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luciwe
Joined: 12 Jul 2007
Posts: 4
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
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 Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 9:48 pm Post subject: packages from home: customs? |
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Hi
If people back home send me packages via courier, will Japanese customs examine the contents?
The reason I ask is because I only found out last week that I am arriving in Japan on the 26th of July - next Wednesday, so I haven't had time to get an import license for my prescribed medications. All I have is a doctor's letter and copies of the prescriptions.
I read that I am only allowed to take up to 1 month's supply of each prescription drug - should I do this, and have the rest (1 year's worth) sent via courier? Or would it be less risky to take it in my luggage without an import license? Or perhaps find a balance between the two e.g. take 3 boxes of each, and get more sent every 3 months? |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:15 pm Post subject: Re: packages from home: customs? |
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| luciwe wrote: |
Hi
If people back home send me packages via courier, will Japanese customs examine the contents?
The reason I ask is because I only found out last week that I am arriving in Japan on the 26th of July - next Wednesday, so I haven't had time to get an import license for my prescribed medications. All I have is a doctor's letter and copies of the prescriptions.
I read that I am only allowed to take up to 1 month's supply of each prescription drug - should I do this, and have the rest (1 year's worth) sent via courier? Or would it be less risky to take it in my luggage without an import license? Or perhaps find a balance between the two e.g. take 3 boxes of each, and get more sent every 3 months? |
It's a crapshoot. In over four years of living here I've had a total of 1 package opened and inspected by customs. My friends have had many more than that. One in particular had the unfortunate experience of being told that he was receiving "too many" boxes of contact lenses (don't know exactly how many that was) and was forced to destroy one box... 
And as for me, wy mother-in-law, not knowing ANY better, sent me an entire YEAR'S worth of Arthrotec and it got to me without any problems.
Like I say -- it's a crapshoot. |
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Yuki
Joined: 13 Jun 2007
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:24 pm Post subject: |
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I was advised by AEON to have my prescriptions sent to me 3 months at a time with both a copy of the import license and the doctor's prescription.
Can anyone tell me how I should go about getting an import license? I have tried looking for information on my local Japanese embassy webpage, but they simply mention you need the license and give no information on how to get one. I've asked AEON/Amity about how to get one and they continue to say to check the embassy's webpage. Needless to say, I'm a bit perplexed. o_O |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Import license??? Never heard of that! Sounds like something that a business would use -- but not an individual sending over medication for personal use. |
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David W
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 457
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 3:19 am Post subject: |
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| Japanese customs couldn't give two hoots what medicine you're bringing in. I've had tons of packages opened, nothing has ever been taken. Last time thru Kansai Airport the customs guy picked up my big box of codeine (supposedly illegal) asked me what it was. I said it was medicine, he asked if it was for me, I said yes, he then read the label looked at me, smiled, handed it back and i was on my way. As long as you're not taking the p*ss they don't care. YMMV. |
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luciwe
Joined: 12 Jul 2007
Posts: 4
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
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| Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:34 am Post subject: |
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| JimDunlop2 wrote: |
| Import license??? Never heard of that! Sounds like something that a business would use -- but not an individual sending over medication for personal use. |
I got that from this thread:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=25499
It's quite old though, so maybe the information is outdated? |
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Dipso
Joined: 28 Apr 2004
Posts: 194
Location: England
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| Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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| I have had endless asthma inhalers sent to me and the packages have never been opened by customs. I have had other packages officially opened though, including one from Amazon.com. It's the luck of the draw really. |
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David W
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 457
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 4:37 am Post subject: |
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| Dipso wrote: |
| I have had endless asthma inhalers sent to me and the packages have never been opened by customs. I have had other packages officially opened though, including one from Amazon.com. It's the luck of the draw really. |
Yeah I used to get my asthma stuff (Ventolin and Pulmicort) sent from home but it's available here now. Go and see the doc, they've improved the treatment of asthma here immensely in the last few years. Still, unfortunately, see way too many kids just suffering needlessly because their parents are too daft to work it out. |
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