---
type: restriction
id: usps-perishable-items
asset: shipping-restrictions-by-class
title: "Perishable Items — Postal shipping restrictions by item category"
sources:
  - https://www.usps.com/ship/shipping-restrictions.htm
source_quote: "Perishable items are materials that can deteriorate in the mail, such as live animals, food, and plants. Permissible perishable items are sent at the mailer’s own risk. These items must be specially packaged and mailed so that they arrive before they begin to deteriorate."
generated: true
harvested: 2026-08-03
stale_after: 2027-08-03
item_category: "Perishable Items"
carrier: "USPS"
restriction_type: "restricted"
scope: "domestic"
conditions: "must be specially packaged and mailed so that they arrive before they begin to deteriorate"
verified: true
unverified_fields: carrier, scope
---
**Item category:** Perishable Items

**Carrier:** USPS

**Restriction type:** restricted

**Scope:** domestic

**Conditions:** must be specially packaged and mailed so that they arrive before they begin to deteriorate

> Perishable items are materials that can deteriorate in the mail, such as live animals, food, and plants. Permissible perishable items are sent at the mailer’s own risk. These items must be specially packaged and mailed so that they arrive before they begin to deteriorate.

Source: <https://www.usps.com/ship/shipping-restrictions.htm>