Screening restricted parcel contents
Lithium batteries, dangerous goods and other restricted products require screening before acceptance. Canada Post rules do not establish another carrier’s acceptance policy.
NOVEMBER 5, 2026 EDITION · PRACTICAL FIELD NOTES
Describe the contents before asking for transport
A plain cardboard box can contain ordinary goods or a product needing specialized review. The outside does not determine suitability. Provide the actual product description and relevant manufacturer information rather than call it only a small package. This website does not advertise acceptance of dangerous goods, medical shipments, temperature-controlled products or other specialized categories. Selecting a service or submitting a request is not an approval to ship them.
Separate product identification from carrier acceptance
Transport Canada places dangerous-goods classification and preparation responsibilities on the consignor. That work requires appropriate competence; an inquiry form cannot classify a product. Consult the official reference and qualified advice where needed. Correct identification still does not establish that a particular operator or service accepts the shipment. Another carrier’s published rules, an old label or a marketplace description do not establish acceptance here.
Prepare a useful screening brief
Describe any battery, liquid, aerosol, chemical or other feature needing review, approximate quantity and package format. State whether the goods are new, used, damaged or returned. Explain temperature, orientation or handling requirements. These questions identify what needs assessment; they are not a packing recipe, exemption decision or promise to accept the listed categories. Do not remove markings or omit a relevant feature to make a parcel look ordinary.
Review changes and wait for a decision
A return may have opened packaging, damage or customer repacking. Describe its current condition rather than rely on the original outbound record. Keep unapproved goods separate from an ordinary collection. Ask whether a review is possible and what information is needed before release. Do not use this site as an emergency channel for leakage or an immediate safety concern; follow the appropriate procedures and seek qualified help. Keep confidential records and sensitive personal information out of the public inquiry.
Check your brief
- Actual product description and relevant features.
- Quantity, packaging and current condition.
- Special handling requirements identified.
- Explicit review and acceptance before release.
Before the first dispatch
- Disclose contents before requesting a quote
- Flag batteries, liquids and regulated items
- Obtain explicit acceptance or use an authorized provider
A worksheet for the handoff
Download the blank CSV worksheet and adapt it to your process. Downloading sends no worksheet data. Keep completed recipient information in your approved systems, out of the public inquiry form.
Practical questions
Does selecting a service approve restricted goods?
No. Contents require explicit review and acceptance for the proposed movement. Do not include unapproved goods in a collection.
Does an old label establish acceptance?
No. Describe actual contents and current condition, then obtain the appropriate review and acceptance.
Pricing, hours, areas, integrations and acceptance are all subject to confirmation. Fragile, battery-containing and restricted shipments must be declared and reviewed before acceptance.
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Ready to plan the next round?
Tell us about your locations, volumes, schedule and exceptions. We can help clarify the request; any service proposal must still be confirmed.