Customs’ Prohibition List- Paracetamol, Lizards, Water and Others

 The Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) has reviewed its import and export prohibition lists to suit Nigeria’s 2016 realities.

Here are 10 items forbidden for importation:
1) PARACETAMOL AND OTHERS

 Paracetamol cannot be imported based on NCS prohibition which says “medicament falling under headings 3003 and 3004” cannot be imported. The drugs are paracetamol, chloroquine, folic acid, vitamin B complex, multivitamins, aspirin, mist mag, penicillin ointment and intravenous fluid – with the exception of modified released formulations.

2) CARS – 15 YEARS OR OLDER According to NCS, used motor vehicles above 15 years from the year of manufacture are banned from importation.

3) SHOES, BAGS, SUITCASES
“All types of foot wears, bags and suitcases” are prohibited from importation".
However, safety shoes used in oil industries, sports shoes, canvass shoes, and all completely knocked down (CKD) blanks and parts are permitted for import.

4) RECHARGE CARDS AND VOUCHERS
No to importation of recharge cards.

5) PORK, BEEF
Importing pork and beef is forbidden in order to promote local production.

6) COCOA BUTTER, POWDER AND CAKES
There is importation ban on cocoa and its derivatives.

7) REFINED VEGETABLE OILS AND FATS
With exception of refined linseed, castor, crude vegetable oil and olive oils, refined oil and fat are banned from importation.

8) FRUIT JUICE IN RETAIL PACKS
Fruit juices cannot be imported as already packaged retail products but can be imported in industrial quantities to be packaged and sold in Nigeria.

9) WATERS
Nigerians too import water? Anyway, current laws say mineral waters and aerated waters containing added sugar or sweetening Matter or flavoured, ice snow cannot be imported. Energy or health drinks – liquid dietary supplements – e.g. power horse, red ginseng etc can be imported.

10) BALL POINT PENS
Customs prohibit the importation of ball point pens and parts including refills. The ballpoint tip can be imported.
The country is allowed to import pencils and perhaps biro pending 2018 when Ogbonnaya Onu says Nigeria would deliver on pencil production.

Some other items banned include: soaps and detergents (in retail packs only), mosquito coils, bagged cement, corrugated paper, paper boards, toilet paper, carpets and other textile floor coverings.

Others are cane or beet sugar, chemically pure sucrose, spaghetti, noodles, hollow glass bottles of a capacity exceeding 150mls, used compressors, used air conditioners, used fridge and freezer.


You may recall the importation of frozen chicken is prohibited, but be informed that live-birds and their non-hatching eggs cannot be imported.

LIZARDS CANNOT BE EXPORTED Other items that cannot be exported are Maize, Timber, raw hides and skin, scrap metals, unprocessed rubber latex and rubber lumps, artifacts and antiquities, wildlife animals classified as endangered species and their products (e.g. Crocodile; Elephant, Lizard, Eagle, Monkey, Zebra, Lion etc.) All goods imported are also forbidden for export.