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Canuck2112 · Joined: 13 Jun 2003 Posts: 239

I'm heading over to Japan in a couple of months, and I'm looking to bring a year's supply of a nutritional supplement which will more than likely be cost prohibitive to purchase there. I read on the Narita airport customs page that they have a limit on how many supplements (which they refer to as 'pseudo-drugs') you can bring over...I think it may be three months worth or so but I'll have to check again. Anyway, do you think I should attempt bringing it over? It's a harmless, benign substance (alpha lipoic acid) so I don't think it would create much of a stir, but if they get picky I may have to mail the stuff home. Any experience with Japanese customs?

Thanks

Celeste · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 4:53 am Post subject:

When I came, I brought a year's worht of prescription medication, and I took the trouble to get the proper importing license from the Japanese consulate in Vancouver. When I arrived in Japan, the customs guy didn't ask me anything, and when I handed him the permit, he glanced at it and then stuffed it in his pocket and waived me through. He never asked to see the actual pills or anything.

I did come in with the JET programme, and there were hundreds of people waintg in line at customs and immigration that day, so maybe he was just trying to save time.

april · Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 83 Location: Australia

I brought over practically a pharmacy of medication! I had a year's supply of two different prescription medication, as well as various other tablets like antibiotics, asprin, and so on. My doctor wrote out a letter detailing what I had, and why I had it. But I didn't need to use it, nobody asked me any questions.

I haven't heard of anyone having trouble going through customs. But I have heard of parcels loaded with medication being sent through the postal system and opened and confiscated.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I've never had any problems with customs either. When I shipped 17 boxes over here, I didn't have to pay any duty and all of our meds were left alone. It was a piece of cake. If you ship anything, don't elaborate too much and if any one item is valued at over $200, then you will have to pay duty on it.