Instruments of torture sent by post
When sending mail from a non-European Union country to Germany you must observe diverse prohibitions or permit requirements which includes the provisions of the "Anti-torture regulation" (Regulation (EU) 2019/125).
It governs the third-country trade with goods that could be used for the purpose of
- capital punishment,
- inflicting torture, and/or for
- other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
By doing this the European Union wants to contribute to the prohibition of the death penalty, torture, and other cruel and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
At the core of this Regulation are the lists of goods attached as Annexes II, III and IV. They specify goods that are seen as instruments of torture and, consequently, are subject to embargo measures such as import bans.
In its Annex II, the Regulation contains a list of goods used exclusively for capital punishment or for purposes of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment. Consequently, it is prohibited to import or bring into the European Union goods such as
- multi-lash whips,
- metal-tipped truncheons,
- certain electric shock devices.
Exceptions from this prohibition can only be granted if the goods in question are of a certain historical significance and exclusively intended for public exhibition in a museum. As a prerequisite, however, an authorisation by the competent authority must have been obtained in accordance with Annex I of the Regulation.
Goods listed in Annexes III and IV, however, may be imported and/or sent to the EU without a specific permit being required.
