Taking Armour into Australia?

[MrsQwerty]

Has anyone been on holiday to Australia and taken Armour with them? They are so strict about prohibiting items of animal/plant origin. If need be I could switch to levo for 2 weeks but would obviously prefer to stay on Armour.

[Clutter]

MrsQwerty,

Take a copy of your Armour prescription with you to show it is prescribed for hypothyroidism in the unlikely event you are challenged.

[Hidden]

Hi there, South Africa is v strict also. I use NDT without script. What i do is, i always carry a letter on me from a private GP. It states that he has recommended the product for my personal use.

[MrsQwerty in reply to Hidden]

Hi Clutter and Bluedaffodil

Thanks for your replies, however it is not the prescription aspects that concerns me. What concerns me is that Armour is an animal product and there is a restriction on taking any animal or plant products into the country.

agriculture.gov.au/biosecur...

[Mishka]

Hi Mrs Qwerty, you must have read my mind as I was just researching the very same thing!

I watch the Border Security type of programmes from Oz and I think the sniffer dogs will hunt us down very quickly!

I've emailed them on

[e-mail]

If I get a response I'll let you know. I'm stopping in Beijing on the way to Sydney and I'm a bit puzzled about what to do there too..

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Mishka]

You have done what I would have suggested - contact the embassy or whatever other service they offer and ask. This question has, in various forms (i.e. different countries and different medicines), been asked a few times. I think only the country being visited can really answer with authority.

Rod

[MrsQwerty in reply to helvella]

I have tried contacting them directly but have not had a response which is why I thought I would post here in case other members had personal experience of taking Armour into Australia.

[Hidden]

The same restrictions apply in SA and i have been fine

[Belleblue]

My daughter worked on cruise ships sailing from Australia so regularly flew in and out of the country. She never had a problem with her armour thyroid (or erfa when she was was taking it)

She just kept her prescribed meds all together in her hand luggage - ie inhalers, thyroxine, armour and an epipen. I'm sure you will be absolutely fine as it's for personal use

[MrsQwerty in reply to Belleblue]

Thanks, very helpful.

[Mishka]

I've had a response today

Thank you for contacting Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.

Travellers are permitted to bring no more than three months supply of prescribed medicines to Australia.

The medicine should be declared on arrival, in the original packaging and accompanied by a doctor's prescription.

You can confirm whether the natural desiccated thyroid product is restricted or not by contacting either the Therapeutic Goods Administration or The Office of Chemical Safety

Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)

Local: 1800 020 653 International: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

tga.gov.au/

Office of Chemical Safety (OCS)

Address: GPO Box 9848 (MDP 88) Canberra ACT 2601

Local: 02 6160 3258 Freecall: 1800 170 723

Email: [e-mail]

ocs.gov.au/

I hope this information helps and please do not hesitate to contact us back if you have any further questions

Kind Regards,

Customs Officer | Customs Information & Support Centre

Cargo & Trade Services Branch | Cargo & Trade Division

Australian Customs and Border Protection Service

P: 1300 363 263 | F: 02 8339 6713 |

E: [e-mail]

W: customs.gov.au