Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Taking medicines into New Zealand and Australia

I'll be visiting AKL and PER for a vacation (from the USA). This Australian government website (http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/general-guidance-for-travellers-bringing-medicines-to-and-from-australia) says (bolding mine)

What should I do when I arrive in Australia with medicines for personal use?

* Comply with all requirements of the Australian Customs Service in relation to declaring medicines you are bringing into Australia.
* For all medicines that you are carrying, ensure that you have a prescription or written authorisation, showing that the medicine is for treatment of your medical condition.
* For medicines containing a substance requiring a permission from the Office of Chemical Safety (for example anabolic/androgenic steroids) or the Therapeutic Goods Administration, produce your permit permitting you to bring the medicine into Australia.
* For any medicine subject to quarantine requirements, show your import permit to bring the product into Australia.
* Retain the documents relating to your medicines throughout your visit and have them available to present again at departure on request by Customs or Quarantine officers.
* Further information about importing medicines for personal use may be found on the Therapeutic Goods Administration website.

Do I have to revisit my doctor to get a letter, or revisit my pharmacist to get a copy of the original prescription, or will the pharmacy's label on the box of pills suffice?

You need something with a doctor's signature. How much doc you need varies with how controlled the medication is (and what quantities). The label is never enough, but the original (signed) prescription usually is (for normal drugs). But there are some drugs that are banned from Australia even though used in the US, so if you are using anything exotic it would be wise to check before your trip. Also NZ regs are different from Australia (though similar).

And the worst that can happen if you declare it is that they will confiscate the medication. No fines, etc.

If you don't declare it (even if you have the documentation), the penalties can be quite severe.

If your medication is confiscated, then you can always see a doctor in Australia to obtain different medication. Doctors fees aren't too bad in Australia. It might cost you about $60 or so (unsubsidised).

The cost of the replacement medication however is a different matter (could be reasonable, could be exhorbitant).


Evan :->

Keep your medicine in it's original packaging complete with the Dispensing Pharmacist's label. Photocopies of the prescription should be carried but will probably not be needed.

If you do that, then, as posted, simply declare it - you will be fine.

If you have many different pills that you will be bringing try ringing your Doctors Practice and see if they can send you a Authorization Letter with out you needed to go in.

Ive never had any trouble coming into NZ/AU, As long as you declare your safe as said before.

New Zealand import fines are alot tigher than Aussie and they are on the spot fines.

Interesting thread.

I'm not clear at what point you need to declare presribed medication? Is it on the form completed on the 'plane or is it simply going through the something to declare channel - or is it both?

The arrivals card for Australia has a tick box for medicines. Note ticking yes means unable to use the express arrivals lane at customs. From memory I don't think the NZ arrival card has this but at agriculture x-ray (or customs if selected for hand searching) they will ask about any medication they find.

The arrivals card for Australia has a tick box for medicines.


Many thanks. So to double check. Anyone from the uk with prescribed medication must tick the yes box and must go through the "something to decklare" customs channel.

Many thanks. So to double check. Anyone from the uk with prescribed medication must tick the yes box and must go through the "something to decklare" customs channel.

Before you are directed to the Xray / Searching Area they will be a staff member giveing you a last change to declare anything to them. Then they will point you to a lane.

The arrivals card for Australia has a tick box for medicines. Note ticking yes means unable to use the express arrivals lane at customs. From memory I don't think the NZ arrival card has this but at agriculture x-ray (or customs if selected for hand searching) they will ask about any medication they find.

The current New Zealand arrivals card has a tickbox for the question:

"Are you bringing in to New Zealand: ... goods that may be prohibited or restricted?"

The AU form uses the question:

"Are you bringing in to Australia: 1) Goods that may be prohibited or subject to restrictions, such as medicines", ... , etc, etc

It's always bad if you think about these things but here goes .........:(

The Incoming Passenger Card (http://www.evisastoaustralia.com/section06/customs.pdf) just asks you to declare

Goods that may be prohibited or subject to restrictions, such as
medicines, steroids, firearms, weapons of any kind or illicit drugs?

As the specific medicines are not prohibited or subject to restrictions as they are neither on the government list and I have a signed doctor's prescription - surely the answer to this question is "No"?

EDITED TO ADD (TO HELP OTHERS!)

Answered my own question:

Medicinal products

Declare all drugs and medicines including prescription medications,
alternative, herbal and traditional medicines, vitamin and mineral
preparations and performance-enhancing drugs or formulas.

Travellers Guide Page 7 (http://chemodan.com.ua/documents/guide_travellers_0311.pdf)

As the specific medicines are not prohibited or subject to restrictions as they are neither on the government list and I have a signed doctor's prescription - surely the answer to this question is "No"?


Think harder. If the medicines require a signed doctor's prescription, then they are by definition restricted. At least in the country in which they were prescribed and therefore quite possibly in AU and NZ. While the fact you have a signed Rx from another country might help you meet the restriction, it has really has no bearing on the question as to whether the medicine is subject to restrictions in AU.

There are also other medicines which might be available over the counter in your country that are restricted in AU.

It's pretty simple. The question asks you to declare, "Goods that *may* be prohibited or subject to restrictions, *such as medicines*".

So think again. There is no penalty for ticking Yes and then asking the customs officer about your items. But there can be serious trouble if you tick no and then items are found.

Think harder. If the medicines require a signed doctor's prescription, then they are by definition restricted. At least in the country in which they were prescribed and therefore quite possibly in AU and NZ. While the fact you have a signed Rx from another country might help you meet the restriction, it has really has no bearing on the question as to whether the medicine is subject to restrictions in AU.

There are also other medicines which might be available over the counter in your country that are restricted in AU.

It's pretty simple. The question asks you to declare, "Goods that *may* be prohibited or subject to restrictions, *such as medicines*".

So think again. There is no penalty for ticking Yes and then asking the customs officer about your items. But there can be serious trouble if you tick no and then items are found.

Thanks, but I think you may have overlooked my own edit where I answered it for myself (and edited and posted to help others) where I found the clear instructions "Declare all drugs and medicines including prescription medications" - and so I have (and had) every intention of declaring them.;)

Partner and I have just returned from SYD - ticked the box and customs in Aus did not even question what we were carrying. We did not have a letter as back up - better do that next time!

Hi,

I've just come across this thread while trying to find some info for myself so thought i'd add rather than ask again...

I'm going to Sydney soon and want to take a decongestant spray, either sudafed or beconase type things as I have problems with my sinuses. I'm worried about how customs work...it seems strange that I should have to declare this but from what i have read all medicines (including over the counter) have to be declared? Is this correct?!

Any help appreciated and sorry if this is somewhere on the site but I haven't been able to find it!

Cheers.

Hi kattiekipper, well I be a monkey's uncle, never knew I had to declare all this rubbish to our esteemed border controllers. Personally I wouldn't, for the prime reason if you declare you had a shower to these people, they would want to know what soap you used. Most of these rules and regulations are drafted to cover the widest net to entrap drug smugglers and I believe it is never intended to stop you bringing in your favourite cold mixture. Where you may come unstuck is way before you reach our shores, the pre boarding and baggagechecks often clamp down on bottles as they enforce the 100ml regulation as to what can be bought on board. Btw the mixture is available in Australia:(, regards bkkrop

Hi kattiekipper, well I be a monkey's uncle, never knew I had to declare all this rubbish to our esteemed border controllers. Personally I wouldn't, for the prime reason if you declare you had a shower to these people, they would want to know what soap you used. Most of these rules and regulations are drafted to cover the widest net to entrap drug smugglers and I believe it is never intended to stop you bringing in your favourite cold mixture. Where you may come unstuck is way before you reach our shores, the pre boarding and baggagechecks often clamp down on bottles as they enforce the 100ml regulation as to what can be bought on board. Btw the mixture is available in Australia:(, regards bkkrop

Thank you............i know i can get it there....it's only on the take off and landing that i need it and i'll be doing that twice in my journey on the way there. I have a polyp on a sinus and a history of labyrinthitis so don't want to have an attack of either but also don't want to get caught in customs etc. gettting confused about everyone here talking about using these things to help and then what happens when i pass through singapore and then lastly through sydney...or can i bin it before i get to either of these points?!!! SO CONFUSED! Aus gov website does seem to say any medication needs to be declared.... The bottle i have is only 15ml......HELP?! When i get to singapre to change i don't want any probs and would rather rupture an ear drum, this also applies to Sydney too as i want to exit as quickly as possible...!

kattiekipper, you will be alright, just have it in a clear plastic bag, in your handbaggage where all can see it, nothing is going to happen to it, trust me, enjoy your trip, regards bkkrop

The drafting of the regulation and declaration card is absurd.

It is drafted in a way that says that every person bringing prescribed medication into Oz must declare it even if they know that the same medications are prescribed in Oz.

I'm not certain that it's legal NOT to decalre any presctibed medication because a secirity person could argue that a person arriving cannot know that a change was made just before arrival! If it's on the lists of drugs prescribed - and the list should be more widely published - then they should allow visitors to exempt themselves from the declaration.

I don't want to take prescription medicine. It is only an over the counter remedy. But as it is all seeming so absurd I am going to go without it! Which solves my problem! And it does seem that you have to declare absolutely everything which i think is ludicrous.

Medicines which include pseudoephedrine will soon be prescription only in NZ. (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10602034)

KatieKipper - the issue all travellers with medicines face is that what is available over the counter in one country may be prescription only or even completely banned in another country. It is difficult to keep track of all this (the rules vary by country and may change several times a year) so the only safe courses are to either bring no medicines at all, or to have a prescription for absolutely every medicine.

Medicines which include pseudoephedrine will soon be prescription only in NZ. (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10602034)

KatieKipper - the issue all travellers with medicines face is that what is available over the counter in one country may be prescription only or even completely banned in another country. It is difficult to keep track of all this (the rules vary by country and may change several times a year) so the only safe courses are to either bring no medicines at all, or to have a prescription for absolutely every medicine.

True - but I wasn't referring to over the counter medications but generic prescribed medications that are prescribed in Oz to millions. It does seem strange that you have to declare them knowing that are not an issue. For example simple generic statins.

True - but I wasn't referring to over the counter medications but generic prescribed medications that are prescribed in Oz to millions. It does seem strange that you have to declare them knowing that are not an issue. For example simple generic statins. I agree UK1, I cart 2 weeks supply of blood pressure and other pills around Asia every time I leave and in 20 years of constant travel, have never been asked what they are. The only people who have pulled me up are our own Australian authorities and that is because I get "red flagged" because I go to some places more than they want me to. Even when they give me a going over, they are never concerned about medication. What they are after, are the gangs that buy bulk cough mixture, certain tablets and the likes so they can extract a substance. Fortunately these show up on xrays and are easily detected.
Our well being is important to us as individuals, and I believe any government does not have the right to put our health in harms way or compromise our travelling comfort, maybe I am a little more outspoken than some, here I was thinking I was shy, regards bkkrop

Prescriptions huh?
What about if you live in countries where this concept is unheard of ? (like many Asia countries). If you need medication you can simply buy it at a drug store. This is certainly the case in Thailand or Taiwan.

I understand why there are these regulations in place, i just find it difficult to get my head round the fact that I can buy my medicine in the UK and Australia but cannot carry it on me when entering Australia without having to tell them so! Hey ho! May get my dr to prescribe it and then I can declare it without feeling like a numpty! But will have to pay 3 times the price for the prescription so It still seems easier to sacrifice comfort to make life easier!

I don't understand why they don't simply have a limited waiver. For example (just to illustrate) -

"If you are from the following countries .... Uk, etc etc and have the following prescribed drugs eg Simvastatin, Atenolol, Adalat, etc etc............and can produce an original signed prescription from your own country if requested theny you do not need to declare the drugs. If you are not from the listed countries or if your drugs are not on the list or if you cannot produce an origianl signed prescription originating from your own country then you must declare any drugs."

Codeine is in a good example.

Available over the counter in Australia, Canada and much of Europe, but only on prescription in the US.

And whatever you do - don't try taking it into the middle east unless you want to spend the next 20 years of your life in prison.

Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed, etc) is illegal in Japan. A colleague on a biz trip had his confiscated. Politely of course, being Japan!

Hello all i'm new here.

I used to work for Customs in Auckland.

If you dont declare a medicine and its not a controlled substance or classified drug you will be fine.

Pretty much the worst we do is take the medicine off you, make you go and visit a doctor for a prescription and then give it back.

Typically someone would tick the box, say they have heart medicine, show me the pill bottle with their name on it and that would be it.

Where people do get into trouble is buying medicines such as sleeping pills over the counter in one country (Typically it was Thailand) and these turn out to be Benzodiazepines which are a controlled drug. Again the worst that happens if this is a mistake and you dont have a lot of the pills and did not declare is a police warning.

Dont be too freaked out by the medicine question, as long as you dont have excessive amounts and can explain why you should have them you will typically be fine. Also declaring medicines does not automatically mean we will search you/look at them.

Okay, I got a little paranoid after reading this thread. I am planning to traveling to Sydney this week (from the States). I packed the common over the counter drugs (cold medicine, cough drops, advil, benadryl, tums, etc). Do I need to declare this? Granted, I'm sure I can buy them in Sydney...I want to be prepared in case I can't get to a drug store when I need it most.

Also, i'm bringing Ambien (to help me sleep on the plane) without the original packaging (like 10 pills). Should I declare this since I don't have the doctor's prescription anymore?

Thanks!

Okay, I got a little paranoid after reading this thread. I am planning to traveling to Sydney this week (from the States). I packed the common over the counter drugs (cold medicine, cough drops, advil, benadryl, tums, etc). Do I need to declare this? Granted, I'm sure I can buy them in Sydney...I want to be prepared in case I can't get to a drug store when I need it most.

Also, i'm bringing Ambien (to help me sleep on the plane) without the original packaging (like 10 pills). Should I declare this since I don't have the doctor's prescription anymore?

Thanks!

Look I'd declare it but I wouldn't worry about them confiscating it. The TGA (equiv to the FDA) has fairly liberal guidelines on what can and can't be brought into Australia for personal use. As usual customs overshoots, just tell them what you have, they would be unlikely to be too concerned. Without looking up the controlled substances it would be unlikely that they would include statins or other common cold medication that is available in Australia.

The below is too import by mail but I would imagine much of what's written below holds if traveling by air.



You may bring a 3 month supply (at the maximum dose recommended by the manufacturer) of unapproved medicines into Australia in any one importation without any approval required by the TGA provided that:

1. the goods are for the use in the treatment of the importer or their immediate family; and
2. you do not supply (sell or give) the medicine to any other person; and
3. the goods do not contain a controlled substance (see: Import & export of controlled substances <http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/treaties-and-compliance>); and
4. the goods are not injections that contain material of human or animal origin (except insulin); and
5. the total quantity of the medicine imported within a 12 month period does not exceed 15 months supply of the drug (at the maximum dose recommended by the manufacturer); and
6. if the goods are in Schedule 4 or 8 of the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drug and Poisons <http://www.tga.gov.au/ndpsc/susdp.htm> a prescription from a registered medical practitioner is held for the goods.

To establish if the goods are subject to the Customs legislation you need to know what are the ingredients in the product. You can then look up the controlled substances which require import licences/permits. Each State and Territory of Australia also has its own Poison and Drugs legislative controls (see: Import & export of controlled substances <http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/treaties-and-compliance>). You should also check these requirements before importing these types of goods. An import permit will not be issued for substances in Schedule 4 or Schedule 8 of the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons unless a prescription from a registered doctor in Australia has been submitted to the Treaties and Compliance Section, Office of Chemical Safety, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

Ambien (aka Zolpidem) is a controlled substance. As per the website, so you would need authorization to have the pills.

Here's an article that appeared in today's New Zealand papers which also contains some good advice such as contacting the destination country's embassy prior to travel to find out which medications may be questioned.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/international/2989892/Travel-with-medication-prescription-for-trouble

I was speaking with someone at the Department of Health on an unrelated matter today and they suggested this link

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/general-guidance-for-travellers-bringing-medicines-to-and-from-australia

For all medicines that you are carrying, ensure that you have a prescription or written authorisation, showing that the medicine is for treatment of your medical condition.

The worst thing they will do is take the medications, if they are script only, but I still think that's a long shot.

Well just my luck, I am flying in less than a week and have now got an ear infection and tonsilitis! I will most definitely be testing this all out with prescription and over the counter and declaring it all!!!!!

Well just my luck, I am flying in less than a week and have now got an ear infection and tonsilitis! I will most definitely be testing this all out with prescription and over the counter and declaring it all!!!!!

You should not be flying with an ear infection at all by the way. Done that once and it was the most painful experience in my life.

I have crossed the AU border with loads of Ritalin in my carry on and it never occured to me to declare them. Will do so again in December, with a 5 month supply no less. I carry a written doctor's statement that I need the medication blah blah blah but I never needed it.

I know i shouldn't but I am on double antibiotics so hopefully they will shift it before I have to fly. My doctor is confident I should be ok but I am taking my decongestants and stuff with me. Plus I can't change my flight so will have to hope for the best!

Fingers crossed... It was extremely, extremely painful.... No painkiller in the world was strong enough for that pain.