07/12/2026
➡️ USPS SHIPPING FINES CLARIFICATION ⬅️
~ Whatnot Seller Community Attention ~
Beginning July 12, 2026, USPS has implemented a $50 Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) Noncompliance Fee. This is not a general fine for incorrectly labeling any package. It applies specifically to packages containing hazardous materials that are not properly declared or labeled.
Examples of items that may require HAZMAT declaration or labeling include:
⚠️ Lithium batteries (phones, power banks, some electronics)
⚠️ Nail polish and nail polish remover
⚠️ Perfumes and colognes
⚠️ Hand sanitizer
⚠️ Aerosol products (such as hairspray)
⚠️ Certain paints, inks, stains, varnishes, and essential oils
Key changes include:
❗️$50 HAZMAT Noncompliance Fee if a hazardous item is shipped without the required declaration or labeling.
❗️$7.50 HAZMAT Handling Fee for properly declared hazardous materials sent via Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express.
💻 For Whatnot sellers and other online sellers, this is especially important because many commonly sold items—particularly electronics containing lithium batteries, fragrances, and certain beauty products—may now require additional shipping steps.
If you're shipping crystals, most natural crystals themselves are generally not hazardous materials.
However, if your packages include items such as rechargeable lights, electronics, fragrances, or other regulated products, you'll want to ensure they're declared correctly before mailing.
So, what Crystals and Minerals require HAZMAT classification❓️❓️
➡️ Crystals and minerals require Hazardous Materials Regulations (hazmat) labeling primarily when they contain toxic heavy metals, are radioactive, or pose inhalation and fire risks.
➡️ Specific categories of crystals that trigger hazmat labeling:
⚠️ Radioactive Crystals: Minerals like Uraninite (pitchblende), Autunite, and Torbernite contain uranium. Transporting these requires specific Radioactive Class 7 Labels.Toxic Heavy Metals &
⚠️ Metalloids: Minerals that contain high concentrations of arsenic (like Realgar and Orpiment), mercury (Cinnabar), lead (Galena), and antimony (Stibnite) are classified as poisons. Industrial shipments of these ores require Toxic/Poison Labels (Class 6.1).Crystals That Produce
⚠️ Hazardous Dust: Minerals like Asbestos (which grows in fibrous crystal formations) or high-silica rocks pose severe inhalation risks. Bulk transport typically requires Class 9 Miscellaneous Hazardous Material Labels or specialized OSHA warnings.
⚠️ Oxidizing & Sulfuric Crystals: Certain compounds, such as raw pyrite, can oxidize and produce sulfuric acid. If shipped in bulk, they may require corrosive or oxidizer labeling.
⚠️ Man-Made & Flame Crystals: Synthetically grown novelty crystals (such as "rainbow flame crystals") often contain flammable chemicals or metals. These are restricted and require strict hazard labeling when shipping.
❗️The information being shared has been provided directly to CODE 3 Marketing Services by our USPS Business Representative for informational purposes.
Our goal is to provide the public, online sellers, and the Whatnot community with accurate, factual information received directly from USPS. We are not providing legal advice, opinions, rumors, or speculation. We encourage everyone to review official USPS guidance and determine how any changes may apply to their individual shipping needs.
At CODE 3 Marketing Services, we remain committed to sharing reliable information to help educate and support the small business community.
❓️If you have any questions or would like further clarification, please leave a comment below, send us a message through our Facebook Business Page, or at [email protected]
❗️While we cannot provide legal advice or official USPS rulings, we will do our best to answer your questions using factual information provided directly by our USPS Business Representative. If we do not have an answer, we will seek clarification from USPS whenever possible and share accurate information with our community.
