Bringing in T3 through customs from US?

[girlinoffice]

I'm able to get my T3 through a private prescription fufilled in the US. A friend of mine is able to pick it up from America and bring it over for me. Is that allowed with customs? I can't find the info on HMRC website. Help!

[humanbean]

T3 is not a controlled drug, so bringing it into the UK is not a problem. The list of controlled drugs commonly encountered by customs on arrival in the UK can be found here :

gov.uk/government/publicati...

gov.uk/government/publicati...

T3, which is also known as liothyronine, is not on the list, and it would be found fairly frequently I would have thought.

The only thing I can think of that might be an issue is the quantity of T3 you bring in. Anything over about three month's worth would be considered suspicious. Customs may think you want to sell it. But bear in mind that customs officers wouldn't know what would classify as a normal dose of many drugs, so they would probably accept what you tell them was three months worth if it wasn't too outrageous.

[shaws Administrator in reply to humanbean]

As far as I know we can bring in hormones etc, which are for our own use. As you are hypothyroid you should be able to put them in your luggage. I've often put thyroid hormones in my case and they have never been removed.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to humanbean]

I fully concur it is not a controlled drug.

Bringing a prescription-only medicine in for yourself (or members of your household) is legal. But bringing a prescription-only medicine in for someone else, a friend, isn't legal, so far as I can see.

Bringing in counts as importing which requires a specific lience. And passing it on, even to a friend, would count as supplying.

I wouldn't class it as a major offence, but I certainly wouldn't want to be in the position of explaining to a border force/customs person at the airport. Possibly the worst thing to do is lie if that were to happen.

Possibly the safest thing to do is post it?

I think the relevant law is:

Manufacturing of medicinal products

17.—(1) A person may not except in accordance with a licence (a “manufacturer’s licence”)—

(a)manufacture, assemble or import from a state other than an EEA State any medicinal product; or

(b)possess a medicinal product for the purpose of any activity in sub-paragraph (a).

(2) Paragraph (1) is subject to paragraphs (3) to (5).

(3) Paragraph (1) applies in relation to an investigational medicinal product only—

(a)if the product has a marketing authorisation, Article 126a authorisation, certificate of registration or traditional herbal registration; and

(b)to the extent that the manufacture or assembly of the product is in accordance with the terms and conditions of that authorisation, certificate or registration.

(4) In paragraph (3), “marketing authorisation” means—

(a)a marketing authorisation issued by a competent authority in accordance with the 2001 Directive; or

(b)an EU marketing authorisation.

(5) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a person who, in connection with the importation of a medicinal product from a state other than an EEA State—

(a)provides facilities solely for transporting the product; or

(b)acting as an import agent, imports the medicinal product solely to the order of another person who holds a manufacturer’s licence authorising the importation of the product.

(6) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a person who imports a medicinal product for administration to himself or herself or to any other person who is a member of that person’s household.

legislation.gov.uk/uksi/201...