Identify the goods before selecting postage
A product can fit a parcel format and still need a contents review. Royal Mail’s current business Tracked page directs senders to restrictions affecting batteries, aerosols, perfumes, aftershaves and nail products. Start with the actual SKU and formulation rather than a marketplace category such as accessories or beauty. Buying a label does not establish that the goods are accepted by the selected service.
Our recommended intake record includes the manufacturer, model, purpose, quantity, packaging and relevant product documentation. For a chemical product, obtain its safety information or safety data sheet where needed; for a device, establish whether a battery is present. Keep the information matched to the goods that will be packed. If a supplier substitution changes the contents, reopen the review before release.
Separate battery chemistry, configuration and condition
Do not group every battery-powered item under one rule. The Royal Mail leaflet distinguishes batteries installed in equipment, batteries packed with equipment and batteries sent separately. It also identifies power banks and damaged batteries in prohibited entries. These distinctions are a reason to establish the exact configuration and condition, not a basis for declaring that every electronic device is permitted.
Ask the supplier for the battery chemistry, model and applicable rating information, including watt-hours or lithium content where relevant. Obtain the test documentation requested by the shipping provider for that battery and route. Our recommendation is to leave an unknown configuration unresolved until the booking party has reviewed it. Do not describe a standalone battery as installed equipment merely because it shares a carton with an unrelated product.
Review perfumes, aerosols and other liquids by category
A sealed bottle is not a complete classification. The reviewed leaflet has separate entries for perfumes and aftershaves, toiletry or medicinal aerosols, other aerosols, non-dangerous liquids and flammable liquids. Its UK and international columns differ for some entries. Read the relevant category and conditions; a domestic instruction is not authorisation for the same goods to travel from China by air.
Keep the product name, formulation, container type, volume and hazard information available for review. An aerosol, pump spray and ordinary liquid bottle should not be treated as identical solely because they are sold beside each other. For a mixed beauty order, check each line item. One acceptable item does not establish that another item in the same parcel meets its own restrictions.
Confirm the rules for each transport stage
The May 2025 leaflet is still linked by the reviewed business Tracked page, but it describes itself as information only and says restrictions can change. Use it to identify the questions to ask, then confirm the current product and account conditions. Some entries also distinguish Royal Mail from Parcelforce. A general leaflet or sector marketing page cannot replace the actual booked service’s requirements.
For Jeton Express China–UK consolidation, review supplier arrival, Chinese export preparation, air transport, UK clearance and Royal Mail handover as separate stages. Ask the responsible provider which goods, documents, packing and labels it accepts for its stage. UK domestic postal guidance does not establish airline acceptance or import clearance. Keep a Royal Mail international export rule separate from the China-to-UK inbound route too.
Prepare the packing and posting route after contents review
For goods accepted under the agreed service, follow their category-specific packing instructions as well as the parcel’s general protection needs. Royal Mail’s fragile-item guide recommends a robust container, cushioning, separation and secure sealing. Our packing recommendation is to check that the final carton and inner protection match the agreed goods and instructions, then record their condition before dispatch.
Do not assume every drop-off channel is suitable. Some leaflet entries require counter presentation or specific handling conditions. Confirm how those instructions apply to the selected retail service or business handover arrangement. A nearby locker, a QR printing option or a booked collection does not resolve a contents restriction. After changing protective packing, measure the final outer dimensions and gross weight again.
Retain a release record that can be checked later
Our recommended release record links the order, exact goods, reviewed route, responsible booking party, document version, packing instructions and final parcel reference. Record unresolved questions separately and obtain the required service confirmation before authorising dispatch. A checklist tick means that someone reviewed a record; it does not certify dangerous-goods compliance, carrier acceptance, customs clearance or a compensation entitlement.
For Edinburgh fulfilment, distinguish the incoming stock movement from a later customer parcel. A customer return also needs a new condition review, especially if a device, battery or container has been damaged. Preserve the observed condition and obtain handling instructions before repacking or sending it onward. Keep the original order and return reference connected, while applying the requirements for the new movement rather than reusing the original dispatch decision.
- Identify every SKU and any battery or chemical component.
- Confirm the current requirements for each booked transport stage.
- Match documents and packing to the actual final contents.
- Resolve outstanding acceptance questions before physical release.
Official references
References reviewed on 2026-10-07. Check current product and help terms before booking or making a claim.