Stitches

Italian postal restrictions.. are they out of their minds?

I'm not making this up, you can check the full text here: http://pe.usps.gov/text/imm/il_008.htm But WHY? When I read the list of prohibited items I thought it was some kind of joke! What the hell is going on in Italy? They BAN playing cards and toys! Country Conditions for Mailing — Italy Prohibitions (130) Albums of any kind (of photographs, postcards, postage stamps, etc.). Arms and weapons. Articles of platinum or gold; jewelry; and other valuable articles unless sent as insured Priority Mail International parcels. Artificial flowers and fruits and accessories for them. Bells and other musical instruments and parts thereof. Cartridge caps; cartridges. Clocks and supplies for clocks. Compound medicaments and medicines. Coral mounted in any way. Ether and chloroform. Exposed photographic and cinematographic films. Footwear of any kind. Haberdashery and sewn articles of any kind, including trimmings and lace; handkerchiefs; scarves; shawls, needlework including stockings and gloves; bonnets, caps, and hats of any kind. Hair and articles made of hair. Human remains. Leather goods. Lighters and their parts, including lighter flints. Live bees, leeches, and silkworms. Live plants and animals. Nutmeg, vanilla; sea salt, rock salt; saffron. Parasites and predators of harmful insects. Perfumery goods of all kinds (except soap). Playing cards of any kind. Postage stamps in sealed or unsealed First-Class Mail International shipments. Radioactive materials. Ribbons for typewriters. Roasted or ground coffee and its substitutes; roasted chicory. Saccharine and all products containing saccharine. Salted, smoked or otherwise prepared meats; fats; and lard. Tobacco. Toys not made wholly of wood. Treated skins and furs. Weapons of any kind and spare parts for them.

Public Comments

1. lol
2. You forgot two important details. 1. The Italians are notorious for ignoring any central government directives, including those from the EU. 2. How will they know what is in the package? Is this a toy in the package and is it plastic or wood?