Last updated: August 2026
This Prohibited & Restricted Goods Policy explains which products FlipShip may review, which goods we will not support and the rules that apply before you use FlipShip for products requiring additional shipping checks.
This Policy forms part of our Terms & Conditions.
1. About this policy
FLIPSHIP LTD, trading as FlipShip, provides reviewed shipping support for retailers and other businesses.
Some products can require more than a standard parcel service because of their contents, classification, packaging, quantity or destination.
FlipShip therefore does not provide unrestricted access to regulated shipping.
Where prior review is required, the relevant product and shipping setup must be accepted by FlipShip before you use the service.
2. Approval may be specific to your setup
An approval may apply only to particular:
- products;
- product classifications;
- formulations or contents;
- packaging configurations;
- quantities;
- parcel sizes or weights;
- collection addresses;
- destinations;
- courier services;
- transport methods; or
- shipping routes.
You must not assume that approval for one product or setup applies to another.
If a relevant part of your approved setup changes, you must tell FlipShip before shipping the affected product.
This includes changes to:
- ingredients or contents;
- manufacturer or supplier;
- product classification;
- SDS or other supporting documentation;
- product size or volume;
- packaging;
- quantity per parcel;
- parcel weight or dimensions;
- collection address;
- destination; or
- intended shipping route.
3. Products FlipShip may review
Products we may be able to review include:
- safety matches;
- perfume and fragrance products;
- reed diffusers;
- room sprays;
- aerosols;
- essential oils;
- fragrance oils;
- candles;
- mixed gift sets; and
- other gift, home, fragrance or lifestyle products that may require additional shipping checks.
This list is not a guarantee that a product can be supported.
Whether support is available depends on the individual product and shipping setup.
A product may be suitable for one quantity, courier or destination but not another.
4. Prohibited goods
FlipShip will not knowingly support goods that are illegal, unsafe, deliberately misdeclared or prohibited for the proposed shipping service.
This includes:
- illegal goods;
- stolen goods;
- counterfeit goods;
- goods prohibited by applicable law;
- goods prohibited by the relevant courier or shipping service;
- deliberately concealed or misdeclared goods;
- products supported by knowingly false or misleading information;
- goods that present an unacceptable transport risk;
- goods packed in an unsafe or unsuitable way;
- products that FlipShip has specifically confirmed cannot be supported; and
- goods outside the scope of the relevant approved shipping service.
FlipShip may also decline any product or shipment that we reasonably consider unsuitable for our service.
5. Restricted goods
A restricted product is not necessarily prohibited.
It may instead require additional review before we can confirm whether it can be supported.
Restricted products may include:
- Dangerous Goods;
- Limited Quantity goods;
- Excepted Quantity goods;
- flammable products;
- alcohol-based products;
- perfumes and fragrances;
- reed diffusers;
- room sprays;
- essential or fragrance oils;
- aerosols;
- safety matches;
- batteries or products containing batteries;
- liquids;
- chemicals; and
- mixed gift sets.
Depending on the product, additional requirements may include:
- product information;
- an SDS or MSDS;
- classification information;
- packaging checks;
- quantity limits;
- marks or labels;
- documentation;
- courier acceptance;
- destination checks; or
- route-specific requirements.
Dangerous-goods requirements differ according to transport mode: road carriage is governed by ADR-based rules in Great Britain, while separate rules apply to sea and air transport.
6. Dangerous Goods
Some products are regulated as Dangerous Goods for transport.
They must not be treated as ordinary parcels simply because they are commonly sold in retail shops.
Where regulated shipping applies, FlipShip may need to confirm matters such as:
- transport classification;
- packaging;
- permitted quantities;
- marks and labels;
- documentation;
- collection location;
- destination; and
- available courier service.
UK government guidance confirms that classification affects how dangerous goods must be packaged, marked, labelled and carried.
A regulated product must only be submitted using the setup and shipping process confirmed by FlipShip.
7. Safety Data Sheets and product information
Some products may require an SDS or MSDS as part of our review.
This may include products such as:
- perfumes;
- fragrance products;
- reed diffusers;
- room sprays;
- oils;
- aerosols;
- liquids;
- chemicals; or
- mixed gift sets.
An SDS is not necessarily required for every product we review.
For example, a product may instead require different classification, testing or supporting information.
Where documentation is requested, you must provide information that is accurate, current and relevant to the product being shipped.
If documentation is:
- missing;
- outdated;
- incomplete;
- inconsistent; or
- clearly unsuitable,
we may pause the review or ask for further information.
8. Packaging requirements
We may refuse or pause support if packaging is unsuitable for the proposed shipment.
Examples include parcels that are:
- poorly packed;
- damaged;
- leaking;
- inadequately sealed;
- overfilled;
- missing required marks or labels;
- packed differently from the reviewed setup;
- outside agreed size or weight limits; or
- otherwise unsuitable for handling or transport.
You are responsible for preparing the physical parcel correctly and following the packaging and labelling instructions applicable to the approved setup.
9. Mixed gift sets
Mixed gift sets can require additional review because a single parcel may contain several different product types.
For example, a gift set might contain a combination of:
- fragrance;
- matches;
- candles;
- sprays;
- liquids;
- oils; or
- aerosols.
You must tell us what is contained in the complete gift set, including the relevant quantities and packaging.
Approval of one item within a gift set does not automatically approve the complete set.
10. Destination and route restrictions
A product that can be supported to one destination may not necessarily be supportable to another.
UK Mainland may be supported as standard for approved setups.
Other destinations may require separate checks, including:
- Northern Ireland;
- Channel Islands;
- Isle of Man;
- Isle of Wight;
- Scottish Highlands;
- Scottish Islands;
- other offshore or island destinations;
- Europe; and
- other international destinations.
Routes involving ferry, sea or air transport may also have different requirements.
Government guidance confirms that road, sea and air transport are subject to different dangerous-goods regimes.
Additional requirements may include:
- different packaging;
- additional documentation;
- Dangerous Goods declarations;
- customs information;
- courier approval; or
- use of a different transport service.
FlipShip may decline a destination where an appropriate shipping route is not available.
11. Courier acceptance
FlipShip approval does not override a courier's own rules.
Courier:
- accepted-goods lists;
- restrictions;
- routes;
- service availability; and
- operational requirements
may change.
A courier may refuse, hold, delay, return or otherwise decline a shipment in accordance with its own requirements.
Courier acceptance is therefore not guaranteed.
We may also suspend support for a particular courier or route where its requirements change.
12. Misdeclared or concealed goods
You must not deliberately misdescribe, conceal or under-declare goods.
Examples include:
- declaring regulated goods as ordinary goods;
- hiding restricted products within another parcel;
- failing to declare all items in a gift set;
- providing a false product description;
- providing an incorrect classification;
- deliberately providing incorrect quantities;
- deliberately providing inaccurate weights or dimensions;
- sending a different product from the one reviewed; or
- using an approval or label for a different product or destination.
The consignor has important responsibilities for correct classification, marking and packaging of dangerous goods.
Misuse of this kind may result in immediate suspension or termination of FlipShip services.
13. Your responsibilities
You are responsible for ensuring that the information you provide is accurate, complete and up to date.
You are also responsible for ensuring that products submitted through FlipShip are:
- legal to sell and supply;
- accurately described;
- correctly packed;
- within any approved quantity;
- consistent with the information supplied during review;
- being sent to an approved destination where approval is required; and
- accompanied by any marks, labels or documentation required for the approved setup.
Where regulated goods are involved, you must ensure that relevant staff, contractors or fulfilment providers follow the instructions supplied for those shipments.
FlipShip is entitled to rely on the information you provide when reviewing a product and supporting a shipment.
14. What may happen if the rules are not followed
Where a shipment is prohibited, unsafe, unapproved, misdeclared or outside an approved setup, FlipShip may:
- refuse the shipment;
- cancel or prevent use of a label;
- pause shipment processing;
- suspend an account;
- terminate access to the service;
- refuse future support;
- require the product or setup to be reviewed again;
- pass on applicable courier or third-party charges; or
- notify a courier or relevant authority where necessary or legally required.
The courier or relevant authority may also take its own action.
Incorrect Dangerous Goods shipments can lead to operational action as well as regulatory enforcement; official UK guidance notes that breaches can result in penalties and, in serious cases, prosecution.
15. No guarantee of support
A Product Review does not guarantee that FlipShip will approve a product or shipment.
We may refuse, limit, pause or withdraw support where:
- information is incomplete;
- documentation is inadequate;
- packaging is unsuitable;
- quantities fall outside the supported setup;
- a destination is unavailable;
- a courier will not accept the product;
- the route is unsuitable;
- a safety or compliance concern arises;
- applicable rules change;
- courier requirements change; or
- the shipment differs materially from the setup previously reviewed.
Where practical, we will explain what additional information or change is required.
16. Relationship with our Terms
This Policy should be read alongside our:
- Terms & Conditions;
- Privacy Policy; and
- any shipping instructions or approval information supplied to you by FlipShip.
If there is a conflict between this Policy and our Terms & Conditions, the Terms & Conditions will take priority, unless we expressly agree otherwise in writing.
17. Changes to this Policy
We may update this Policy to reflect changes to:
- our services;
- courier requirements;
- supported products;
- shipping routes;
- applicable transport requirements; or
- our operational processes.
The latest version will be published on this page.
The Last updated date will show when the Policy was most recently revised.
18. Contact us
If you are unsure whether a product can be supported, do not send it using FlipShip before asking us.
The best first step is to submit a Free Product Review.
For other questions about this Policy, contact:
FLIPSHIP LTD
Trading as:
FlipShip
Company number:
17372844
Registered office:
4 Swallow Close
Milford
Godalming
England
GU8 5DJ
Email:
info@flip-ship.com
Website:
www.flip-ship.com