Normal, Sensitive & Prohibited Goods Guide
General, Sensitive & Regulated Goods — What Is the Difference?
Two products that look similar may require completely different shipping channels depending on whether they contain batteries, liquids, powders, chemicals, food ingredients or other special characteristics.
Goods are not simply divided into “general” and “sensitive”
Whether an item can be shipped depends on the product itself, origin, destination, transport method, carrier requirements and the applicable customs and regulatory rules.
General Goods
Ordinary goods without obvious dangerous-goods, special regulatory or sensitive transportation characteristics.
- Clothing and footwear
- Ordinary bags
- Furniture and household goods
- Kitchen and daily-use products
- Books and stationery
- Accessories without batteries
- General non-liquid and non-powder products
Sensitive / Special-Handling Goods
These goods are not automatically illegal or prohibited, but may require a suitable shipping channel or prior assessment.
- Liquids, pastes and powders
- Certain food and beverages
- Cosmetics and skincare products
- Supplements and nutritional products
- Electronic products containing batteries
- Magnetic products
- Certain high-value or fragile goods
Regulated Goods
Import eligibility may depend on government requirements in addition to the shipping channel.
- Medicines and certain health products
- Medical devices
- Cosmetics for commercial import
- Plants, seeds and agricultural products
- Certain food and animal products
- Pesticides, fertilisers and certain chemicals
Prohibited / Dangerous Goods
These items must not be sent through an ordinary general-goods or sensitive-goods channel without proper approval.
- Firearms, ammunition and explosives
- Fireworks and highly flammable materials
- Illegal drugs and prohibited substances
- Cash and certain monetary items
- Counterfeit or intellectual-property-infringing goods
- Certain compressed gases and dangerous chemicals
- Other goods prohibited by applicable law
If your product has any of these characteristics, do not declare it as general goods without checking
Contains a Battery
Phones, earphones, watches, appliances and toys may require a battery-compatible shipping channel.
Power Bank / Standalone Battery
A standalone battery is not treated the same as a battery installed inside equipment. Air transport requirements are usually stricter.
Liquid / Paste
Skincare products, lotions, glue, oils and other liquids may require confirmation of their ingredients.
Powder
Food powders, cosmetic powders and chemical powders cannot be assessed solely by appearance.
Perfume / Aerosol
Some products may contain alcohol, flammable ingredients or compressed gas and require special handling.
Food / Supplements
Ingredients, quantity, purpose and destination-country requirements may affect whether the goods can be imported.
Medicine / Medical Products
These products may fall under pharmaceutical or medical-device regulation and should be checked before shipping.
Plants / Seeds / Agricultural Goods
These may require quarantine procedures, permits or other regulatory approval.
Why do batteries, perfumes and aerosols require extra attention?
Some everyday consumer products appear harmless, but may fall under dangerous-goods or special-handling rules when transported by air or sea. Examples include power banks, standalone lithium batteries, certain perfumes, aerosol cans, flammable liquids and compressed gases.
The same product may be treated differently by air and sea freight
Air Freight
- Lithium batteries and dangerous goods are generally subject to stricter requirements.
- Batteries installed in equipment and standalone batteries are treated differently.
- Aerosols, perfumes and flammable liquids require additional assessment.
- Certain sensitive goods may only be accepted through designated air-freight channels.
Sea Freight
- Some goods that are difficult to move by air may have a sea-freight option.
- Sea freight does not mean every product is acceptable.
- Dangerous goods remain subject to maritime dangerous-goods requirements.
- Customs, permits and destination-country import restrictions still apply.
Genuine branded goods and counterfeit goods are not the same
Genuine branded products are not automatically classified as dangerous goods. However, depending on the shipping channel, product value, intellectual-property requirements and customs procedures, supporting documents such as proof of purchase may be requested.
Not sure whether your item can be shipped? Send us these 6 details
Accurate Product Name
Do not simply declare “accessories”, “daily goods” or “samples”.
Product Photo or Purchase Link
This helps us identify the actual product.
Ingredients / Composition
Liquids, chemicals and cosmetics may require an ingredient list or SDS.
Battery Information
Tell us whether the product contains a battery, including battery type and capacity where applicable.
Quantity and Intended Use
Personal use, samples and commercial imports may be treated differently.
Shipping Route
Tell us the origin, destination and your preferred transport method.
Common Questions from First-Time Shippers
Can products containing batteries be shipped by air?
Are perfumes and aerosols considered sensitive goods?
Can all food and supplements be shipped?
Can medicines be shipped to Malaysia?
Does sea freight mean almost everything can be shipped?
Are genuine branded goods considered sensitive goods?
If this page says my product can be shipped, is customs clearance guaranteed?
Still not sure how your goods should be classified?
Do not guess and do not intentionally declare sensitive goods as general goods simply to use a cheaper shipping channel. Send us the product name, photo or purchase link, quantity, ingredients and battery information so we can review the suitable shipping option.
