Do I need to declare period delay tablets (Utovlan) at Australian customs?
I am travelling to Melbourne first and then onto Sydney. I am planning to take period delay tablets in my hand luggage. I bought them online from my local pharmacy, so I don't have a prescription form. Shall I need to declare them? I don't want any trouble in customs.
Best Answer
You should declare ALL medicine, whether prescribed or not. I not only tick yes to the question, I also circle the word medicine. In my experience when you get to the officer they look at the form and say "what medicine do you have?" They know which medications are allowed in and which are not. I had prescribed medication with me and brought the prescription label. However nobody asked to look at them, my description of what I had and why was enough for the officer in my case.
For any meds you want to bring there are 3 possibilities:
- it's allowed in no matter what
- it is not allowed in no matter what
- it will be allowed if you declare it and have the right paperwork, but it will be confiscated or you will not be allowed in if you don't declare it
If you were completely sure that it would not be allowed in, and if having it was so important to you that you'd be willing to risk being treated as a smuggler, then I suppose you could try not declaring it and hoping you aren't searched. But I think the smarter approach is to declare everything. If for some reason it's not allowed they will take it from you, but you won't be in trouble because you declared it.
I am not familiar with the medication you mention, but expect it's not regulated the way, say, strong painkiller might be. There is some information available from the Australian government online:
You do not need to declare medications such as aspirin, paracetamol or Australian over the counter medications. - http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Ente/Goin/Arrival
The travellers exemption allows you to bring certain prescribed medicines and medical devices into the country without needing special permission. [...] contraception medications (birth control) - https://www.tga.gov.au/travelling-medicines-and-medical-devices
This seems to support that declaring it and then telling the officer when they ask at the desk should work fine for you.
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Do you have to declare contraceptive pills in Australia?
Under the Traveller's Exemption, as a foreign visitor you can bring any vital personal medication into Australia, as long as you do the following: Arrive into Australia as a passenger on a ship or aircraft. Bring an official prescription, in English, from your home doctor.How do I declare medicine at airport Australia?
you are arriving in Australia as a passenger on board a ship or aircraft. the medicine is carried in your accompanied baggage. you carry a letter or copy of your prescription (written in English) from your doctor to certify that the medicine has been prescribed to you to treat a medical condition.Can I bring medication into Australia?
Follow these simple rules to make sure you don't get caught up at the border: Don't bring medicines or medical devices into Australia for anyone other than yourself or an immediate family member. For prescription medicines, we recommend you carry a prescription or letter from your doctor with you.Do you have to declare contraceptive pills?
No. Carry it in your hand luggage. 'Do I need to declare my Birth Control at customs or should I just put it in my luggage and not say anything? ' You will not be asked about your oral contraceptives and as such you need not mention that the tablets are in your hand baggage.Norethisterone (Period Delay Tablets) Do They Really Work? An Honest Review
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