Items not allowed in Balikbayan Boxes

Food and Drugs

• Synthetic drugs or narcotics such as marijuana, opium, coca leaves, heroin, poppies, and the like
• Devices and apparatus designed and intended for narcotics
• Prescription drugs
• Anything designed, intended, or adapted for producing or promoting unlawful abortion; as well as printed matter that tells where and how to get, directly or indirectly, unlawful abortion
• Uncanned and perishable food products like cheese, meat, fruits, and vegetables
• Raw meat
• Any misbranded goods or foods

Unlawful, obscene merchandise

• Pirated media in discs (CDs or DVDs) and tapes (cassettes or VHS)
• Pornographic materials either written, printed, negatives, cinematographic film, photographs, engravings, lithographs, objects, paintings, drawings, or other representations of an obscene or immoral character
• Written or printed articles containing treason, rebellion, insurrection, sedition, subversion against the Philippine Government or forcible resistance to the law
• Written or printed articles containing threats to take the life of, or inflict bodily harm upon any person in the Philippines

Gambling devices or apparatus

• Roulette wheels, gambling outfits, loaded dice, marked cards machines, etc.
• Mechanical devices used in gambling or distribution of money or distribution is dependent on chance: including jackpot and pinball machines or the like
• Lottery and sweepstakes tickets, advertisements thereof, and lists of drawings therein

Chemicals

• Toxic substances such as chemicals, lubricants, paint, thinner, and varnish
• Flammable and poisonous gases or liquids
• Compounds or manufactured salt and derivatives

Dangerous items

• Firearms and weapons of war such as firearms, guns, gunpowder, ammunition, and parts thereof
• Explosives such as firecrackers, bombs, grenades, and dynamite
• Any defense articles or items with military or proliferation applications
• Bladed, sharp, and pointy objects (knives, swords, spears, and darts)

Biological Products

• Products of animal hunting like animal hide or fur
• Dead or living pets, livestock, poultry, fish, and wildlife
• All plants and seeds, soil and/or fertilizers

Machines

• Gasoline operated machines
• Grasscutters, welding machines, water pumps, air compressors
• Automobile or motorcycle in parts or in whole

Other items

• Tobacco products exceeding 2 reams of cigarettes and 50 sticks of cigar
• Alcohol and beverages containing alcohol (except for wine not exceeding 2 liters)
• Ceramic tableware and cultural artifacts or pottery
• Precious metals or alloys in any form manufactured in whole or in part (jewelry made of gold, silver, or other precious metals or alloys) (anything that does not indicate the actual fineness of quality of said metals or alloys) (trophies and medals made of the aforementioned materials)
• Commercial quantity of clothing (brand new or used) and rolls of textiles
• Personal letters, bank letters, and bills

Sending prohibited goods and regulated goods in excess of the allowable limit without the necessary permits, making false or misleading statements will be subject to forfeiture of the goods, penalties, and criminal prosecution