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David321

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#310661 10-Nov-2023 12:30
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Hi all, I have some family members arriving for a 6 month stay soon (non residents), one of them needs to bring 6 months worth of his prescribed meds. According to customs anything more than a three month supply must be declared, but there is nothing saying it will be allowed, in fact it says you must not have more than 3 month supply.

 

My question is, would customs allow this if it was declared? I know there is the possibility of bringing just three months worth and seeing a doctor here to be prescribed the rest here in NZ but that would not work well as some of the meds would require a doctor's visit and would probably require specialist testing to confirm what they already know just to get access to the meds here in NZ, a very very expensive undertaking for non residents just to get access to medicine they already know they need.

 

It asks on the arrival card if they are bringing more than 3 months worth, I don't really want him to lie and tick "no", but given the alternative means potentially having his excess meds taken off him, I'm not really sure what to advise.

 

I figure this must be at least somewhat common but I am surprised there is not much information about it.





_David_

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Eva888
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  #3158028 10-Nov-2023 13:43
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Just get his doctor to write him a note that he needs these specific meds and no other variety for the trip. For all anyone knows he may not tolerate a different generic brand we use here. Just tick the box and keep the meds in carry on luggage. He will likely be waved through being an older person who looks genuine. They won’t take his meds away from him and you have back up here if for some reason they did.




hsvhel
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  #3158045 10-Nov-2023 14:20
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They won't take them, just declare it with a  DR note.

 

I have just returned and had 4 months supply, showed it, walked out

 

 





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chatterbox
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  #3167250 2-Dec-2023 19:39
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You won't have a problem. You can always contact biosecurity prior if you want peace of mind prior and to sort exact paperwork they may ask for. Some of those questions are just screening, they're not actually set in stone laws. I wouldn't stress.




Dratsab
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  #3167252 2-Dec-2023 20:29
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chatterbox: You won't have a problem. You can always contact biosecurity prior if you want peace of mind prior and to sort exact paperwork they may ask for. Some of those questions are just screening, they're not actually set in stone laws. I wouldn't stress.

 

Biosecurity (MPI) aren't interested in meds, they look at food, wood, shells etc. Meds are dealt with by Customs.

 

Eva888: Just get his doctor to write him a note that he needs these specific meds and no other variety for the trip. For all anyone knows he may not tolerate a different generic brand we use here. Just tick the box and keep the meds in carry on luggage. He will likely be waved through being an older person who looks genuine. They won’t take his meds away from him and you have back up here if for some reason they did.

 

This might happen, it depends what the meds are. More likely they'll be looked at to make sure the packaging matches the prescription.


Bung
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  #3167253 2-Dec-2023 20:40
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Eva888:  He will likely be waved through being an older person who looks genuine.

 

Pensioners buying pseudoephedrine tablets for the P cooks have long since spoilt that.


Kyanar
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  #3178829 7-Jan-2024 21:06
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Customs website, MOH's website, and Medsafe's websites are all pretty unequivocal - 3 months only, or 1 month for a controlled drug. Seems if you want more than that, they expect you to go to an NZ doctor and get a letter or prescription saying you need it and you can then either buy it locally or import it by post/courier. Seems like a really silly system, which probably explains why in hsvhel's case Customs didn't bother.

 

What's weird is I went down a bit of a rabbit hole to see about whether the law backs that up - as chatterbox said, sometimes they aren't set in stone laws - and there's actually nothing in the Medicines Regulation permitting prescription medicine without an NZ prescription at all. It says you have to have a prescription from an authorised prescriber, but the definitions narrows that down to only doctors, dentists, and nurses registered with the various NZ medical bodies.

 

Yeah I can see why customs might not want to touch that. Minefield.


 
 
 

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frankv
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  #3179346 9-Jan-2024 12:37
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Declare them. Keep them all in the original containers with the prescription label. Keep a copy of the prescription with them.

 

The law is not about stopping visitors from bringing their meds, it's about keeping out cocaine and pseudoephedrine and other illicit drugs for sale to Kiwis.

 

 


Rikkitic
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  #3179358 9-Jan-2024 13:18
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I thought the government was allowing pseudoephedrine again.

 

 





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Kyanar
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  #3179416 9-Jan-2024 15:55
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You mean you don't currently have pseudoephedrine? Over here you're still allowed it, but the pharmacist has to enter it into a gov controlled system so you can't "shop around" (i.e. present driver's license or other photo ID). 


hsvhel
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  #3179417 9-Jan-2024 15:57
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Kyanar:

 

You mean you don't currently have pseudoephedrine? Over here you're still allowed it, but the pharmacist has to enter it into a gov controlled system so you can't "shop around" (i.e. present driver's license or other photo ID). 

 

 

No, it has been removed and "banned" for many years.  Has only just begun repeal with the new incoming Govt





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