What you can't ship from Japan to Senegal
32 Japan Post import rules · verified · source: Japan Post
Short answer: Japan Post lists 15 item types that cannot be sent to Senegal and 17 that can be sent only under conditions. Separately, Japan Post applies 278 carrier-wide rules to every destination, covering dangerous goods and items banned from international mail — perfume, aerosols and lithium batteries among them. Rules last verified against Japan Post on August 1, 2026.
- Prohibited
- 15
- Conditional
- 17
- Carrier-wide rules
- 278
These are the destination rules Japan Post publishes for Senegal. They do not repeat the items Japan Post refuses to every country — those are on one shared page, linked below. A rule marked conditional allows the item only when the stated conditions hold; whether your product qualifies is what the ShipMate GO app works out before you book.
Alcohol
1 prohibited · 2 conditional
- Prohibited
Alcoholic Beverages (specific prohibited categories)
Certain categories of alcoholic beverages are prohibited from shipment to Senegal, including appetite-stimulating or digestive alcoholic drinks, beverages containing alcohols other than ethyl alcohol, drinks containing narcotics or harmful substances, absinthe and similar spirits, beverages with 60% or more alcohol content, mint liqueurs prohibited under Senegalese law, and extracts used in alcohol production.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 22
- Conditional
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages are conditionally permitted for shipment to Senegal via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. Import is allowed only when the relevant authorities of the destination country have granted permission.
Conditions and documents
- Permission obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 22
- Conditional
Distilled spirits
Distilled spirits may only be shipped to Senegal if the sender or shipment has obtained authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country. This condition applies across regular, parcel, and EMS shipping types.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 22
Books & printed matter
2 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Newspapers and printed matter relating to lotteries or horse racing tips
Newspapers and printed materials — whether open or banded — concerning lottery draws or horse racing predictions are prohibited, unless the publication consists of news addressed to readers in its own country and does not carry a promotional character directed at other countries.
Details and exceptions
- Newspaper consists of news addressed to readers in its own country and does not have a promotional character directed at other countries → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Publications prohibited by the laws of the destination country
Newspapers, magazines, and other publications that are prohibited under the laws and regulations of Senegal may not be shipped via Regular, Parcel, or EMS services. Only publications specifically banned by Senegalese law are restricted.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Conditional
Printed matter (Arabic-language)
Printed matter in Arabic is subject to censorship by the relevant authorities of the destination country (Senegal). Depending on the outcome of that censorship, the item may be confiscated or returned to sender.
Conditions and documents
- Printed matter is in Arabic → Subject to censorship by relevant authorities; may be confiscated or returned to sender
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
Chemicals
1 prohibited · 2 conditional
- Prohibited
White Phosphorus Matches
White phosphorus matches are prohibited from shipment to Senegal via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. This prohibition applies specifically to matches manufactured using white (yellow) phosphorus.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 36
- Conditional
Distillation apparatus
Distillation apparatus may only be shipped to Senegal if the sender or recipient has obtained authorization from the relevant authorities in the destination country. Shipment is conditional on holding this official permission.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 84
- Conditional
Saccharin
Saccharin is conditionally permitted to Senegal only when the shipment is addressed to a pharmacist or beverage manufacturer in the destination country and has received authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country.
Conditions and documents
- Shipment is addressed to a pharmacist or beverage manufacturer in Senegal AND authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Senegal)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
Food
1 prohibited · 2 conditional
- Prohibited
Canned fish (boxes exceeding 1 kilogram)
Boxes of canned fish are prohibited when the total weight of the box exceeds 1 kilogram. This restriction applies across Regular, Parcel, and EMS shipping services to Senegal.
Details and exceptions
- box containing canned fish with total weight exceeding 1 kilogram → prohibited
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 16
- Conditional
Beverage extracts
Beverage extracts are conditionally permitted for shipment to Senegal via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. They are allowed only when the sender or shipment has obtained authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Senegal) → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 21
- Conditional
Natural mineral water
Natural mineral water may only be shipped to Senegal if authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Senegal) → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 22
Weapons
2 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Ammunition and Matches
Charged metallic percussion caps and cartridge cases for portable firearms, non-explosive artillery fuse materials, and matches are prohibited from shipment to Senegal via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 36
- Prohibited
Swords and edged weapons
Swords and edged weapons are prohibited from shipment to Senegal via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. No exceptions are indicated in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
- Conditional
Firearms and related war materials
Firearms, cartridges, gunpowder, substances for manufacturing gunpowder, and war materials may only be shipped to Senegal if the recipient country's government has granted permission.
Conditions and documents
- Government of the destination country (Senegal) has granted permission → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
Currency & valuables
2 prohibited
- Prohibited
Articles Resembling Currency
Items that could easily be mistaken for currency are prohibited from shipment to Senegal via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This restriction covers any article whose appearance closely resembles genuine coins or banknotes.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Registered ordinary mail containing valuables
Registered ordinary mail items containing coins, banknotes, currency, bearer securities, traveler's checks, platinum, gold or silver (worked or unworked), pearls, gemstones, or other valuables are prohibited for regular shipments to Senegal. No such registered mail enclosing these contents may be sent via the regular shipping channel.
Medicine & supplements
2 conditional
- Conditional
Narcotics
Narcotics such as opium, morphine, and cocaine are only permitted when sent to a public authority in Senegal for medical or scientific purposes and when the relevant authorities of the destination country have granted approval. All other shipments of narcotics are prohibited.
Conditions and documents
- Sent to a public authority in the destination country for medical or scientific purposes AND approval has been obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country → permitted
Documents: Authorization/permit from the relevant authorities of Senegal
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
- Conditional
Pharmaceuticals / Medicinal Drugs
Pharmaceuticals for human medicine are conditionally permitted provided an import permit issued by the Direction de la pharmacie is attached; pharmaceuticals for veterinary medicine are conditionally permitted provided an import permit issued by the Direction de la pharmacie et de la sante et des productions animales is attached.
Conditions and documents
- Human medicine pharmaceuticals with import permit from Direction de la pharmacie attached → permitted
- Veterinary medicine pharmaceuticals with import permit from Direction de la pharmacie et de la sante et des productions animales attached → permitted
Documents: Import permit from Direction de la pharmacie (for human medicine pharmaceuticals); Import permit from Direction de la pharmacie et de la sante et des productions animales (for veterinary medicine pharmaceuticals)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 30
Plants & animals
1 conditional
- Conditional
Plants (seedlings of specified species)
Seedlings of banana, coffee, cocoa, sugarcane, and cotton may only be shipped to Senegal with prior authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country. No other plants are addressed by this restriction.
Conditions and documents
- Seedlings of banana, coffee, cocoa, sugarcane, or cotton with authorization from the relevant authorities of Senegal → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Senegal)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 06
Other items
6 prohibited · 6 conditional
- Prohibited
Articles contrary to public order and morals
Articles contrary to public order and morals are prohibited from shipment to Senegal via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This applies to items deemed offensive to public decency or social order.
- Prohibited
Articles related to contraception
Books, printed materials, drawings, badges, and advertisements related to contraception are prohibited from being shipped to Senegal via Regular and EMS services. This prohibition covers all such contraception-related printed and promotional items.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Mail bearing inscriptions contrary to public order or morality
Mail items that bear unlawful, threatening, or public-order-violating inscriptions or markings on their exterior are prohibited from shipment to Senegal. This applies to both Regular and EMS shipping.
- Prohibited
Rough Diamonds
Rough (uncut) diamonds are prohibited from being shipped to Senegal via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This restriction applies to unprocessed diamond stones in their raw form.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 71
- Prohibited
Trademark-counterfeited articles
Articles bearing a counterfeit trademark are prohibited from shipment to Senegal via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This covers goods bearing the Red Cross emblem (white background with red cross), goods whose trademark includes the words 'Croix Rouge' or 'Croix de Genève', and goods bearing a false indication that they were manufactured in France.
- Prohibited
Weighing scales and measuring rulers using non-decimal unit systems
Weighing scales and measuring rulers (rules) that use unit systems other than the decimal (metric) system are prohibited from being shipped to Senegal via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. Decimal-system measuring instruments are not covered by this restriction.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 90
- Conditional
Artificial mineral water
Artificial mineral water is conditionally permitted when shipped in bottles or siphons, provided the container bears the clearly indelible label 'eaux artificielles'. Shipments not meeting these packaging and labeling requirements are not permitted.
Conditions and documents
- Shipped in bottles or siphons AND container bears the indelible label 'eaux artificielles' → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 22
- Conditional
Gold
Gold is permitted for shipment to Senegal only with authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country. Gold jewelry intended for the personal use of the addressee is exempt from this requirement.
Conditions and documents
- Gold jewelry intended for the personal use of the addressee → permitted
- Authorization obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Senegal)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 71
- Conditional
Instruments for manufacturing currency/coins
Instruments used for the manufacture of currency or coins may only be shipped to Senegal if the sender has obtained authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Senegal) → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Senegal)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 84
- Conditional
Motion Picture Film
Motion picture film may only be shipped to Senegal if the sender has obtained prior authorization from the destination country's Ministry of the Interior (Ministere de l'interieur). Shipments without this permission are not permitted.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the Ministry of the Interior of Senegal (Ministere de l'interieur) → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the Ministry of the Interior of Senegal (Ministere de l'interieur)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 37
- Conditional
Political Propaganda Materials
The import and distribution of political propaganda materials into Senegal is permitted only with prior authorization from the country's Ministry of Information (Ministère chargé de l'information). No other conditions are stated in the source.
Conditions and documents
- Prior authorization obtained from Senegal's Ministry of Information (Ministère chargé de l'information) → permitted
Documents: Prior authorization from Senegal's Ministry of Information (Ministère chargé de l'information)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Conditional
Records (vinyl / phonograph records)
Phonograph records may only be shipped to Senegal if government authorization from the destination country has been obtained. Without such permission, the shipment is not permitted.
Conditions and documents
- Government authorization from the destination country (Senegal) has been obtained → permitted
Documents: Government authorization from the destination country (Senegal)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 85
Applies to every destination, including Senegal
Japan Post applies 278 carrier-wide rules to every country on top of the rules above — outright bans on dangerous goods such as perfume, aerosols and lighters, and conditions on items such as lithium batteries.
Not sure about a specific item for Senegal?
This page lists Japan Post's rules. The ShipMate GO app checks your actual item against them, asks the one or two questions a conditional rule needs, and tells you the outcome before anything is charged. Sending a parcel from Japan? Booking is free and you pay once, after weighing. Shopping from abroad with Shop for Me? Anything that can't ship is dropped from your order before you pay for the goods.
Common questions
- What can't I ship from Japan to Senegal?
- Japan Post's import rules for Senegal prohibit 15 item types, including Rough Diamonds; Weighing scales and measuring rulers using non-decimal unit systems; White Phosphorus Matches; Articles Resembling Currency; Canned fish (boxes exceeding 1 kilogram); Mail bearing inscriptions contrary to public order or morality; Articles contrary to public order and morals; Alcoholic Beverages (specific prohibited categories); and 7 more. On top of these, Japan Post refuses dangerous goods such as perfume, aerosols and loose lithium batteries to every destination.
- Which items can be shipped to Senegal only under conditions?
- 17 item types are allowed only when Japan Post's stated conditions are met — for example Alcohol; Saccharin; Records (vinyl / phonograph records); Pharmaceuticals / Medicinal Drugs; Printed matter (Arabic-language); Beverage extracts; Motion Picture Film; Instruments for manufacturing currency/coins; and 9 more. Whether a specific product qualifies depends on the item, which is what the ShipMate GO app checks before you book.
- Does an item that isn't listed here ship freely to Senegal?
- Not necessarily. This page lists the import rules Japan Post publishes for Senegal; an item that isn't named has no specific rule here, but it may still fall under Japan Post's carrier-wide bans or a general category such as food or medicine. Check the exact item in the ShipMate GO app, which reads these rules live and asks the follow-up questions a conditional rule needs.