postal services guide - singapore post · precious stones, jewels or other valuable articles....

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POSTAL SERVICES GUIDE

Section 4 : Country-specific Requirements

Countries starting with B

BAHAMAS (Commonwealth of)

LETTER POST

Supplementary Services

Available

(1) Dutiable goods admitted in the letter post. (2) Printed papers. (3) Small packets. (4)

Registration. (5) Blind literature.

Customs Declarations Value up to $700 - Green Label (CN22);

Value over $700 - Parcel Despatch Note in addition to upper part of Green Label.

Address There is now a new four-digit postcode for addresses in Bahamas, preceded by the country

code “BS”. The new postcodes will range from 1000 to 9999.

Customers are requested to incorporate the appropriate postcode in the last line of the

address, to the right of the name of the locality and above the country name.

PARCEL POST


Available

None.

Customs Declarations Parcel Despatch Note.

Prohibitions1 Letters, except those exchanged between the sender and the addressee of the parcels or

persons residing with them.

Invoices All commercial parcels should be accompanied by a copy of the invoice securely attached to

the outside of the parcel. Where the consignment for the same addressee consists of several

parcels, the invoice should be securely attached to the final parcel.

1 Senders should determine import restrictions/prohibitions of destination country before posting.

BAHRAIN (State of)

LETTER POST


Available





Prohibitions1 Cultured, imitation, artificial and bleached pearl; charged butane gas lighters and refills

(uncharged lighters are admitted).

Restrictions1 A licence or certificate for the importation of alcoholic and intoxicating liquors, including

methylated spirits must be obtained by the addressee.

Address The correct postal address is BAHRAIN. No other geographical description should be added.

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PARCEL POST (Air Parcel Only)


Available

None.



persons residing with them. For other prohibitions see Prohibitions under LETTER POST.

Restrictions1 Same as for LETTER POST.

Address See under LETTER POST.


BALEARIC ISLANDS

LETTER POST (Same as SPAIN)



Available

None.

Customs Declarations and

Languages

Parcel Despatch Note.

Spanish or French as well as English.

Customs declarations must bear the post office serial number of the parcel.


persons residing with them; playing cards; potatoes; rosaries, relics and similar articles;

Spanish bank-notes; tobacco. Charged butane gas lighters and refills (uncharged lighters are

admitted).

Restrictions1 Restrictions apply to the importation of jewels, precious metals and precious stones;

pharmaceutical preparations; plants and parts of plants.

Address The address on the parcel and despatch note must include the name of one of the following

places:-

Alaro, Alayor, Alcudia, Andraitx, Arta, Binisalem, Bunola, Cala Mayor, Clavia, Campanet,

Campos del-Puerto, Capdepera, Cartuja de Valldemosa, Ciudadela, Felanitx Paquera,

Ferrerias, Ibiza, Inca, La Puebla, Lloseta, Lluchmayor, Mahon, Manacor, Mercadal, Montuiri,

Muro, Palma de-Mallorca, Petra, Pollensa, Porreras, Puerto Andraitx, Puerto de-Pollensa,

San Antonio Abad, San Francisco-Javier, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Eulalia del Rio, Santa

Margarita, Santa Maria, Santany, Sineu, Soller, Son Servera Villacarlos, Valldemosa


BANGLADESH (People’s Republic of)

LETTER POST


Available



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Languages

Value up to $700 - Green Label (CN22);


French as well as English.

Prohibitions1 Celluloid and articles wholly or partly made of celluloid such as photograph films. Non-

inflammable cinematograph films are, however, admitted by letter post provided that the

packets bear a label clearly marked in red characters. “This contains non-inflammable films

only”. Charged butane gas lighters and refills. Packets of picture postcards are prohibited

from importation by printed papers post. Account and manuscript books, advertising matter

(with the exception of trade catalogues and circulars), almanacs, cards in general, labels,

photographs, picture books, printed forms and works of art are prohibited from importation by

printed papers post when sent as merchandise. Bank drafts, banknotes, all coins and

currency notes (including foreign), securities of any kind payable to bearer, traveller’s

cheques, bearer cheques, credit cards, passports, NOCs, platinum, gold or silver, whether

manufactured or not, precious stones, jewels or other valuable articles.

Restrictions1 Restrictions apply to the importation of plants and parts of plants.

Address Registered packets addressed to post-box numbers only, that is, without the actual addresses

of the addressees, are inadmissible.

Customs Duty See under PARCEL POST.

PARCEL POST


Available

Insurance, surface only, limit $620.


Customs declaration should show clearly the material of which goods are made, for example,

silk stockings, cotton material, silver-plated cutlery. If books and photographs are enclosed in

a parcel with other articles their value should be shown separately. The net weight of the

contents of parcels of tobacco, cigars and cigarettes, and in the case of cigars and cigarettes,

particulars of the brands and the number and net weight of the cigars or cigarettes of each

brand, should be clearly stated.

Prohibitions1 Letters, except those exchanged between the sender and the addressee of the parcel or

persons residing with them; cotton and woollen piece-goods (not made up into garments),

such as are ordinarily sold by length or by the piece, imported for trade purposes and not

stamped to indicate the length in yards or fractions thereof; military material and appliances

for discharging gas, unless imported by or on behalf of the Government of Bangladesh,

bronze or copper coins not of the Royal Mint or of a Bangladesh State; bulbs and plants,

unless accompanied by a certificate in the form prescribed by the Bangladesh authorities;

labels or woven goods bearing designs in imitation of paper money; quinine coloured pink;

sulphur; bank drafts, banknotes, all coins and currency notes (including foreign), securities of

any kind payable to bearer, traveller's cheques, bearer cheques, credit cards, passports,

NOCs, platinum, gold or silver, whether manufactured or not, precious stones, jewels or other

valuable articles.

Restrictions1 Restrictions apply to the importation of plants and parts of plants.

Licence A licence, to be obtained by the addressee in advance, is required for importation into

Bangladesh by post from this country of almost all goods.

Address The name of the province in which the place of address is situated should, as far as possible,

be included in the address. Parcels addressed to post-box numbers only, that is, without the

actual address of the addressee, are inadmissible.

Customs Duty Customs duty and a sale tax on the duty paid value is levied on all imports into Bangladesh

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but the duty is not collected on postal items upon which the amount payable would not

exceed 2.50 Taka.

Duplicate Documents Senders of commercial parcels should, in their own interests, forward by airmail, directly to

the addressees in Bangladesh, duplicates of all necessary documents, for example, (1) clear

customs declaration, (2) certificate of origin and (3) invoice showing, separately, the value of

each item enclosed in the parcel. The receipt of these duplicate documents in Bangladesh

prior to the arrival of the parcels will enable the addressees to facilitate customs clearance.


BARBADOS

LETTER POST


Available


Registration.


Languages



Portuguese or French as well as English.

Prohibitions1 Butane gas lighters and refills.

Address See under PARCEL POST.

PARCEL POST


Available

None.



persons residing with them; butane gas lighters and refills; celluloid; and plants and seeds.

Address All postal items must bear addressee's full name and complete address, including postcode.

To facilitate delivery, it is also desirable to include the addressee's fixed and mobile telephone

number and e-mail address, if available, on the postal items.


BASUTOLAND - See LESOTHO

BECHUANALAND PROTECTORATE - See BOTSWANA

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BELARUS (Republic of)

(formerly a state of the Russian Federation)

LETTER POST


Available

(1) Printed papers. (2) Small packets. (3) Registration. (4) Blind literature.



Prohibitions1 See under PARCEL POST.

Restrictions1 See under PARCEL POST.

Customs Duty and Taxes See under PARCEL POST.

Address All postal items must bear complete addresses and correct postcodes to facilitate delivery.

The address format is as shown in the example below:

Loutsévitch Ivan Fedorovitch

Rue Pobédy 12, bat. 1, app. 10

225860 KOBRIN

Province of Brest

REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

To facilitate clearance, it is desirable to include the addressee’s telephone number on parcels

and EMS items.

PARCEL POST


Available

None.


Prohibitions1

Alcoholic liquids, including beer, wines and spirits.

Any chronometer with a case and wristband of precious metal.

Articles of cultural value.

Articles of which the importation and circulation are prohibited in the

country of destination.

Articles which, by their nature or their packing, may expose officials to

danger, or soil or damage other parcels or postal equipment.

Belarus rubles and instruments in Belarus rubles.

Coins, bank notes, currency notes or securities of any kind payable to

bearer, cheques, including travellers' cheques.

Cultural artefacts (addressed to, and intended for the personal use of,

private individuals)

Fresh or frozen, dried or smoked meat and edible offals of bovines,

mammals, poultry, birds, sheep, pigs and other animals.

Fresh, frozen, salted or smoked mollusks, fish and crustaceans.

Hazardous waste.

Letters/parcels may not contain documents having the character of

current and personal correspondence exchanged between persons

other than the sender and the addressee or persons living with them.

Metalized yarn made with or made of gold thread; ornamental trimming

or woven fabric made with or made of gold thread.

Narcotics, psychotropic substances and their precursors, as well as

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plants and mushrooms containing narcotics, psychotropic substances

and their precursors, of any kind and in any form, including their fruits,

seeds and spores. Medicaments and vitamin preparations containing

these substances.

Obscene or immoral articles.

Old coins made of precious metals sent by private individuals.

Pathogenic or potentially pathogenic organisms.

Perishable food products.

Photographic and cinematographic films, undeveloped photographic

plates, photographic paper.

Plants, in any form and condition, and plant seeds.

Platinum, gold or silver, whether manufactured or not, gold bullion,

precious stones, jewels or other valuable articles.

Precious metals and their compounds.

Products of the printing and related industries containing information

that may be harmful to the political and economic interests of Belarus,

to state security and to the health and morality of its citizens.

Radioactive materials.

Silkworm cocoons.

Soils and stones.

Substances harmful to the ozone layer.

The Belarus authorities have instituted a ban on the following articles

for the prevention of the importation of the agents of Newcastle

disease and African fever:

Produced in Switzerland: hatchable eggs, down and feathers, poultry

meat and products thereof, all kinds of poultry products; fodder and

animal feed additives, including those made from poultry and fish.

Produced in the Russian Federation: sperm of boar, swine meat and

products thereof, hides and intestinal stock, hunters' trophies, fodder

and animal and vegetable feed additives for animals, including those

made from fish and poultry, and equipment used for keeping,

transporting, slaughtering and dressing swine.

Tobacco and manufactured tobacco products, including smoking

mixtures of all kinds.

Vegetable alkaloids, natural or reproduced by synthesis, and their salts

and simple or complex ethers.

Restrictions1 Senders to determine conditions of import from the country's authorities before posting:

Animal products.

Bees, leeches, silkworms, parasites and destroyers of noxious insects

intended for research and exchange between officially recognized

institutions.

Fish and other aquatic animal products.

Fodder and fodder supplements.

Honey and other apicultural products.

Military uniforms, equipment and paraphernalia.

Milk and dairy products.

Plant and vegetable products, including cereals, fruits and hazelnuts.

Raw eggs.

Raw materials of animal origin.

Works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques, stamps.

Special Documentation All animal products sent through the post must be accompanied by a certificate issued by the

veterinary inspection authority of the country of origin. This certificate must satisfy the

requirements of the veterinary service of Belarus.

An invoice is required for commercial goods.

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Customs Duty and Taxes Articles sent in postal items to private persons in Belarus arriving within a calendar month, are

exempted from customs duty if the value of goods in total does not exceed 22 EUR and the

weight in total does not exceed 10 kg.

If the value of goods exceeds 22 EUR, customs duties will be calculated at the rate of 30% of

the value exceeding 22 EUR, or 4 EUR per kg if the weight of the item exceeds 10 kg.

The articles listed below are subject to duty and tax calculated as a percentage of the dutiable

value or in EUR:

List of articles for non-commercial use subject to customs duty and taxes (uniform rates) if

imported into Belarus:-

Articles

Customs duty and taxes (as a percentage or in EUR)

Construction materials, wallpaper

30%, but at least 2 EUR per kilogramme

Vacuum cleaners

30%, but at least 15 EUR per article

Irons


Microwave ovens


Stoves, electric cookers


Refrigerators for domestic use

30%, but at least 40 to 50 EUR per article

Dishwashers for domestic use


Washing machines for domestic use (automatic machines)


Sewing machines for domestic use


Portable computers weighing up to 10 kilogrammes


Colour cathode-ray tube (CRT) computer monitors, according to the (diagonal) size of the

screen


Video recorders or players for domestic use


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Colour liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors, according to the (diagonal) size of the screen


CRT television receivers, including home cinema systems, according to the (diagonal) size of

the screen


LCD television receivers, including home cinema systems, according to the (diagonal) size of

the screen

30%, but at least 500 to 1,000 EUR per article

Address See under LETTER POST.


BELGIUM

LETTER POST


Available

(1) Dutiable goods admitted in the letter post. (2) Insured letters, air only, limit $3,800. (3)

Printed papers. (4) Small packets. (5) Registration. (6) Blind literature. (7) Express service.


Languages



Flemish or French as well as English.

Customs Duty Printed matter and books are in general liable to customs duty and a Green Customs Label

must be attached to such packets. Exceptionally, prospectuses, catalogues, price lists and

advertisements, if sent singly or in small quantities, and single books, if sent as samples

clearly marked “Service de Oresse”’ do not require a Green Customs Label.

Prohibitions1 See under PARCEL POST.

PARCEL POST


Available

Insurance, air, limit $3,800 and surface, limit $760. Express (Air Parcel only).


Languages


Declarations should be prepared in Flemish or French as well as in English.

Prohibitions1 Letters in parcels, except those exchanged between the sender and the

addressee of the parcels or persons residing with them.

Absinthe.

Bearer bonds, bank notes.

Butane gas lighters and refills.

Chain letters.

Coins of bronze, copper or nickel not legal tender in Belgium, except

obsolete coins for collections.

Colouring matter.

Contraceptives.

Lottery tickets and advertising.

Newspapers and publications contrary to Belgian principles.

Photographs and films, indecent.

Publications, indecent.

Tobacco, of any form (e.g. cigars, cigarettes, rolling tobacco, etc.),

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tobacco alternatives, such as electronic and vapour cigarettes that

contain nicotine, by commercial shipments (B2C). However, electronic

and vapour cigarettes containing NO NICOTINE may be imported.

Restrictions1 Restrictions apply to the importation of foodstuffs and fresh fruit; plants. The importation of

many articles is also subject to the production of a permit which must be obtained by the

addressee in advance.

Delivery All parcels to Belgium must bear the name and full street address of the addressee and the

sender. Parcels are delivered in most areas and a delivery fee is charged. Where they are not

delivered an advice of arrival is sent to the addressee. If it is intended that a parcel is to be

called for it should be addressed “En Gare” and not “Poste Restante”.


BELIZE

(formerly British Honduras)

LETTER POST


Available





Prohibitions1 Coin, gold, jewellery, platinum, precious stones, and silver. Packets of pictorial postcards by

printed papers post.

PARCEL POST


Available

None.



persons residing with them; coin or bullion unless for purposes of ornament; saccharin and

similar substances; tobacco packed with other goods or sweetened with leaves of other

plants.


BENIN (Republic of)

(formerly Dahomey)

LETTER POST


Available



Languages

Value up to $700 – Green Label (CN22);

Value over $700 – Parcel Despatch Note in addition to upper part of Green Label.


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Prohibitions1 Charged butane gas lighters and refills (uncharged lighters are admitted). Ordinary letters

containing articles subject to customs duty.

PARCEL POST


Available

None.


Languages




persons residing with them; counters resembling coin; spirits; weights and measures not of

the decimal system; and in addition all goods bearing indications which suggest they are of

French origin or manufacture when they are not. Charged butane gas lighters and refills


Restrictions1 Restrictions apply to the importation of books and printed matter in Arabic; mineral waters;

preserved plums, sardines and vegetables; saccharin and similar substances; spirits.

Address

(Charges for inland

conveyance are collected

from the addressees except

at Contonou).

Parcels are accepted for all places but they must be claimed at the nearest of the following

offices of which the name should, if possible, appear in the address:-

Abomey, Abomey-Calavi, Allada, Aplahoue, Athieme, Attogon, Bimbereke, Bohicon, Cotonou,

Cove, Dassa-Zoume, Djougou, Grand-Popo, Kandi, Natitingou, Nikki, Ouidah, Parakou,

Pobe, Porto-Novo R P, Sakete, Savalou, Save


BERMUDA

LETTER POST


Available



Customs Declarations Value up to $700 – Green Label (CN22);


Prohibitions1 Butane gas lighters and refills.

PARCEL POST


Available

None.



persons residing with them; butane gas lighters and refills.


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BHUTAN (Kingdom of)

LETTER POST


Available



Customs Declarations



General Conditions Same as INDIA

PARCEL POST


Available

Insurance, air only, limit $180.


Languages


English.

General Conditions Same as INDIA.


BOLIVIA (Republic of)

LETTER POST


Available





Prohibitions1 Coin, bank-notes, currency notes or securities of any kind payable to bearer, travellers’

cheques, international credit cards, platinum, gold or silver, manufactured or not, precious

stones, jewels and other valuable articles; cigarettes; flower and vegetable seeds; all books

and brochures of communist propaganda.

Restrictions1 Restrictions apply to the importation of pharmaceuticals, plants and seeds, spirits.

Customs Duty Photographs or unexposed films are subject to customs duty.

Delivery See under PARCEL POST.

PARCEL POST


Available

None.


The customs declaration forms should show the weight of the parcel in grammes.

Prohibitions1 Letters; cigarettes; cigarette lighters; cigarette papers; coin of nickel or silver; jewels and

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precious objects; worn clothing unless accompanied by a certificate of disinfection from a

competent authority and authenticated by a Bolivian Consular Officer. All books and

brochures of communist propaganda. However, the prohibition does not apply to seafood

treated with chemical heat process.

Restrictions1 Restrictions apply to the importation of pharmaceuticals, plants and seeds, spirits.

Customs Duty Photographs or unexpected films are subject to customs duty.

Invoices A commercial invoice, signed by a Bolivian Consul, is required for each parcel or

consignment of parcels. It may be sent separately or enclosed in a parcel. If enclosed in a

parcel, the customs declaration should be noted “Commercial invoice enclosed”. If the

consignment consists of several parcels, they should be numbered by the sender 1, 2, 3 and

so on and the invoice enclosed in parcel no. 1, the customs declaration relating to that parcel

being noted accordingly, and those relating to other parcels, “Commercial invoices in parcel

no. 1”.

Gift Parcels Gifts are subject to import duties and other charges in the same way as ordinary commercial

consignments.

Delivery An SMS notification of item arrival will be sent to addressees of postal items bearing valid

fixed or mobile phone number.


BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA

(formerly a state of Yugoslavia)

LETTER POST


Available




Prohibitions1 Coin, bank-notes, currency notes or securities of any kind payable to bearer, travellers’

cheques, platinum, gold or silver, manufactured or not, precious stones, jewels and other

valuable articles.

Restrictions1 See under PARCEL POST.

PARCEL POST


Available

None.


Prohibitions1 Bosnia-Herzegovinan bank notes and bills; essences for the manufacture of artificial wines

and brandies; items for the procurement of abortion; military uniforms of other States; wines

and brandies containing sulphuric acid; yeast; cashew nuts; cigarette paper; any foreign

products bearing Bosnia-Herzegovinan trade marks or false or imitated trade marks; firearms

and parts of firearms; whistles; spoons and food containers having a lead content of over

10%.

Restrictions1 Senders should ascertain import requirements from the Bosnia-Herzegovinan authorities

before posting the following: printed publications; drugs and poisons; serums and vaccines;

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medicines and patent medicines; plants, parts of plants, fruits; meat and poultry products;

wireless sets; lithographic copies of plans or maps; jewellery, precious metals and stones;

coffee; spare-parts for production machinery; musical instruments; utensils.

The following goods may be imported:

Postal items addressed to individuals may contain personal travel articles, articles

for personal use and for the use of members of family (medicines and medical

instruments, teaching material and leisure material) and articles for the use of their

household in quantities not intended for resale.

Items inherited abroad as well as articles provided for in contracts concluded

between States may be freely imported in accordance with such contracts.

Items addressed to individuals which do not exceeds US$30 in total, are exempted

from customs duty; items the total equivalent value of which exceeds US$30 in

total must pay customs duty.

Natural persons of Bosnia-Herzegovinan nationality exercising a profession are

entitled to import articles for use in that profession (equipment, reproduction

material and spare-parts); importation will be subject to special conditions.

Senders posting the above items must provide proof of the addressee’s entitlement on the

customs form to import such items. If such proof is not available, the addressee will be

required to produce such proof before delivery.

Gift Parcels Gift parcels and the relative accompanying documents should be marked “Gift Parcel” or

“Envoi Cadeau”.

Import Licences Import licences are required for many types of commercial goods. The addressee must obtain

the licences before parcels are posted. In order to facilitate customs clearance and the

calculation of the various duties, relevant invoices must be inserted in parcels. All parcels are

opened and inspected by customs.


BOTSWANA (Republic of)

(formerly Bechuanaland Protectorate)

The following are among the more important places in Botswana (formerly Bechuanaland Protectorate):

Francistown, Gaborone, Ghanzi, Kanye, Kasane, Kazungula, Lobatsi, Machaneng, Mahalapye, Maun, Mochudi, Molepolole,

Palapye, Ramoutsa, Tsabong

LETTER POST


Available





Prohibitions1 Charged butane gas lighters and refills (uncharged lighters are admitted); honey; printed

matter relating to football pools; bank notes and other securities. Packets of more than six

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pictorial postcards are prohibited from importation by printed papers post.

Restrictions1 Restrictions apply to the importation of - Bees, leeches and silkworms, parasites and

destroyers of noxious insects intended for the control of these insects and exchanged

between officially recognised institutions; cheeses; cigarettes; offensive weapons of every

kind and articles bearing a resemblance or capable of conversion to a weapon, including

pocket knives and toy pistols; plants and seeds; serums and vaccines; spirits; yeast.

Import Licences Import licences are required for many classes of goods and senders are advised to confirm

before posting a packet that the necessary licence has been obtained by the addressees.

Customs Duty Advertising matter is subject to customs duty.

Address Correspondence should include a P.O. Box number in the address as there is no street/house

delivery.



Available

None.

Customs Declarations Parcel Despatch Note. Declarations must show the current value of the finished articles in the

open market at the time of despatch.


persons residing with them; articles produced by prison labour; bullion; charged butane gas

lighters and refills (uncharged lighters are admitted); coin; honey and old bee-keeping

appliances; oilskins and similar oiled goods; precious stones.

Restrictions1 Restrictions apply to the importation of – articles bearing a resemblance or capable of

conversion to a weapon, including pocket knives and toy pistols; bees, leeches and

silkworms, parasites and destroyers of noxious insects intended for the control of these

insects and exchanged between officially recognised institutions; cheeses; cigarettes and

unmanufactured leaf tobacco; military uniforms and equipment; plants and seeds; serum;

vaccine and similar preparations; spirits; worn clothing; yeast.

Invoices The addressee must produce a certified invoice in respect of any commercial parcel. The

sender should forward the invoice separately from the parcel.

Packing and Marking In addition to the general packing and marking regulations for celluloid and cinematograph

and photograph films, all parcels for Kasane and Kazugula containing articles made wholly or

partly of celluloid must bear a label clearly marked CELLULOID.

Import Licences Import licences are required for many classes of goods and senders are advised to confirm

before posting a parcel that the necessary licence has been obtained by the addressees.

Licences are not required in respect of bona-fide gift parcels not exceeding $20 in value, nor

5 kg in weight.

Wharfage Dues Wharfage dues may be levied on the parcels at the time of delivery.

Delivery Parcels should include a P.O. Box number in the address. Such parcels are not delivered, but

the addressees are notified of their arrival and are required to arrange for their collection.


BRAZIL (Federative Republic of)

LETTER POST

15


Available



Languages



Portuguese, Spanish or French, as well as English.

Customs Clearance Fees See under PARCEL POST.

Prohibitions1 Alcoholic beverages, coin, bank-notes, currency notes or securities of any kind payable to

bearer, travellers' cheques, platinum, gold or silver, manufactured or not, bronze, nickel, or

other valuable metals, precious stones, jewels and other valuable articles; primary

educational books not written in Portuguese; postage stamps except in registered letters.

Canes, umbrellas or other items containing concealed swords. Pharmaceutical products,

handcuffs and ferules, and stationery items. Butane gas lighters. Publications (newspaper,

books, periodicals, pamphlets, engravings etc) which are immoral, subversive or attack

national security as well as correspondence bearing signs or drawings of that nature.

Ordinary and registered letters containing articles subject to customs duty. Radioactive

material. Electronic smoking devices (known as electronic cigarettes, e-cigarettes, e-ciggies

and the like), including all their accessories and refills.

Restrictions1 Restrictions apply to the importation of medicines, plants including bulbs and seeds. Any

postal items containing medicaments must bear the detailed information about the

composition on the outside of the packing, so that such items can be handled appropriately

by postal staff and health authorities. Importation of used consumer goods are prohibited,

except under the following circumstances :

Articles intended for charitable organisations recognised by the

Brazilian Government as entities serving the public interest;

Unaccompanied baggage for personal use, provided that the owner has

it cleared through customs upon his arrival in Brazil.

Importation into Brazil of cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, pipes and any other smoking product,

whether or not derived from tobacco is prohibited. This prohibition applies to any commercial

transaction involving transmission of such products by post, and the sending of any type of

sample or promotional gift containing the aforementioned products. Only items classed as

gifts are authorised. In this connection, it should be noted that items of this kind sent by a

company do not fall within the category of gifts.

PARCEL POST


Available

Insurance, air only, limit $700.


Languages


Portuguese, Spanish or French, as well as English.

Customs Clearance Fees This fee is called "Fee for Postal Dispatch". A fee of 12 Brazilian reals (BRL) is to be paid by

the addressee of the postal item that is taxed by the Brazilian Customs. A customs document

called a Simplified Taxation Note (STN) is used to collect this import tax.

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Prohibitions1 Letters; alcoholic beverages; cotton seed and unginned cotton; raw cotton and cotton waste

unless accompanied by a certificate of disinfection from a competent authority; postage

stamps; precious stones; primary educational books not written in Portuguese. Butane gas

lighters; coins, jewellery; salted or smoked meat, bones and other foodstuffs of animal origin.

Canes, umbrellas or other items containing concealed swords. Pharmaceutical products,

handcuffs and ferules, and stationery items. Gold, platinum, silver, bronze, nickel and other

valuable metals or valuable articles. Publications (newspaper, books, periodicals,

pamphlets, engravings etc) which are immoral, subversive or attack national security as well

as correspondence bearing signs or drawings of that nature. Radioactive material. Electronic

smoking devices (known as electronic cigarettes, e-cigarettes, e-ciggies and the like),

including all their accessories and refills.

Restrictions1 Restrictions apply to the importation of bees; chemicals and medicines; foodstuffs; plants,

including bulbs and seeds; saccharin and similar substances. Import permits are required for

all classes of goods. A fine equal to 100 percent of the c.i.f. value of the goods is imposed on

parcels for which no import licences are received. (See also invoice).

Importation into Brazil of cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, pipes and any other smoking product,

whether or not derived from tobacco is prohibited. This prohibition applies to any commercial

transaction involving transmission of such products by post, and the sending of any type of

sample or promotional gift containing the aforementioned products. Only items classed as

gifts are authorised. In this connection, it should be noted that items of this kind sent by a

company do not fall within the category of gifts.

Address "Poste Restante" may not be used as an address. Every parcel addressed to a bank or other

agent of the person for whom it is intended must bear both on the parcel and on the despatch

papers the full name and address of the ultimate consignee as well as the Agent's name and

address.

Invoices Five copies of the commercial invoice are required for every commercial parcel or

consignment of parcels posted at the same time to one addressee. Before being sent to

Brazil these copies either accompanied by a certificate of origin, or certified by a Chamber of

Commerce, together with the import licence (or exchange cover certificate) and the parcel

post receipt, must be presented to the Brazilian Consulate for consular visa to be affixed on

the invoices.

Gift Parcels No duty is charged and no import licence required for parcels valued at less than 5 US

dollars. Above this value full duty and other charges are payable. An import licence or

certificate of exchange cover must be obtained by the addressee and a copy of the document

enclosed in the parcel.

Sealing Parcels should be sealed with a distinctive device.

Delivery Parcels are not delivered to the place of address. Addressees are notified of the arrival of

parcels and are advised to collect them from the post office of destination. Any customs dues

or any charges for handling and warehousing which may be payable are collected from the

addressees when the parcels are handed over.

Parcels Containing

Medicaments

Postal articles containing medicaments will not be cleared by Customs unless accompanied

by a prescription from the attendant Brazilian doctor. This prescription should be on a

chemist's form, bearing the name, private address or office of the doctor, his registration

number with the National Medical Council and a Portuguese translation of the instructions, as

necessary. Since Brazilian taxation law does not permit the partial customs clearance of an

item, postal parcels containing medicaments and not satisfying the conditions will be returned

to the senders, if abandoned, treated as undelivered items. Such parcels must also bear the

detailed information about the composition of medicaments on the outside of the packing, to

facilitate processing of the parcels by postal staff and health authorities.


17

BRITISH ANTARCTIC (Grahamland, South Orkneys, South Shetlands) - Same as FALKLAND ISLANDS and FALKLAND

ISLANDS DEPENDENCIES

BRITISH HONDURAS - See BELIZE

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

LETTER POST


Available

(1) Insured letters, air only, limit $3,800. (2) Printed papers. (3) Small packets. (4)



Value over $700 – 2 copies of Parcel Despatch Note in addition to upper part of Green Label.

Prohibitions1 Charged butane gas lighters and refills.

Restrictions1 Restrictions apply to the importation of plants and seeds. Agricultural and veterinary products,

drugs, insecticides, medicines, etc whether consigned to commercial firms or private

individuals are delivered only against the production of an import permit. Plants and parts of

plants, seeds, etc are subject to a permit issued by the Department of Agriculture, Brunei

Darussalam which must be obtained before they are imported. Brunei dollar notes and

currency notes of India and Indonesia may be sent to a bank in Brunei Darussalam

authorised to receive them.

PARCEL POST


Available

Insurance, air and surface, limit $3,800; COD.



persons residing with them; charged butane gas lighters and refills.

Restrictions1 Same as for LETTER POST.

Invoices A certified invoice is required for all parcels other than those sent to private individuals, and a

parcel should be marked on the address side "Invoice enclosed". Exceptionally, where a

number of parcels are posted in one batch by the same sender to the same addressee, the

parcels should be numbered 1, 2, 3, etc and the invoice should be enclosed in parcel No. 1.

The remaining parcels should be endorsed "Invoice enclosed in parcel No. 1".

SMS Notification of Arrival An SMS notification of item arrival will be sent to addressees of small packets, parcels and

EMS items bearing valid mobile phone number.


BULGARIA (People's Republic of)

LETTER POST

18


Available



Languages




Prohibitions1 No documents, printed matter, photographs, films, recording of music may be sent by post, if

they contain matter contrary to Bulgarian laws and customs. Musical cards, items containing

used linen, clothing, footwear, bed coverings and linen. Ordinary and registered letters

containing articles subject to customs duty. Coins, bank notes, currency notes or securities of

any kind payable to bearer, travellers' cheques, platinum, gold or silver, whether

manufactured or not, precious stones, jewels or other valuable articles.

In compliance with Bulgarian postal legislation, it is prohibited to insert the following articles in

international postal items:

Narcotics, psychotropic substances, anesthetics, toxic materials;

Arms and ammunition, explosive, flammable or other hazardous materials;

Obscene or immoral articles;

Articles which, by their nature or their packing, may endanger the life or health of

postal officials or other persons, or soil or damage other items or postal

equipment;

Religious materials connected with prohibited or unregistered sects or

organisations;

Movable cultural monuments without a permit or a certificate;

Coins, banknotes, currency notes or securities of any kind payable to bearer,

travellers’ cheques, platinum, gold or silver, whether manufactured or not,

precious stones, jewels or other valuable articles in uninsured postal items

PARCEL POST


Available

Express (Air parcels only).


Languages

Parcel Despatch Note. In the case of a gift parcel each declaration as well as the parcel itself,

must be conspicuously marked "Gift Parcel".



persons residing with them; charged butane gas lighters and refills (uncharged lighters are

admitted and should be declared as such on the Customs Declaration forms); saccharin.

See also under LETTER POST.

Restrictions1 Restrictions apply to the importation of cigarette papers; dyes; medicines; plants and parts of

plants; postage stamps; white paper; linen and used clothing are admitted only if

accompanied by a certificate of disinfection issued by a medical authority. The importation of

articles in hermetically sealed boxes is admitted only if the contents are visible.

Invoices An invoice or a copy must be enclosed in the parcel.

19


BURKINA FASO

(formerly Republic of Upper Volta)

LETTER POST


Available



Languages




Prohibitions1 Coin; articles of gold, platinum or silver, jewellery; precious stones; currency notes; charged

butane gas lighters and refills (uncharged lighters are admitted). Ordinary letters containing

articles subject to customs duty.

Packing Cinematograph films must be packed in airtight tin boxes.

Delivery See under PARCEL POST.

PARCEL POST


Available

Insurance, surface only, limit $620 (See note below).


Languages




persons residing with them; counters resembling coin; weight and measures not of the

decimal system; and, in addition, all goods bearing indications which suggest they are of

French origin or manufacture when they are not; charged butane gas lighters and refills


Restrictions1 Restrictions apply to the importation of - Books and printed matter in Arabic; mineral waters;

preserved plums; sardines and vegetables; saccharin and similar substances; spirits.

Address Parcels are accepted for all places, but they must be claimed at the nearest of the following

offices of which the name should, if possible, appear in the address:

*Banfora, *Batie, *Bobo-Dioulasso, Boromo, *Dedougou, *Diebougou, *Dori, *Fada

N'Gourma, *Gaoua, *Kaya, *Koudougou, Leo, Nouna, *Ouagadougou R.P., *Ouahigouya,

PO, Tenkodogo, *Tougan

Delivery All postal items must bear complete addresses to facilitate delivery. It is also desirable to

include the addressee's mobile telephone number and e-mail address on parcels and

registered items.

Insurance Parcels are accepted for insurance only for those places mentioned above which are marked

with an asterisk (*).


20

BURUNDI (Republic of)

LETTER POST


Available




Languages




Prohibitions1 Gold jewellery, platinum, precious stones, silver, coins and currency notes in registered items;

bearer securities over 50 francs in value in unregistered postal items.



Available

Express (Air Parcel Only).


Languages




persons residing with them; bearer securities over 50 francs in value; newspapers,

publications or works forbidden by the Government; alcoholic beverages with absinthe as a

base.

Restrictions1 Restrictions apply to the importation of saccharin, and similar products. Import licences may

be required for some classes of goods.

Invoices An invoice may be required for each commercial parcel or consignment of commercial

parcels for the same address; and senders are recommended to satisfy themselves as to the

need for fulfilling this requirement before parcels are posted.
