Illegal drugs / narcotics

General guidance: Illegal drugs and controlled narcotic substances cannot be shipped.

Firearms / guns

General guidance: Firearms and firearm parts are not accepted in balikbayan boxes.

Ammunition / bullets

General guidance: Ammunition cannot be included in the shipment.

Explosives

General guidance: Explosives and explosive materials are not accepted.

Fireworks / firecrackers

General guidance: Fireworks, firecrackers and pyrotechnic products are not accepted.

Toy guns / realistic replica weapons

General guidance: Toy guns and realistic replica weapons should not be placed inside balikbayan boxes.

Gambling devices / equipment

General guidance: Gambling equipment and devices are not accepted.

Lottery / sweepstakes tickets

General guidance: Lottery and sweepstakes tickets cannot be shipped.

Pornographic / obscene materials

General guidance: Obscene or pornographic materials cannot be shipped.

Sex toys / obscene articles

General guidance: Not accepted in balikbayan boxes under current BOC guidance.

Counterfeit / pirated goods

General guidance: Fake, counterfeit or pirated products cannot be shipped.

Cash / currency

General guidance: Do not place cash or currency inside the box.

Checks / money orders / traveller's checks

General guidance: Negotiable financial instruments cannot be shipped inside the box.

Jewelry

General guidance: Jewelry should not be included in balikbayan boxes.

Goods for resale / commercial quantities

General guidance: Balikbayan boxes are for personal and household effects, not commercial inventory.

Plant seeds

General guidance: Seeds should not be included in standard balikbayan boxes.

Plants / plant materials

General guidance: Plants and plant materials require agricultural controls and are not accepted under standard service.

Unsealed food

General guidance: Food must be commercially packed, properly sealed and suitable for transport.

Homemade / cooked food

General guidance: Homemade, cooked or easily spoiled food should not be shipped.

Radioactive materials

General guidance: Radioactive materials are not accepted.

Hazardous / toxic waste

General guidance: Toxic, hazardous or waste chemicals cannot be shipped.

Gasoline / petrol / diesel

General guidance: Fuels and petroleum products cannot be shipped.

LPG / butane / propane cylinders

General guidance: Gas cylinders and compressed flammable gases are not accepted.

Lighter fluid / fuel refills

General guidance: Lighter fuel and fuel refills cannot be shipped.

Matches / lighters

General guidance: Do not include matches, lighters or ignition devices.

Damaged / swollen batteries

General guidance: Damaged, defective, leaking or swollen batteries cannot be shipped.

Power banks

Loose lithium-ion batteries

General guidance: Declare battery type, capacity and quantity before shipping.

Spare laptop / camera batteries

General guidance: Loose or spare lithium batteries require special handling.

Electric scooter / e-bike

General guidance: Large lithium batteries require specialist dangerous-goods handling.

Vape / e-cigarette

General guidance: Not accepted due to regulatory, liquid and battery restrictions.

Perfume / cologne

Aerosol sprays

General guidance: Pressurized aerosol containers may be classified as dangerous goods.

Body spray / deodorant aerosol

Nail polish

General guidance: Many nail polishes are flammable liquids.

Nail polish remover / acetone

General guidance: Highly flammable solvents are not accepted.

Paint

Paint thinner / solvents

General guidance: Flammable solvents are not accepted.

Bleach / strong cleaning chemicals

Pesticides / insecticides

General guidance: Subject to chemical/agricultural regulation and dangerous-goods rules.

Alcohol / liquor

Fire extinguisher

General guidance: Pressurized cylinders require dangerous-goods assessment.