Revised: 12 November 2021
Compliance
Personal Importation of Medicines
What is personal importation?
Bringing medicines into New Zealand on your person
or in your luggage
Having prescription medicines for personal use sent
from an overseas supplier
Reasonable excuse
Cannabidiol (CBD) products
Hemp oils and products
Adulterated medicines
Classification of medicines in New Zealand
Questions about importing medicines?
Contact us
See also: Importing Medicines - Frequently Asked Questions
When you enter New Zealand with medicines, or arrange to bring medicines into New Zealand, you come under the jurisdiction of:
- Medsafe (for medicines, medical devices, related products and herbal remedies)
- Medicines Control (for controlled drugs used as medicines), and
- the New Zealand Customs Service.
Medsafe regulates medicines to ensure their safety, quality, and effectiveness. Medsafe discourages the importation of medicines that have not been reviewed and approved by Medsafe, as there is no assurance that such products have been manufactured safely to an acceptable level of quality or contain an effective or safe formulation.
Occasionally, a person arriving in New Zealand may be undergoing treatment with a medicine that has not been approved by Medsafe. Under certain circumstances, travellers may bring their personal medications with them into the country.
What is personal importation?
Personal importation occurs when an individual either:
- Brings a medicine into New Zealand on their person for instance
passengers visiting New Zealand arriving at the airport),
Or - Arranges for a medicine to be sent to them from an overseas supplier. In most cases the medicine is sent through the post or via an international courier.
In both cases, the medicines must be used by that individual or a member of his/her immediate family, and must not be sold or supplied to any other person.
The maximum quantity of prescription medicines you can import, if you have a reasonable excuse, is three months’ supply. For oral contraceptives it is six months’ supply, and for medicines that are also controlled drugs, this is one month’s supply.
You may check if your medicine is a prescription medicine in New Zealand using this link: Classification of medicines in New Zealand.
Bringing medicines into New Zealand on your person or in your luggage
If you are arriving into New Zealand and carrying prescription medicines (other than controlled drugs), either on your person or in your luggage you must ensure:
- You declare the possession of those medicines on your incoming passenger arrival card which is lawfully required, and inspected, by the New Zealand Customs Service if the quantity of medicines is over 3 months’ supply or the medicine is not prescribed to you, and
- You have a copy of the prescription from your doctor, or a letter from your doctor stating that you are being treated with the medicine(s), and
- You carry the medicine(s) in their original containers, and
- You have a quantity not exceeding three months’ supply for prescription medicines (with the exception of oral contraceptives which can be supplied in six-month quantities).
Medicines that are controlled drugs must be declared on the passenger arrival card. The quantity must not exceed one month’s supply for controlled drugs. For additional information on controlled drugs, contact Medicines Control.
All other medicines including herbal medicines, dietary supplements and over-the-counter medicines may be carried with you without the above documentation.
Please note: Anything in your possession that might be considered a prescription medicine or controlled drug must be declared on your incoming passenger arrival card. If in doubt, declare it.
Having prescription medicines for personal use sent from an overseas supplier
If you are having prescription medicines for personal use sent to you from overseas you will be required to prove you have “a reasonable excuse" for the importation.
Note: The personal importation of medicinal cannabis products including CBD products is not allowed. More information can be found on the Medicinal Cannabis Agency webpage Information for consumers.
Reasonable excuse
We define "a reasonable excuse" as either:
- An original letter from a New Zealand authorised prescriber
(doctor, dentist, midwife or nurse prescriber - the prescriber must
be one who is authorised to prescribe these medicines to you)
Or - An original prescription from a New Zealand authorised prescriber (doctor, dentist, midwife or nurse prescriber).
The letter or prescription should state why the prescriber has authorised the importation of these medicines that may not have been approved by Medsafe. The letter or prescription from the authorised prescriber must match exactly the name, strength, quantity, and form of the imported prescription medicine, and must show that they are aware that they are authorising the importation of the prescription medicine from overseas.
You should be aware that your imported medicines may be detained by the New Zealand Customs Service until the prescriber’s authorisation has been verified. It would be helpful if the package documentation includes a copy of the authorisation letter, or the prescription.
Medicines containing controlled drugs cannot be imported in this manner. Information on the restrictions on importing controlled drugs is on Medicines Control’s web page: Bringing controlled drugs into New Zealand.
Over-the-counter medicines (OTC) can be imported, but they must be for your personal use, or for a member of your immediate family, and must not be sold or given away.
Cannabidiol (CBD) products
Cannabidiol (CBD) products are a type of medicinal cannabis product that have potential therapeutic value and contain little-to-no psychoactive substances.
A CBD product must meet the definition of a CBD product under section 2A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.
The following advice applies to both non-cannabis-derived CBD and cannabis-derived CBD products.
Personal imports of CBD products are not allowed). You can only obtain CBD products from a New Zealand-registered medical practitioner or a New Zealand pharmacy who is importing the CBD on behalf of the medical practitioner. More information can be found on the Medicinal Cannabis Agency webpage Information for consumers.
At this time, any product containing CBD is considered to have a therapeutic purpose and will be treated as a prescription medicine when imported. This means that you cannot import products containing CBD for personal use, including cosmetics, beauty products, jewellery or any other products that contain CBD.
Travellers may bring CBD products into New Zealand under certain conditions.
Information for health professionals on prescribing CBD products.
Hemp oils and products
Hemp oil products are different from hemp seed oil products, which are a food and can contain only trace amounts of CBD and THC. If hemp seed oil complies with the requirements for hemp seed in food, it is not a medicinal cannabis product.
At this time, any product containing hemp extracts such as “hemp oil” and “full spectrum hemp oil” is considered to have a therapeutic purpose and will be treated as a prescription medicine when imported. This means that you cannot import products containing hemp extracts such as “hemp oil” and “full spectrum hemp oil” for personal use, including cosmetics, beauty products, jewellery or any other products that contain the hemp extracts.
Travellers may bring medicinal cannabis products into New Zealand under certain conditions
Information for health professionals on prescribing medicinal cannabis products
Adulterated medicines
Some medicines, particularly some Chinese herbal products, have been tested by Medsafe and found to contain undeclared prescription medicines. It is illegal to import a product adulterated with a prescription medicine, and if these are seized by Medsafe at the border they will be destroyed. The most common products that are adulterated are slimming products which contain Sibutramine, or products to help with sexual dysfunction which contain Sildenafil.
Further information on adulterated medicines
Classification of medicines in New Zealand
Every country has a different system for classifying medicines. A medicine that is available over-the-counter (ie, does not require a prescription) in one country may be classified as a prescription medicine in New Zealand.
Check the classification of your medicine(s)
Please be aware that:
- the substance name (the active ingredient) must be entered. Do not enter the brand name as this may be different to the name used in New Zealand.
- medicines that are not available in New Zealand may not be included on the schedule.
Questions about importing medicines?
If you are still unsure of the classification of your medicine, please submit an enquiry using the following form: General enquiry form.
Lodge a complaint relating to the import, export, manufacture, advertising, and supply of therapeutic products.
Contact us
Medsafe
PO Box 7772
Victoria Street West
Auckland 1142
Email: medclearance@health.govt.nz
