Controlled Goods
In brief: Some goods can’t simply be shipped — they carry additional controls, restrictions or regulatory requirements at the border, and moving them without the right authorisations can be a criminal offence. From dual-use items and excise goods to chemicals, food and animal products, our team identifies what applies to your consignment before it moves and builds the compliance into the transport plan: 01273 426 168.
By the Courier Express customs team · Last reviewed 30 September 2026 · General information, not legal advice — always check current GOV.UK guidance for your goods.
What makes goods ’controlled’?
A controlled good is anything the UK (or the destination country) regulates beyond the standard customs declaration. The commodity code and the destination together determine what applies — which is why classification always comes first. Common categories include:
- Strategic and dual-use goods — military items, and civilian goods, software or technology with potential military applications, controlled under the UK’s strategic export control lists.
- Sanctioned destinations and entities — trade sanctions can restrict what can be sent, to whom, and what services can be supplied.
- Excise goods — alcohol, tobacco and energy products, with their own duty and movement regimes.
- Chemicals and hazardous substances — registration, notification or licensing regimes alongside dangerous-goods transport rules.
- Food, plants and animal products — sanitary and phytosanitary controls, including IPAFFS pre-notification and health certification.
- Other restricted goods — from medicines to firearms to cultural goods, each with its own authorisation route.
Why this deserves specialist attention
Controls are enforced at the border, and the consequences of getting them wrong scale quickly: goods seized or refused, movements delayed, and — for strategic export controls — criminal liability for exporting without the correct licence. ’We didn’t know it was controlled’ is not a defence.
The good news: for a business with the right support, controlled goods are entirely routine. The work is in knowing what applies — checking the commodity code against the control lists and measures for the actual route — and having the licences, certificates and declarations lined up before collection.
How Courier Express supports controlled movements
- Identifying the controls that apply to your goods and route — before anything is booked.
- Making sure the necessary licences and certificates are in place and correctly referenced on the declaration (see Import & Export Licences).
- Compliant transport for dangerous goods consignments.
- Coordinating SPS requirements — IPAFFS notifications, health certificates and border control post checks — as part of the movement.
Restricted doesn’t mean impossible
Tell us what you’re moving and where — we’ll tell you exactly what controls apply and what needs to be in place before the goods travel. No guesswork at the border.
Controlled goods questions, answered
How do I know if my goods are controlled?
Start with the commodity code — the UK Trade Tariff shows the measures, licences and restrictions attached to it for your route, and export control lists catch strategic and dual-use items. We check this for every controlled movement before it’s booked.
What happens if controlled goods move without the right licence?
At best, goods are held or refused at the border; at worst — for strategic export controls — it’s a criminal offence. The checks take far less time than the consequences.
Can ordinary commercial products be controlled?
Yes — dual-use controls exist precisely because civilian goods, software and technology can have military applications. It’s the specification that matters, not the customer.
Do you handle dangerous goods transport?
Yes — compliant dangerous goods transport is part of our haulage service, alongside the customs and documentation side.
Do food and plant products count as controlled goods?
They carry their own border controls — sanitary and phytosanitary checks, IPAFFS pre-notification and certification. We handle those as part of import clearance.
Authoritative sources
- GOV.UK — UK strategic export controls
- GOV.UK — Prohibited and restricted goods: Great Britain exports
- GOV.UK Trade Tariff commodity code service
Part of our Customs Services. Need the authorisations themselves? See Import & Export Licences.
Moving something with strings attached?
A free, no-obligation consultation with our customs specialists — practical advice on the right solution before your shipment moves.
Book a Free Customs Consultation