Royal Mail has added delivery restrictions and packaging requirements to bladed items and sharp or pointed objects which will be in force from 7 May 2024. If you are posting bladed items such as cutlery knives that you have sold on eBay via Royal Mail, these need to be sent using their ‘Age Verified Delivery Service’ only. You can purchase this service from Royal Mail Click & Drop.
You will need to ensure you comply with any restrictions set by carriers for their delivery services. You will also need to ensure you comply with prohibitions and restrictions set by eBay for your listings as described in our ‘Prohibited and Restricted Items’policies.
Please see the full notice below or on the Royal Mail site.
Thank you for selling on eBay.
Your eBay Team
Royal Mail Notice:
Bladed Items; Sharp Objects and Weapons: from 07 May 2024
Bladed items
UK destinations - see prohibitions, restrictions, and packaging guidelines below.
Prohibited Bladed Items
Hunting/combat/survival type knives, daggers, movie knives (such as Rambo or Crocodile Dundee style knives), replica fighting knives (such as Bowie knives), throwing knives, machetes, swords, fantasy knives, knives with images or words that suggest use for violence, stiletto knives, battle axes, open razors/folding razors and any similar items are prohibited and cannot be sent. Also see Weapons
Restricted Bladed Items
Prohibited Bladed Items cannot be sent. However, other Knives or Blades as defined by s141A Criminal Justice Act 1988 or ‘Bladed Products’ as defined by s41 of the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 can be sent, provided certain conditions are met. These include any knife or knife blade, including cutlery knives, bread knives, knives that can be used for hobbies and trades (for instance, utility knives and snap-off cutters, gardening, camping, lock knives, bushcraft and farming tools with a blade or any other trade tool that could commonly be described as a knife), butcher knives (including meat cleavers), felling axes and razor blades.
- These items may only be sent using the Royal Mail Tracked Age Verification service; this service is only available through Royal Mail Click & Drop
- Items must be packaged appropriately so items present no risk to employees, other postal items or recipients.
- Wrap heavy cardboard around sharp edges and points, strong enough to ensure that the contents do not pierce the outer packaging.
- Wrap each item with cushioning material and place in a suitable outer container such as a padded envelope.
- The sender's name and return address must be clearly visible on the outer packaging.
- The outer packaging must be clearly marked to indicate a bladed item is enclosed and that it must not be handed to someone aged under 18.
Note: this excludes folding pocket knives where the cutting edge of its blade does not exceed 3 inches (7.62cm) or razor blades permanently enclosed in a cartridge or housing where less than 2mm is exposed which can be sent without using Age verification service.
Please Note: It is the senders’ responsibility to ensure compliance with the law.
The following links to the legislation and guidance may assist but Royal Mail prohibitions and restrictions regarding the sending of bladed items must also be followed:
Statutory guidance: Offensive Weapons Act 2019
International destinations - not allowed in the mail
Sharp or Pointed Items (formerly Sharp Objects)
(excludes: (i) knives prohibited under UK law - see Weapons - and (ii) Bladed items). Includes, but not limited to scissors, mini chopper blades, food processor blades, sewing kits, knitting needles, syringes, chisels, piercing awls, saws, nails, pins, fishing hooks.
UK & International destinations - allowed in the mail, with packaging guidelines below:
- Package appropriately so items present no risk to employees, other postal items or recipients.
- Wrap heavy cardboard around sharp edges and points, strong enough to ensure that the contents do not pierce the outer packaging.
- Wrap each item with cushioning material and place in a suitable outer container such as a padded envelope.
- The sender's name and return address must be clearly visible on the outer packaging.
Weapons
Includes items made for the sole purpose of causing injury to a person, items adapted for use to cause injury to a person, and any item intended by the person sending or receiving it to cause injury to a person Also including, but not limited to, Section 5 firearms, CS gas, pepper sprays, tasers and stun guns, flick knives, gravity knives, disguised knives, butterfly knives, crossbows, and other items that are banned under laws applicable in the UK or the destination country.
Items that appear to be prohibited weapons may be subject to additional checks and delays.
International - not allowed in the mail
UK - not allowed in the mail
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