postalmania

Whilst perusing the USPS website today, once again viewing the list of INSANE prohibited items shiped via mail into italy, I checked into a few other countries to see what (CRAZY!) things they do not allow...ENJOY:

Jordan
Advertisements concerning treatment of venereal diseases or medicinal preparations intended to serve as preventives against those diseases

North Korea
All merchandise is prohibited.

Ecuador
All maps showing the territory of Ecuador with incorrect boundaries.

Guatemala
Police whistles.
Powder of all kinds.

Guinea
Weights and measures not of the metric system. (BASTARD GRAM!)

Canada
Used or secondhand hives or bee supplies.

Croatia
The Croatian government has instituted a temporary ban against the importation of all meat, milk, and dairy products derived from cows, goats, sheep, pigs, hogs, or other animal species that are susceptible to foot and mouth disease.

Cuba
Musical letters or cards that play a sound recording when opened.

Algeria
Pictures and printed matter of pornographic or immoral nature, or which tend to incite crime or juvenile delinquency.

Belarus (where the hell is that?)
Metallized yarn made with or made of gold thread; ornamental trimming or woven fabric made with or made of gold thread.

Brazil
Primary educational books not written in Portuguese.

Lesotho
Printed matter relating to football pools.

Madagascar
Boxes of preserved sardines weighing more than 1 kilogram.

Malawi
Aphrodisiacs

Panama
Contraceptive products, remedies, or apparatus.
Toys and dolls of all kinds.

Russia
Color copiers.

St. Lucia
Shaving brushes made in Japan.

Senegal
Artificial flowers and fruits

........most countries have approximately 5-10 prohibited imports...I now present you the list for ITALY:

Albums of any kind (of photographs, postcards, postage stamps, etc.).
Arms and weapons.
Articles of platinum or gold; jewelry; and other valuable articles unless sent as insured packages.
Artificial flowers and fruits and accessories for them.
Bells and other musical instruments and parts thereof.
Cartridge caps; cartridges.
Clocks and supplies for clocks.
Compound medicaments and medicines.
Coral mounted in any way.
Ether and chloroform.
Exposed photographic and cinematographic films.
Footwear of any kind.
Haberdashery and sewn articles of any kind, including trimmings and lace; handkerchiefs; scarves; shawls, needlework including stockings and gloves; bonnets, caps, and hats of any kind.
Hair and articles made of hair.
Human remains.
Leather goods.
Lighters and their parts, including lighter flints.
Live bees, leeches, and silkworms.
Live plants and animals.
Nutmeg, vanilla; sea salt, rock salt; saffron.
Parasites and predators of harmful insects.
Perfumery goods of all kinds (except soap).
Playing cards of any kind.
Postage stamps in sealed or unsealed letter-post shipments.
Radioactive materials.
Ribbons for typewriters.
Roasted or ground coffee and its substitutes; roasted chicory.
Saccharine and all products containing saccharine.
Salted, smoked or otherwise prepared meats; fats; and lard.
Tobacco.
Toys not made wholly of wood.
Treated skins and furs.
Weapons of any kind and spare parts for them.