Newcomers: Shipping goods into the UK Published May 16, 2014 By Staff Reports ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- For U.S. military personnel and their families, moving to the U.K. and transferring from their current duty station can be stressful; however, with the help of on-base agencies, such as the 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron Traffic Management Office and the U.S. Postal Service, some of that stress can be relieved. Unaccompanied Baggage: According to the TMO, the first step in shipment plans should be the shipment of unaccompanied baggage. Unaccompanied baggage should arrive three to six weeks after the ship date. Packing the necessary amount of dishes, cooking utensils, linens and extra clothing needed for a small household can help eliminate moving stress, and members should contact their sponsor about what is needed prior to making a shipment. Many times, additional items are available for loan through family services. Unaccompanied baggage that arrives in country before personnel will be placed in temporary storage at government expense for no more than 90 days. This period begins on the arrival date of the property, provided justification for storage meets specific criteria. The TMO can provide assistance on this matter, but sometimes immediate delivery is required. Customers are also reminded that packages are handled numerous times while in transit, so proper packaging is important to ensure a safe delivery. Vehicles: When shipping privately-owned vehicles, the TMO reminds customers to wait patiently as it takes time for the vehicle to move from the stateside port to England. Some vehicles, like motorcycles and mopeds, may be shipped with household goods. However, these vehicles are considered motor vehicles and count against tax-free concession vehicle allowance and When vehicles arrive, a Customs and Excise Form 941 needs to be completed at the pass and registration section of the Military Personnel Section, located in the 48th Mission Support Group building. This form is used to process vehicles through British customs. Contact the TMO for further information regarding shipment of vehicles to the U.K. Pets: The TMO suggests visiting http://apps.militaryonesource.mil to ensure pets arrive without an incident. However, the following animals are prohibited by U.K. law from entering the country: · Pit Bull Terrier · Japanese Tosa · Dogo Argentino · Fila Brasileiro Prior to a pet's arrival into the U.K., contact the Royal Air Force Lakenheath Outdoor Recreation Center. They can reserve a shuttle, for a fee, that will collect members and pets from customs. The airport bus service will not accommodate pets, so plan ahead and call advance to book the ODR shuttle. Firearms: The U.K. has strict gun laws. Anyone contemplating shipping a firearm into the U.K., should thoroughly research before doing so. Certain types of weapons, such as handguns, are illegal and others require a firearms certificate. Be sure weapons are listed on the U.K. Customs Declaration, DD Form 1434. U.S. Postal Service: According to the Postal Service, the following items are strictly prohibited from being shipped via mail into the U.K.: · Aerosols · Ammunition, except lead pellets · Animals, live (including reptiles) · Arms and parts of arms, or any component classified as munitions of war; imitations and antiques; paint-ball or toy guns, taser guns, air rifles, air pistols, components of firearms, and all other items similar to or resembling the foregoing · Articles, goods infringing British trademarks or copyright laws · Asbestos items of any kind · Christmas crackers (holiday popper) · Clinical and medical waste (e.g., contaminated dressings, bandages and needles) · Coins; platinum, gold, or silver (manufactured or not), precious stones, jewels, and other valuable articles · Counterfeit currency, bank notes and postage stamps · Dies and equipment for making imitations, etc., of any current postage stamp for denoting any rate of postage · Frozen food · Frozen water (including bags of ice) · Goods made in foreign prisons, except those imported for a noncommercial purpose or of a kind not manufactured in the U.K. · Human and animal cremated remains (ashes) · Indecent and obscene prints, paintings, books, cards, lithographs, and other engravings, films, video tapes, or any other indecent or obscene articles · Lead acid batteries (e.g., car batteries) and sealed lead acid batteries · Lottery tickets and related advertisements for illegal lotteries · Medicines classified as flammable or toxic · Radioactive materials and samples that are classified as radioactive using Table 2-12 of the latest edition of the International Civil Aviation Organization's Technical Instructions (e.g., fissile material (uranium 235, etc.), radioactive waste material, thorium, or uranium ores and luminous dials from aircraft) · Soil · Soiled clothes and rags · Stun gun, electric · Switchblade knives (also known as flick knives) and gravity knives · Waste, dirt, filth or refuse For more information, contact post office customer service at DSN 226-3548, and the TMO inbound section at DSN 238-2201/7223/5243 or the TMO outbound section at DSN 238-2202/5246. The TMO is open: · Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. · Tuesday: 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. · Thursday: 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. The RAF Lakenheath post office is open: · Monday-Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. · Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.