Importing and exporting by post
Examination of postal packages entering the UK
Guide
Border Force examine postal packages arriving in the UK for prohibited or restricted goods, such as:
- drugs
- indecent or obscene material
- weapons
- endangered species
- counterfeit goods
They examine packages to confirm the description and value stated on the declaration are correct and check the customs declaration to determine if Customs Duty, Excise Duty and Import VAT is chargeable.
Border Force will sometimes need to examine the contents of a package, particularly when the sender has not completed the declaration correctly. In such cases, the opening, repacking and resealing of the package is carried out, under Border Force instruction, by Royal Mail staff.