Travellers visiting Australia - importing medicines for personal use
Introduction
- Medicines brought into and taken out of Australia may be subject to respective import and export controls.
- If you are visiting Australia it is advisable that you bring essential medicines for existing medical conditions.
- The information here is a general guide to Therapeutic Goods Administration requirements for the importation and exportation of medicines for personal use.
- As requirements may change, you should check requirements for the importation of medicines prior to each visit.
- Visitors should also note that they need to check the requirements for quarantine and protected wildlife <http://www.tga.gov.au/docs/html/bringmed/wildlife.htm>.
Common questions for travellers visiting Australia
I am travelling to Australia by plane or ship and need to bring my medication with me. What do I need to do?
If the medication does not contain a controlled substance in either Appendix A <http://www.tga.gov.au/docs/html/bringmed/apendixa.htm> or Appendix B <http://www.tga.gov.au/docs/html/bringmed/apendixb.htm> you may bring up to 3 months supply without needing any permission provided that in the case of injections it does not contain material of human or animal origin.
- If the medication does contain a controlled substance which is in Appendix B (eg narcotic orpsychotropics) you do not need any permission to bring it into Australia provided that it does not also contain a steroid or growth hormone in Appendix A; and
- it does not contain any substance in Schedule 9 (Prohibited Substance) of the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons <http://www.tga.gov.au/ndpsc/susdp.htm> (eg cannabis);
- the medicine is not an injection containing a substance of human or animal origin (except insulin - insulin is allowed); and
- you do not bring more than a 3 month supply at the maximum dose recommended by the manufacturer; and
- you do NOT supply (sell or give) the medicine to any other person; and
- you are able to produce the prescription or letter (in English) from a Doctor on request from an authorised person.
If you need to bring anabolic/ androgenic steroids which are in Appendix A, contact the Treaties and Compliance Section (02 6289 3200). If you need to bring growth hormones which are in Appendix A, contact the Experimental Drugs Section on 02 6232 8101 or 1800 020 653.
What happens if while I am visiting Australia, my medication runs out and I need more?
You should check with a local Doctor if your medication or an appropriate alternative is available for supply in Australia. If the medication is not approved in Australia, the Doctor will need to contact the Experimental Drugs Section on 02 6232 8101 or 1800 020 653 for an exemption under Section 19 of the Therapeutic Goods Act.
What should I do when I arrive in Australia?
- Declare all the medicines you are bringing into Australia.
- If required, await inspection by Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service or Customs.
- Produce documentation justifying your use of the medicine.
- For a medicine containing a substance in Appendix A show your permit from the Therapeutic Goods Administration permitting you to bring the medicine into Australia.
- For a medicine containing any other substance subject to import control (Appendix B), show your written authorisation, in English, from a medical practitioner for this medicine.
- For any medicine subject to quarantine or protected wildlife <http://www.tga.gov.au/docs/html/bringmed/wildlife.htm> 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.
What are my responsibilities during my stay?
- Medicines that you bring into Australia are for personal use only and may only be used by you or a member of your immediate family.
- You must NOT sell or give a medicine to any person outside your immediate family.
- 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.
What do I need to do when I leave Australia?
- Any remaining quantities of medicine brought in by visitors should be taken out of Australia on departure.
- Make sure your medicine is in the original packaging and with any dispensing labels intact.
- Documents relating to the importation of a medicine must be available for inspection on departure.
Remember you need to check if the medicine contains any other substance subject to import control. You must have a written authorisation, in English, from a medical practitioner for any medicine containing a substance subject to import control. You also need to check quarantine and protected wildlife <http://www.tga.gov.au/docs/html/bringmed/wildlife.htm> requirements.
Visitors should check the list carefully for any substances in the medicines they intend to bring into Australia. For example, some cold and flu medications include substances such as pseudoephedrine are subject to import control.