Date of Last Revision: March 21, 2025
This Prohibited and Restricted Inventory Policy (“Policy”) is incorporated into the Handled Terms of Service as published on Handled’s website (“Terms”). In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between this Policy and the Terms, the Terms shall govern. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Policy will have the meanings assigned to them in the Terms.
General Disclaimer
Carriers, insurance providers, and product destinations may impose additional limitations, prohibitions, or fees beyond those set by Handled. Users are solely responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable restrictions and for any costs associated with non-compliance.
Prohibited Products
For safety, legal, and operational reasons, Handled does not accept or handle the following types of inventory:
- Illegal products – Any products related to illegal activities or prohibited by law in the place of origin, the destination, or any transit locations.
- Products prohibited in the warehouse location – Any products that are illegal in the location where the Handled warehouse is located.
- Products requiring specific licenses to store or distribute, including but not limited to:
- Live plants and animals
- Alcoholic beverages
- Ammunition & firearms
- Tobacco
- Prescription pharmaceuticals
- Explosive or hazardous products
- Unique or one-of-a-kind materials
- Precious metals (e.g., gold, silver)
- Lithium battery products exceeding small lithium battery limitations – Products that must be shipped as fully regulated lithium batteries cannot be stored or shipped within the Handled network.
Handled reserves the right to refuse, return, or dispose of prohibited products at the user's expense.
Conditional Use Products
Certain types of inventory require prior written approval from Handled before being sent to any Handled location. These products have unique handling requirements, transportation restrictions, or regulatory limitations. Users must sign a product-specific addendum to the Handled Terms of Service before these products can be processed.
Failure to obtain approval in advance may result in processing delays, additional fees, or rejection of the shipment.
Conditional Use Categories:
- Inventory with specific transportation restrictions, including lithium batteries.
- High-value products or monetary equivalents, such as:
- Inventory with a replacement value over $500 per item
- Cash equivalents
- Non-conveyable products, including:
- Items exceeding 24 inches in any dimension
- Items weighing more than 70 lbs (32 kg)
- Hazardous and/or dangerous products, as defined under 49 U.S.C. 5103 and 49 CFR 172.101. Examples include:
- Aerosols and flammable liquids
- Perfumes and fragrances
- Weapons and knives
- Any product requiring a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
- Products requiring regulatory approval, certification, or licensing for handling, including:
- Products intended for internal consumption or application to a body
- Used or previously owned products
- Adult-oriented or restricted products, including:
- Any products labeled as “Adult Use Only”
- Products containing adult-themed packaging or images
- Unprotected or perishable inventory, including:
- Inventory not in protective bags and susceptible to dust or contamination
- Inventory containing perishable goods or liquids
- Fragile or specialized packaging inventory, including:
- Posters, flyers, or other products requiring rolling or specialized packaging to prevent damage
- Inventory susceptible to temperature, pressure, or humidity damage, including:
- Items that become brittle below specific temperatures
- Items that melt or degrade above specific temperatures
- Items sensitive to air transport conditions (e.g., pressure changes)
- Inventory requiring durability verification. All products must be able to pass the following tests:
- Any product must pass a 4-foot drop test onto a hard surface without damage (five drops: base, top, longest side, shortest side, and corner).
- Any product must pass a Full Minute Vigorous Shaking (FMVS) test without breakage or leakage.
Handling of Hazardous Materials (If Approved by Handled)
If Handled agrees to process or ship a Hazardous Material under regulatory exceptions (e.g., limited quantity or small lithium battery, as per 49 CFR §173.185(c)), the user must provide the following before shipment:
Required Documentation:
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS) – Must be current (not older than five years) and include:
- UN number
- Proper shipping name
- Hazard class
- Packing group
(Not required for lithium batteries.)
- Lithium Battery Requirements (if applicable):
- UN 38.3 lithium battery test summary
- Packaging description (internal & total packaging, quantity, mass, and type)
- Proof of non-hazardous classification (if required)
- Lithium part number
- Grams of lithium or watt hours (as applicable)
- Battery format (coin cell, cell, or battery)
- Quantity of batteries per packaging type
- Total net weight of batteries
- UN 38.3 Lithium battery test summary report
Handled reserves the right to reject, quarantine, or dispose of any hazardous material that does not meet these requirements or is deemed unsafe for storage or transportation.
Right to Refuse or Dispose of Inventory
Handled reserves the right to refuse, return, or dispose of any inventory at the user’s expense under the following conditions:
- The inventory violates this Policy or any applicable law.
- The inventory arrives without required pre-approval for restricted or conditional use products.
- The inventory is deemed unsafe, hazardous, or improperly packaged.
- Any required customs duties, fees, or taxes remain unpaid at the time of arrival.
Handled is not liable for any losses, damages, or costs incurred due to the refusal or disposal of inventory that does not comply with this Policy.
Compliance & Liability
- Users are solely responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
- Handled does not assume responsibility for inventory that is delayed, rejected, or disposed of due to non-compliance with this Policy.
- Any additional carrier, customs, or regulatory fees incurred due to non-compliance will be charged to the user’s account.