USPS Adjusts Hazardous Material Handling Rules
USPS will adjust hazardous material handling rules starting July 12, designating essential oils, perfumes, and lithium battery-containing electronic products as restricted items, requiring a $7.5 surcharge and compliance declaration, or face heavy fines.
What are the key facts?
- 1Effective date: July 12, 2026
- 2Restricted items: essential oils, perfumes, lithium battery electronic products
- 3Surcharge: $7.5 per item
- 4Fine: up to $50 per item
What happened?
USPS announced that starting July 12, 2026, essential oils, perfumes, hand sanitizers, inks, and lithium battery-containing electronic products will be classified as restricted items due to significant transportation safety risks. Mailing these items will require the payment of an additional $7.5 processing fee and strict declaration; failure to declare correctly will result in fines of up to $50 per item.
What does this mean for cross-border sellers?
Sellers in beauty and electronics categories must immediately verify SKUs, assess logistics compliance, and adjust packaging systems to account for the additional fees to avoid returns or fines. Top priority: update shipping processes to ensure compliance without delay.