Instruments of torture sent by post
When sending mail from a non-EU country to Germany you must observe certain prohibitions which include the provisions laid down in what is known as the "Anti-torture regulation" (Regulation (EU) 2019/125) of 16 January 2019.
The purpose of the above regulation is to monitor the trade in goods which could be used for
- the purpose of capital punishment,
- inflicting torture, and/or for
- other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
At the core of the Regulation are the Annexes II, III and IV which list the goods that are seen as instruments of torture, and that are the subject of embargo measures such as import bans.
Annex II lists goods which are exclusively for the purpose of capital punishment or for the infliction of torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, such as
- gallows and guillotines,
- electric chairs for the purpose of the execution of human beings,
- gas chambers,
- certain electric shock devices or
- metal-tipped batons.
The import of theses goods into, or despatch to, the European Union is prohibited.
Exceptions from this ban can only be made in the case of goods that are used exclusively for the purpose of public exhibition in a museum because of their historic significance. Such exceptions are, though, subject to an authorisation issued by the competent authority and are valid throughout the whole Community for a period of up to twelve months.
However, the goods listed in Annex III and Annex IV may be imported into the European Union or sent by post without the need for an authorisation.
