Prohibited items you can’t ship from Canada include things like flammables, many batteries, weapons, illegal goods, and a lot of fresh food — but the exact list changes by destination and carrier. At DTDC FineEx Couriers in Surrey we check common risks before you book DTDC, DHL, FedEx, Purolator, or Meest. When unsure, ask before you tape the box.
Most customs holds we see are not “bad luck.” Someone packed an aerosol, a power bank, homemade sweets, or wrote “gifts” on a mixed carton. The cheap fix is a two-minute contents check at 12950 80 Ave, Unit 4. The expensive fix is a seizure or a return after the parcel has already left BC.
This page is a practical guide, not a government law book. Rules differ for India, the US, and other countries. We flag what usually causes trouble. You still declare the truth.
Prohibited vs restricted — the difference that matters
Prohibited means do not pack it. The carrier or the destination country will not take it. Examples people still try: fireworks, weapons, illegal drugs.
Restricted means it might move only with extra documents, a special service, or a clear yes from the destination. Medicines, some electronics, and certain foods fall here. Restricted is not a loophole. It is a pause button. Ask first.
Canada’s own rules and the other country’s rules both apply. Something you can buy in Surrey is not automatically allowed in a courier to India.
Common prohibited and high-risk items from Canada
These categories cause the most problems at our counter. The list is not complete. It is the list that walks in the door.
- Flammables and aerosols — paints, lighter fluid, many cleaning sprays, pepper spray, and a lot of perfume. If it can spray or catch fire, assume no until we say otherwise.
- Lithium batteries and many electronics — power banks, spare laptop batteries, and gadgets with loose cells. Installed batteries are still a “ask us” item, not a guess.
- Weapons and replicas — firearms, knives that are restricted, stun devices, and realistic replicas. Do not pack them.
- Illegal goods — including cannabis and related products. Legal in Canada does not mean legal in an international parcel.
- Fireworks and explosives — never.
- Fresh food, meat, dairy, plants, and seeds — homemade sweets, liquids, and anything that can spoil. Sealed dry snacks are a different conversation; fresh is usually a no.
- Alcohol and many liquids — bottles leak, and many lanes refuse them.
- Currency, bullion, and high-risk valuables — cash, gold, and undeclared jewellery create holds even when someone thinks “it’s a gift.”
- Medicines without paperwork — prescription or not, ask before you pack a bottle “for family.”
- Counterfeit goods and pirated media — if it is fake, it should not ship.
Festival boxes (Rakhi, Diwali) hit food and perfume rules every year. Pack dry and sealed, or leave it out. See send Diwali gifts and send Rakhi.
What usually is fine — if you declare it clearly
Clothes, documents, many household gifts, and sealed dry snacks are the everyday yes — when the destination allows them and the form lists real names and values. “Personal effects” is not a contents list. “2 kurtas, 1 pair shoes, 1 box namkeen” is.
If one item in a mixed carton is prohibited, it can stall the whole box. Take the risky thing out. Do not hide it under clothes. Hiding it is how a delay becomes a seizure.
What happens if a prohibited item is found
Depending on the carrier and the country, the parcel can be delayed, returned at extra cost, or seized. DTDC FineEx Couriers cannot force it through. We also cannot pretend we did not know if the list you gave us was false.
If a box is already sitting, read parcel stuck in Indian customs and call us with the AWB. For packing mistakes in general, see international shipping mistakes to avoid.
A five-minute check before you tape
- Write every item on paper. If you cannot name it, do not ship it.
- Tell DTDC FineEx Couriers the destination country and city, not only “international.”
- Ask about batteries, liquids, food, and medicine by name.
- Remove anything we flag. Repack. Then we quote.
- Declare the remaining contents honestly — realistic values, no “token $1.”
Drop off at our Surrey desk or book pickup. The check is easier when the box is still open. Call +1 (604) 592-8585 if you are packing at home and want a yes/no on one item.
India-bound parcels: extra care
Canada to India is our busiest international lane. Customs there looks hard at food, electronics, and vague gift lists. A clean clothes carton with a PIN code and a working mobile number moves. A mixed hamper with perfume and sweets and the word “gifts” does not. Lane guides: Canada to India courier services and international courier service.
If you ship the same kind of box every month, keep a saved contents list. Changing one item — a power bank, a spray, a bottle of oil — can change the answer. Tell us what changed. Do not reuse last month’s “yes” on a different hamper.
Batteries and gadgets in plain language
Loose lithium batteries and power banks are the items people still hide under clothes. Installed batteries inside a device are still an “ask us” conversation, not a free pass. If the gadget needs a spare cell in the same carton, say so before we print a label. DTDC FineEx Couriers would rather remove one item at Unit 4 than watch the carton sit after export.
Perfume, incense in bulk, and aerosols sit in the same high-risk bucket as many flammables. Festival hampers hit these rules every autumn. When in doubt, leave the bottle out and send clothes and sealed dry snacks instead.
Festival hamper traps we see every year
Rakhi and Diwali boxes fail for predictable reasons: fresh mithai, homemade sweets, liquids, undeclared jewellery, and the single word “gifts” on the form. Sealed dry namkeen is a different conversation from a dairy sweet that will spoil. Pack factory seals in a zip bag and list each item.
Dated gift guides: send Rakhi to India from Canada and send Diwali gifts to India from Canada. If a mixed carton already left and is sitting, start with parcel stuck in Indian customs — and do not add another risky item to the next box hoping it “balances out.”
Domestic Canada vs overseas — both have teeth
Flammables, illegal goods, and many battery issues are still a problem on Purolator inside Canada. International lanes add the destination country’s rules on top. Something you can buy in Surrey is not automatically allowed in a courier to India, the US, or the UK.
Tell us whether the box is going across town or across the ocean. We book Purolator for many domestic jobs and DTDC, DHL, FedEx, or Meest when the lane is export. Process mistakes that compound a bad contents list: international shipping mistakes to avoid.
How we check contents at Unit 4
Bring the box open when you can. Walk through the list aloud: clothes, snacks, gadgets, bottles. DTDC FineEx Couriers flags the usual risks and asks you to remove what we cannot book. Then we quote the remaining carton. An open check takes minutes. A seizure after export takes weeks and often money you will not get back.
If you are packing at home, WhatsApp a photo and item names to +1 (604) 592-8585 before you drive in. A yes/no on one bottle is cheaper than a wasted trip with a sealed hamper we have to unpack at the counter.
Ask DTDC FineEx Couriers before you pack
Address: 12950 80 Ave Unit No. 4, Surrey, BC V3W 3B2, Canada
Hours: Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM–6:30 PM (open Saturday and Sunday, 11:30 AM to 7:30 PM)
Call or WhatsApp: +1 (604) 592-8585
Email: info@fineexcouriers.com
Contact us · Get a quote after the contents are cleared
Prohibited items you can’t ship from Canada — flammables, batteries, weapons, many foods, and more. DTDC FineEx Couriers in Surrey checks contents before you book so the box is not held later.
Prohibited items you can’t ship from Canada — flammables, batteries, weapons, many foods, and more. DTDC FineEx Couriers in Surrey checks contents before you book so the box is not held later.
Frequently Asked Question
What prohibited items can’t I ship from Canada?
Common no’s include flammables, aerosols, fireworks, weapons, illegal drugs including cannabis products, many loose lithium batteries, and a lot of fresh food. The exact list depends on the destination and the carrier. Ask DTDC FineEx Couriers with the item name before you pack.
Can DTDC FineEx Couriers tell me if my exact item is allowed?
Share the item, how it is packed, and the destination country. We flag common restrictions and say whether to proceed, repack, or skip that piece. We do not give a blanket yes for “whatever is in the box.”
What happens if a prohibited item is found?
The parcel can be delayed, returned, or seized depending on the rules. DTDC FineEx Couriers cannot bypass customs. Checking before booking is always cheaper than fixing a hold later.
Can I send food from Canada to India?
Sealed, non-perishable dry snacks are often possible. Fresh, homemade, liquid, and dairy items are usually not. Tell us the exact food. Do not assume a grocery bag is fine because it is “for family.”
Can I ship perfume or electronics from Canada?
Perfume is often treated as a flammable or aerosol risk. Electronics with lithium batteries need a check. Ask us before you pack either. Do not hide them under clothes.
Is cannabis allowed in an international courier from Canada?
No. Even when cannabis is legal to buy in Canada, it is not something we ship internationally. Leave it out of the parcel.
Do domestic Canada parcels have the same prohibited list?
Some hazards — flammables, batteries, illegal goods — are still a problem inside Canada. International lanes add destination-country rules on top. Tell us whether the box is going across town or across the ocean.
How do I get a contents check in Surrey?
Call or WhatsApp +1 (604) 592-8585, or visit 12950 80 Ave, Unit 4, Surrey. Bring an item list or the open box. We would rather say no to one item than watch the whole shipment sit in customs.
Related reading: Parcel stuck in Indian customs, International shipping mistakes to avoid, and Courier service Surrey BC.