Checking import laws for medications

jennybel75

Hi all,

being fairly new to this forum I've been reading a lot of old posts in my research for our India trip later this year. One thing I've noticed is that a lot of people are taking prescription medications (antibiotics, blood pressure meds etc) with them.

Something that everyone should be aware of is that each country has differing laws regarding what medicines are allowed in and how much of them can be imported at the one time. I know all this as it's part of my job to advise people coming to Australia or going o/s from Aus' what the Aus' medicine import laws are. I would (and do) advise anyone going overseas (not just to India) to get in contact with the embassy/ consulate of the country they're going to and check what their medicine import laws are. It could certainly save you a lot of hassle (and discomfort!!) in the long run

Cheers

Peyompian

In my experience: if its prescribed to you, and in a bottle with your name on it, and its a personal supply... you can bring drugs as taboo as amphetamine or morphine just about anywhere, through the airport. After that, don't carry it with you if you don't have to. Is this not accurate for India?

jennybel75

It's certainly not quite accurate for Australia. In Australia you'd have to declare the medicines to the Cutsoms Officers on your arrival and show them proof that the meds had been prescribed for you. This does differ from country to country which is why I'd advise it's always good to check. The other thing is that some countries (like Australia and the US) have restrictions on the amount of medicines you can bring with you (eg in Australia it's 3 months worth only), again it's always good to check excatly what the laws are where you're going. Don't want to end up in jail!!

Peyompian

Australia is strange like that. I've never encountered that across western europe, Russia, brazil, the carribean, canada, the US. Whats India like? I want to bring in a couple months supply of adderall. Anyone know?

brightspark

I do not find any restriction on import of medicines in the personal bagagge rules.

The main customs and excise website in India is http://www.cbec.gov.in/ You will find a link to give you detailed baggage rules, and see the section applicable to you.. which I presume would be tourists.

The CBEC website also has a link for comments etc.. It would be perhaps useful to send them a mail to ask them specifically. In case they do not reply within a reasonable period of time, please post a message on this forum or PM me, I will call also up their PRO and try to get definite information, during the next week.

While the baggage rules have specific subsections on various items such currency, firearms, vehicles, professional equipment etc.. it does not have any special provisions for medicines.

Further while I have known people arrested (yes! for 30 days), for having a vial of sedatives in Kuwait and heard about such incidents in some other countries.. I have not heard of any such thing in India. So I would think that you are generally safe, though perhaps you should carry your prescription.

Also some medicines normally come under narcotic control provisions (eg ephedrine based) etc.. common sense suggests special precautions about them.. even though I see no specific laws preventing reasonable quantity imports for personal use.

I would also like to mention that you check with your doctor the generic names of the medicines that you normally use. India has a very large pharmaceutical industry.. and has perhaps the cheapest retail prices of medincines in the world. Should you need to buy some medicines you will be surprised at the prices that you would pay here.

Peyompian

I don't think I could get dextro-amphetamine in a pharmacy in India though, could I?

bijapuri

actually. some people find rx drugs so cheap in India they take them back with them, especially to USA. 3 months worth, I've been told, is allowable to bring back there. scripts are not needed in Indian pharmas "chemists" except for nacrotics.

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LuAnnandJawahar

This article makes it as clear as mud for U.S. citizens wanting to bring Indian medicines back home with them....
http://www.fda.gov/ora/import/traveler_alert.htm

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tukat

I wonder why it's so unclear?

My mother in law brought 6 months worth of 8 different medications to USA, no problem, but she's not a US citizen.

I was hoping to save some $$ by buying meds in India this trip, but also don't want to risk arrest over generic indian (non FDA approved!) meds.

Penri

I was planning on bringing a year's worth of Malaria tablets for both myself and my wife. Would this be allowed?

Nick-H

Whereas I doubt if they would even notice, you might check if you can get the same thing much cheaper here.

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shere

The CBEC web site is pretty useless. They do not bother to reply to emails. Information on the web site is also out of date.

However the Calcutta Customs web site is excellent (updated on a regular basis) and they do answer question posted on their discussion forum. If any of you have any queries then please post on their forum at the folowing site :

http://www.boards2go.com/boards/boar...r=baggagerules

tintin8801

if u have the prescription and u know the generic name of the medicine then most r available in india, but yes brands and hence brand name differ!