Ship parcels to France

France (EU, VAT 20%) is a major destination with clear rules but also a very extensive list of controlled imports.

Prohibited/controlled items: France bans a variety of items, including some not obvious: cultural products like certain books or films that incite hate are banned, as are doping substances (e.g. certain performance enhancers). Electronics that transmit radio (walkie-talkies, drones) might need conformity checks. Food items: France is famous for its cuisine, but importing food is tricky. Cheese, meats, or homemade foods cannot be mailed in from outside the EU. These will be seized due to strict agricultural controls. Even certain plant products or seeds are barred without phytosanitary certificates. Interestingly, France lists "playing cards" as restricted (this is a historical tax thing – it may not apply to one deck for personal use, but it's on their list). Luxury goods: If you send high-value luxury items (e.g. designer handbags), be prepared for strict scrutiny to ensure they're authentic and correctly valued – France is serious about combating counterfeits.

Duties and taxes: Standard EU thresholds. France enforces import VAT on all non-gift shipments; couriers will collect from the recipient before or upon delivery (often a notice is mailed or a text with a link to pay).

Delivery: Provide the door code or building entry code in the address if there is one (common in Paris apartments). Delivery in urban France ~5 days, rural or Corsica may be a couple days extra. If the recipient misses a delivery, they usually can pick up at a local collection point with ID.