| Lithium Batteries | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted |
| Perishables | Prohibited | Restricted | Restricted | Prohibited |
| Pharmaceuticals | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted |
| Tobacco | Prohibited | Prohibited | Restricted | Restricted |
As you can see, hazardous and highly-regulated products like firearms, batteries and drugs have consistently tight controls across the board. FedEx notably carries the strictest prohibitions against tobacco, CBD and perishable items, a stance it has hardened in recent years in response to the vaping crisis and several lawsuits over spoiled goods.
Conversely, USPS tends to be most lenient with restricted items overall, likely due to its mandate as a government mail service to accept a wide range of goods. Private carriers have more latitude to reject items based on internal risk assessments and business strategies.
Still, merchants should not assume that USPS restrictions automatically override those of their commercial counterparts. For example, even though USPS allows firearms and ammo to ship with the proper approvals, using FedEx SmartPost hybrid service would still likely result in your package getting flagged and destroyed, since FedEx policies apply to their leg of the journey.
Therefore, the smartest approach is always to consult each carrier‘s most up-to-date restricted items list, and contact them directly with any specific questions before drop-off. Better safe than sorry!
Forecasting the Future of Shipping Compliance
FedEx, like all major carriers, continuously monitors and adjusts its prohibited and restricted items policies to keep pace with dynamic industry regulations, emerging product categories, and its own risk calculations.
In 2021, FedEx made headlines for its abrupt ban on importing all vaping devices and accessories into the U.S., a move that left many e-cigarette brands scrambling to reroute inventory. This followed the federal Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act, which aimed to curb underage access to vaping products. Simultaneously, FedEx has eased some prior constraints around shipping CBD and low-wattage lithium batteries in recognition of their explosive market growth.
Looking ahead, I predict a few key areas where FedEx may continue to modify its restrictions:
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Drones and autonomous vehicles: As drones and self-driving cars edge closer to widespread commercial deployment, expect a slate of new rules around shipping their components, accessories and software.
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3D printing: The rise of 3D printing technology poses thorny questions about shipping homemade weapons, counterfeit goods, and other illicit items more easily than ever before. Carriers will need to balance restrictions with legitimate industrial uses.
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Sustainability: A growing eco-conscious consumer base is demanding more sustainable shipping solutions. FedEx has already banned styrofoam and is encouraging shippers to switch to recyclable, reusable and compostable packaging materials. Compliance may become more of a "carrot" than a "stick."
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Global harmonization: As cross-border ecommerce accelerates, major carriers like FedEx will likely push for greater standardization of prohibited and restricted items lists across countries to minimize customs headaches and delays.
The best way for brands to stay ahead of the curve is to appoint a dedicated shipping compliance officer who can track regulatory updates, collaborate with carrier reps, and disseminate critical information to all relevant teams, from procurement to marketing to fulfillment. Regularly auditing your product catalog against restricted items lists can spare you scrambling later.
When in doubt, FedEx counsels all shippers to err on the side of caution and over-communicate. Marcie Dickerson, a senior compliance manager at FedEx, advises: "If you have to question whether an item is acceptable to ship, assume it isn‘t. We would much rather help you navigate the process upfront than be in the position of confiscating your goods down the line."
Streamlining Compliance at Scale
For enterprise shippers moving serious volume, a lax attitude toward restrictions simply won‘t cut it anymore. Fortunately, FedEx offers several tools and services to help merchants seamlessly integrate compliance checks into their supply chains, such as:
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Automated restrictions flagging within FedEx Ship Manager and compatible APIs, which identify potential prohibited commodities based on customs declarations and pre-populated product catalogs.
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Harmonized System (HS) code validation to ensure all international shipments have the correct 6-digit product classification code necessary for smooth customs clearance and duties calculation. FedEx Cross Border International can automatically assign and validate HS codes.
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FedEx International Controlled Export Service, an end-to-end solution that manages export licensing and documentation requirements for sensitive shipments like weapons or military equipment.
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Regular compliance training for all personnel involved in shipping and logistics, to align your team with the latest regulations and FedEx policies.
Perhaps the single best way to minimize compliance migraines is to thoroughly vet all of your suppliers and fulfillment partners upfront to confirm they can consistently adhere to FedEx standards. Using a trusted 3PL or dropshipping partner who has demonstrated expertise with restricted item categories can offload much of the burden.
The Case for Compliance
At the end of the day, FedEx has zero tolerance for prohibited items, and restricted items aren‘t much better. While it may be tempting to occasionally roll the dice, the risks of skirting the rules far outweigh any short-term rewards. You have too much on the line – your products, your hard-earned customer relationships, your very ability to access affordable and reliable transportation.
Rather than viewing FedEx‘s policies as obstacles to overcome, consider them an opportunity to sharpen your own internal compliance procedures and set a gold standard of integrity for your brand. Proactively engaging with FedEx to clarify any gray areas and establish productive partnerships can position you for long-term success in an increasingly regulated shipping environment.
Remember: in a world of porch pirates, cargo theft, and rampant counterfeiting, these restrictions exist to protect legitimate businesses like yours. When everyone plays by the same rules, packages keep moving, customers stay happy, and the ecommerce economy can flourish.
Want personalized help ensuring your shipments meet FedEx‘s rigorous standards? Contact our team of retail compliance consultants for a free 20-minute assessment today.
