Examples of hazardous materials not permitted on eBay:

• Carbon Tetrachloride: Antique fire extinguishers that contain carbon tetrachloride, including glass bulb fire extinguishers and brass extinguishers with a "T" shaped handle

• Tritium: Exit Signs, Glow Sticks or similar, self-luminous devices that contain Tritium

• Radium: Any military instrument containing radium

• Fireworks: Fireworks or pyrotechnic devices may not be listed on eBay. These items are heavily regulated or banned in most states, and postal regulations prohibit shipping these items through the postal system. Under California law, fireworks include "any device containing chemical elements and chemical compounds capable of burning independently of the oxygen of the atmosphere and producing audible, visual, mechanical, or thermal effects which are useful as pyrotechnic devices or for entertainment." Pyrotechnic devices include "any combination of materials, including pyrotechnic compositions, which, by the agency of fire, produce an audible, visual, mechanical or thermal effect designed and intended to be useful for industrial, agricultural, personal safety, or educational purposes." Examples of fireworks and pyrotechnic devices that may not be listed on eBay include, but are not limited to: fireworks and fireworks kits, aerial bombs, booby traps (pull string), bottle rockets, chasers, daygo bombs, firecrackers, fountains, nitro poppers, party poppers, roman candles, skyrockets, smoke balls, smoke bombs, snap caps, snappers, sparklers, sparks, and torpedoes.

• Mercury-Added Products: Several states prohibit the sale of mercury-added products, such as mercury thermometers. As a result, eBay does not allow the sale of items containing mercury. More information about state mercury laws.

• Batteries: Federal law regulates the sale of batteries containing mercury. As a result, eBay does not allow the sale of these types of batteries. eBay does not permit the listing of the following batteries containing mercury, the sale of which is prohibited in the United States:

  • mercuric oxide button batteries (button-shaped batteries typically used in vintage camera equipment)

  • alkaline-manganese batteries containing mercury

  • zinc-carbon batteries containing mercury

• Meals, Ready-to-Eat (MREs) heaters: MRE heaters, such as flameless ration heaters (FRH), are not permitted for sale on eBay.This includes listings for MREs that include the heaters as part of the item for sale.

Note: See ‘Additional Information’ for more information on batteries.

• Radioactive Waste and ‘Contaminated’ Items: Any item described as being ‘contaminated’ by radiation is not permitted on eBay. For example, a rock taken from a Nevada nuclear test site would fall into this category and would be prohibited. eBay cooperates with the NRC and various state agencies and will remove listings for radioactive items if requested by such agencies. Some items may contain only trace amounts of radioactive materials or types of radioactive materials that are not easily accessed. These are certain everyday items which have been specifically approved for distribution and may be possessed by members of the general public without a license. These include watches, clocks and other timekeeping of navigational devices, unrefined ores, and smoke detectors.

• Freon and other refrigerants: The federal government regulates the sale of Class 1 and Class 2 refrigerants, including products commonly known as Freon® R-12 and Freon® R-22. These products may not be lawfully sold unless the buyer is properly certified by an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved testing program. The law puts the burden on the seller of these products to ensure that the buyer is properly certified. While Freon and other regulated refrigerants may be listed on eBay, sellers must state in their item description that they will comply with all applicable laws and ensure that the bidders and buyer are properly certified. The seller must require their buyer to provide proof of EPA certification. Bidding or buying alone is not proof of certification. Sales of used refrigerants are prohibited by federal law unless certain limited exceptions apply, including any of the following:

  • The seller can show that the substance has been “reclaimed” by a person certified by the EPA.

  • The refrigerant is part of a household appliance that is being sold.

  • The refrigerant will only be used in a household appliance.

  
  
  Sellers that fall within any of these exceptions must establish this fact in their item description in conspicuous and substantial detail, or risk having their listing removed.
  
  Note: See 'Additional Information' for more information on freon.

• Nuclear Items: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and various states regulate the possession and use of radioactive materials. Subject to some exemptions, these regulations limit the sale or transfer of radioactive materials to people licensed to possess such materials and items that contain such materials. Sellers and buyers of radioactive materials, and items containing radioactive materials, should contact the NRC and their states to determine if these materials or items are subject to regulation and whether they can be bought or sold by unlicensed persons, such as members of the general public.

• Postal Service restricted items: Items restricted by the U.S. Postal Service generally do not pose a danger to health, safety, or property while being transported, but their transport is regulated or banned for public policy reasons. Many restricted items such as alcohol, firearms, pets, drug paraphernalia, and lock picking devices are not permitted on eBay under other eBay rules. Generally, restricted items that may be lawfully transported by mail or common carrier are permitted on eBay, unless otherwise prohibited by eBay rules. Examples of restricted items that may be listed on eBay include tropical fish, insects such as honeybees or ladybugs, and some knives.
  
  For more information visit the U.S. Postal Service's list of restricted items.

Batteries

• More information on federal regulation of alkaline-manganese batteries containing mercury.

• More information on federal regulation of zinc-carbon batteries containing mercury.

• More information on federal regulation of mercuric-oxide button batteries.

Freon and other refrigerants

Failure to abide by the EPA's regulations regarding sales of refrigerants may result in civil or criminal penalties. The EPA has created a special About Me page to educate eBay members about the law governing Freon transactions. Please review the EPA's About Me page before listing any Freon-related products.

eBay urges its sellers and buyers comply with all governmental laws and regulations. Since the sale of hazardous materials are prohibited by law, regulated, or may cause harm to eBay or its members, sellers may not list them on eBay.