Read This....

[XiZBiT]

U.S. Customs
http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/travel/travel.htm :

"A new bill was recently passed by Congress that amends a portion of the Controlled Substances Act (21USC956(a)). This amendment allows a United States resident to import up to 50 dosage units of a controlled medication without a valid prescription at an international land border. These medications must be declared upon arrival, be for your own personal use and in their original container."
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Just a thought for those of you who did not know.

Peace

XiZBiT

[Ajax]

Try this URL, this is where the real details are:

http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/travel/med.htm

Also look at::

http://www.fda.gov/ora/import/pipinfo.htm

There are a lot of caveats and limitations, you have to declare the gear and it's still up to the discretion of the customs officer... You won't get busted, but it's not a sure shot that you will leave customs with all your gear.

I wonder, has anybody here who has tried to declare their gear and been allowed to keep it?

[Methuselah]

Originally posted by XiZBiT
U.S. Customs
http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/travel/travel.htm :

"A new bill was recently passed by Congress that amends a portion of the Controlled Substances Act (21USC956(a)). This amendment allows a United States resident to import up to 50 dosage units of a controlled medication without a valid prescription at an international land border. These medications must be declared upon arrival, be for your own personal use and in their original container."
===============


Just a thought for those of you who did not know.

Peace

XiZBiT

SWEET!!! This is good information. Maybe the prices will come down as a result and maybe we'll see websites going up to sell it to us.

[Sicilian30]

Yeah but it also says that the drugs have to approved by the FDA. Here is the quote:
"However, travelers should be aware that drug products which are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration may not be acceptable for such importation. "

[BE_STRONG]

moving to san diego!!

[XiZBiT]

Ahhhh... but if you are going to be picking up some HGH, that is approved by the FDA, and with a perscription, you can recieve 3 months of medications, I read that to, and HGH is much cheaper in Mexico



Peace

XiZBiT

[Sicilian30]

Well you didn't say HGH.. now we talkin.. woohooo

[TNT]

I received a PM asking me to comment on this thread. After reading it, along with the cited web pages, I have to admit that I had no freakin' idea what they meant.

So I picked up my handy-dandy cell phone and looked up the "U" section of my programmed directory. "Voila," I exclaimed! And then I pushed the button on my speed dialer and got ahold of the friendly U.S. Customs Agent at Champlain, NY, on the Canadian border. (Yes, I actually have Customs programmed as a speed dial number on my cell phone. I use it when I buy gear in Canada to make sure the laws haven't changed since I was up there the last time. And no, I don't usually cross at Champlain, but that was the closest station taking voice calls today. The border patrols have been a little busy for the past few months.)

Anyway, what I found is not that promising. The agent I spoke with reiterated the policy that has always been in effect: If a drug requires a prescription in the United States, then you must have a prescription to bring it into the United States (even if it may be available over the counter in Canada or Mexico).

I note that the web page at http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/travel/med.htm is undated. Additionally, it refers to "controlled medication" but does not specify the criteria for the term. Remember that when it comes to anabolic steroids, for example, they are not only controlled, they are also scheduled (which is why you often see the C-III symbol on AS packaging).

I specifically asked the Customs Agent on the phone if one could bring back Tylenol 1 (that's Tylenol with codeine, which is available over the counter in Canada), and also brought up the topic of anabolics. His response was the same - if it requires a prescription in the States, you must have a prescription to bring it across the border. And if you have a prescription, as has been mentioned elsewhere, you may bring back a 90-day supply at any one time.

Does the law mean anything other than what I was told? Damned if I know, at least without further clarification. What is clear, however, is that at the border itself, the agents are apparently not aware of any change that may (or may not) have taken place in drug import regulations.

Bottom line: Functionally, nothing has changed. If you don't have a prescription, it is illegal to bring drugs back to the U.S. if they require a prescription here.

[G-S]

TNT, you're always on the money brother!

[Nico]

Tnt you are the man brother!!!! I almost got my hopes way too up!!!!!!!

[XiZBiT]

Consumer Alert

The U.S. Customs Service enforces Federal laws and regulations,
including those of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

A new bill was recently passed by Congress that amends a portion of
the Controlled Substances Act (21USC956(a)). This amendment
allows a United States resident to import up to 50 dosage units of a
controlled medication without a valid prescription at an international
land border. These medications must be declared upon arrival, be for
your own personal use and in their original container. However,
travelers should be aware that drug products which are not approved
by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration may not be acceptable for
such importation. FDA warns that such drugs are often of unknown
quality and discourages buying drugs sold in foreign countries. Please
go to http://www.fda.gov/ora/import/purcha...edications.htm for
further information.

The United States Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C.
sections 331(d), and 355(a)), which is administered by FDA, prohibits
the interstate shipment (which includes importation) of unapproved
new drugs. Unapproved new drugs are any drugs, including
foreign-made versions of U.S. approved drugs, that have not received
FDA approval to demonstrate they meet the federal requirements for
safety and effectiveness. It is the importer's obligation to demonstrate
to FDA that any drugs offered for importation have been approved by
FDA.

FDA has developed guidance entitled "Coverage of Personal
Importations" which sets forth that agency's enforcement priorities
with respect to the personal importation of unapproved new drugs by
individuals for their personal use. The guidance identifies
circumstances in which FDA may consider exercising enforcement
discretion and refrain from taking legal action against illegally imported
drugs. Those circumstances are as follows:

1. the intended use (of the drug) is unapproved and for a
serious condition for which effective treatment may not be
available domestically either through commercial or clinical
means;

2. there is no known commercialization or promotion to
persons residing in the U.S. by those involved in the distribution
of the product at issue;

3. the product is considered not to represent an unreasonable
risk;

4. the individual seeking to import the product affirms in
writing that it is for the patient’s own use (generally not more
than a 3-month supply) and provides the name and address of
the doctor licensed in the U.S. responsible for his or her
treatment with the product, or provides evidence that the
product is for the continuation of a treatment begun in a foreign
country.

FDA's guidance is not, however, a license for individuals to import
unapproved (and therefore illegal) drugs for personal use into the U.S.
Even if all of the factors noted in the guidance are present, the drugs
remain illegal and FDA may decide that such drugs should be refused
entry or seized. The guidance represents FDA’s current thinking
regarding the issues of personal importation and is intended only to
provide operating guidance for FDA personnel. The guidance does not
create any legally enforceable rights for the public; nor does it operate
to bind FDA or the public.

To avoid travel delays and to prevent possible harm from taking unsafe
or ineffective medications, residents and visitors upon arrival to or
departure from the U.S. should keep in mind the following precautions:

Do not assume that medications which are legal in foreign countries
are also approved for use in the United States. These products may
be illegal and may include addictive and dangerous substances;

Be aware that the labeled uses (conditions for which the
product is represented to be effective) for a product
purchased outside the U.S. may not be approved in the
United States;

It can be dangerous to take some medications without
medical supervision. The reason why some medications
are limited to prescription use in the United States is
that either they are unsafe without medical supervision
or a medical diagnosis is required to ensure that the
medication is appropriate for your condition;

Avoid purchasing any drug products that they do not
approve for sale in the U.S. (including
foreign-manufactured versions of U.S. approved drugs).
FDA cannot assure that these products conform to the
manufacturing and quality assurance procedures
mandated by U.S. laws and regulations and, therefore,
these products may be unsafe. In addition, such
products are illegal in the U.S. and, therefore, may be
subject to entry refusal;

Some medications which may appear to be U.S.
approved drug products may in fact be counterfeit
versions of such products. (The term "counterfeit drug' is
defined as "a drug which, or the container or labeling of
which, without authorization, bears the trademark, trade
name, or other identifying mark, imprint, or device, or
any likeness thereof, of a drug manufacturer, processor,
packer, or distributor other than the person or persons
who in fact manufactured, processed, packed, or
distributed such drug and which thereby falsely purports
or is represented to be the product of, or to have been
packed or distributed by, such other drug manufacturer,
processor, packer, or distributor." See 21 U.S.C.
321(g)(2));

In the event you develop complications from using a
medication which require medical attention, your
treatment could be delayed or made more difficult
unless there is sufficient information available about the
product, such as the generic name of the product,
dosage form and strength, and how often you need to
take the product.

Possession of certain medications without a prescription
from a physician licensed in the United States may
violate Federal, State, and/or local laws;

lt is important to have medications in the
originally-dispensed container;

FDA's personal importation guidance provides that when
bringing unapproved drugs into the U.S. for use in
treating serious or life threatening illness, such products
should be used under the care and supervision of a U.S.
licensed physician. It is advisable to make available for
examination by U.S. Customs Inspectors or other
appropriate government authorities appropriate
documentation of such monitoring;

It is against the law not to properly declare imported
medications to U.S. Customs.

When the type of drug, the quantity, or the combination
of various drugs arouse suspicions, U.S. Customs
Inspectors will ordinarily contact the nearest FDA or
DEA office for advice and will then make a final
determination about whether to release or detain the
article. (See 19 U.S.C. 1499).

In addition to federal requirements, individual States may have
additional requirements covering prescription (Rx) or controlled
medications. Travelers should check with State authorities, where
they reside or are traveling, to verify that a particular prescription does
in fact comply with State regulations. In many areas, the local police
department and pharmacies can provide additional information.

For more detailed information on FDA's personal importation guidance,
contact your local FDA office, or check out FDA's Internet website.