import of drugs for personal use

No customs duty on Life saving Drugs imported by an individual for personal use;

Small quantities of drugs, the imports of which is otherwise prohibited under Section 10 of the THE DRUGS AND COSMETICS ACT, 1940, may be imported for personal use subject to the following conditions :

Drugs imported for personal import by the Passenger

(i) The drugs shall form part of a passenger's bona fide baggage and shall be the property of, and be intended for, the exclusive personal use of the passenger,
(ii) The drugs shall be declared to the Customs authorities if they so direct,
(iii) The quantity of any single drug so imported shall not exceed one hundred average doses:

Provided that the licensing authority may in an exceptional case in any individual case sanction the import of a larger quantity.

How to import drugs for personal use other than as Passanger

Any drug, imported for personal use but not forming part of bona fide personal baggage, may be allowed to be imported subject to the following conditions, namely-

(i) the licensing authority, on an application made to it in Form 12-A is satisfied that the drug is for bona fide personal use;

(ii) the quantity to be imported is reasonable in the opinion of the licensing authority and is covered by prescription from a registered medical practitioner; and

(iii) the licensing authority grants a permit in respect of the said drug in Form 12-B.

FORM 12-A
Application for the issue of a permit to import small quantities ofdrugs for personal use
I……………………………………….… resident of…………………………………. by occupation ……………………….hereby apply for a permit to import the drugs specified below for personal use from…………………………………………………………………………………………I attach a prescription from a registered medical practitioner in regard to the need for the said drugs.

Name of Drugs
Quantities
Date………………………
Signature…………………………

(source: Central Drugs Standard Control OrganizationDte.GHS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India)

How to import Prescription Drugs


All prescription drugs/medication for 'personal use' must be accompanied by a prescription of a registered medical practitioner and must have the correct value declared.

No customs duty on any life saving drugs which are for personal use .However,on following drugs imported for personal use are charged duty @17.34%:

32 P Sodium Phosphate
Flucytosin
5-Fluorouracil
6-Isoguanine
Aclarubicin
Dactinomycin
Agglutinating Sera
Allopurinol
Ambenonium Chloride
Amikacin
Amino-glutothemide
Amiodarone
Amiphenazole
Amphotericin-B
Amrinone
Amsacrine
Amylobarbitone Sodium
Anti-Diphtheria Normal Human Immunoglobulin
Anti-Haeomophilic Factor concentrate (VIII and IX)
Anti-human lymophocyte immuniglobulin IV
Anti-human thymocyte-immunoglobulin IV
Anti-Pseudomonas Normal Human Immunoglobulin
Anti-Plague serum
Anti-Pseudomonas Normal Human Immunoglobulin
Anti-Rabies Normal Human Immunoglobulin
Aprotinin
Atracurium besylate
Baclofen
Beclamide
Bemergide
Bleomycin
Blood group sera
Burn therapy dressing soaked in gel
Bovine Thrombin for in vitro test for diagnosis in Haemorrhagic disorders
Bovine Albumin
Broxuridine
Bretyleum Tossylate
Busulphan
Calcium Disodium Edetate
Carbidopa with Levodopa
Carmustine
Cefoperazone
Ceftizoxime
Cesium Tubes
Chenodeoxycholic Acid
Chlorambucil
Chlormerdrin 197 Hg.
Chloestyramine
Christmas Factor Concentrate (Coagulation factor IX prothrombin complex concentrate)
Chorionic Gonadotrophin
Cobalt-60
Clindamycin
Colistin
Carboquone
Corticotrophin
Cyclocytidine
Cyclophosphamide
Cyanamide
Dacarbazine
Daunomycin
Daunorubicin
Desmopressin
Desferrioxmine
Diagnostic Agent for Detection of Hepatitis B Antigen
Diagnostic kits for detection of HIV antibodies
Diphtheria Antitoxin Sera
Dimercaprol
Diazoxide
Dobutamine
Dispyramide Phospate
Edrophonium
Dopamine
Enzyme Linked Immunoabsorbent Assay Kits (ELISA KITS)
Epirubicin
Fibrinogen
Floxuridine
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
Fospestorol
Gallium Citrate
Gasgangrene Anti-Toxin Serum
Glucagon
Heptamine
Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin
Hexamethymelamine
Histoglobulin
Hydralazine
Hydroxyurea
Idraubicine
Idoxuridine
Ifosfamide
Isoprenaline
Immunoassay kit for blood Fibrinogen degradation product for direct estimation of diagnostic test in D.I.C.
Inactivated rabies vaccine (Human diploid cell)
Inactivated rabies vaccine (Vero-cell)
(a) Indium (III) in bleomycin (b) Indium 113 Sterile generator and elution accessories (c) Indium 113 in brain scanning kit (d) Indium 113 in liver scanning kit.
Interferon alpha -2b/interferon alpha -2a/Inteferon NL/Inteferon alpha NL (LNS)
Intravenous amino acids
Intravenous Fat Emulsion
Iopamidol
Iohexol
Ketamine
Isoflurane
Selenium-75
Asparaginase
Calcium folinate
Lactulose
Levodopa with benserazine
Levodopa (L-Dopa)
Mannitol Busulphan preparations
Lomustine
Meningococcoal Aand C combined vaccine with diluant solvent
Melphalan
Mercaptopurine
Mesna
Methisazone
Methicillin
Methoxy isobutyl Isonitrile
Methotrexate
Methyl prednisolone
Methoxyflurane
Metrizamide Inj with diluant
Metraminol
Mithramycin
Nimustine
Mitotane
Mitomycin
MMR (Measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine
Latamoxef
Monocomponent insulins
Nalorphine
Mustin Hydrochloride
Netilmicin
Naloxone
Nitroglycerine
Normal Human plama
Normal Human immunoglobulin
Nuclear magnetic resonance contrast agent
Normal Human serum Albumin
Penicillamine
Pancuronium Bromide
Pentamidine
Penicillinase
Peplomycin
Pilocarpine
Podohyllotoxin
Piperacillin
Poliomvelitis vaccine (inactivated and live)
Laureth 9
Poly myxin B
Polyestradiol
Potassium Aminobenzoate
Porcine Insulin Zinc Suspension
Praziquantel
Pralidoxime
Prednimustine
Prazosin
Porcine and Bovine insulin
Procarbazine
Purified Chick Embryo Cell Rabies Vaccine
Protamine
Pyridostigmine
Pyridinol Carbamate
Radio-immunoassay kit for hormones (T3, T4, TSH Insulin, Glycogen, Growth Hormone, Cortisol, L. H., FSH and Digoxin)
Quinidine
Radioisotope T1 201
Tribavarin
Septopal beads and chains
Sodium Arsenate
Sodium Cromoglycate spincaps and cartridges
Sodium Hyalauronate sterile1% and 1.4% solution
Solution containing Human Follicle Stimulating and Luteinising hormones
Solution of Nucleotides and Nucliosides
Somatostatin
Somatropin
Specific Desensitizing Vaccine
Sterile Absorbable Haemostat for control of surgical vessel bleeding
Streplokinase and Streptodomase preparations
Strontium Chloride (85 Sr.)
StrontiumSR-89 Chloride
Suxamethonium Chloride
Testolactone
Technitium-99M
Thioguanine
Thallium 201
Ticarcillin
Tobramycin
Tissue Plasminogen Activator
Tranexamic Acid
Tocainide
Tri-iodothyronine
Triethylene Tetramine
Triethylene Thiophosphoramide
Trofosfamide
Tubocurarine
Urokinase
Ursodeoxycholic Acid
Vancomycin
Vasopressin
Vecuronium Bromide
Vindesin Sulphate
X-ray diagnostic agents, the following :- (i) Propylidone (ii) Ethyl iodopheny-lun decylate (iii) lodipammide methyl glucamine (iv) Lipidoll utra fluid (v) Patent blue
Anti -D Immunoglobulin
Aurothiomalate Sodium
Botulinum Toxin Type 'A'
Triptorelin
D.K.line 100% purified perflurodicalin liquid
Fligrastim/Molgramostim (G-CSF/GM-CSF)
Flecainide
Foetal Bovine Serum (FBS)
GadoliniumDTPA Dimeglumine
HTLV - 1 Western Blot Kits
Tetanus Immunoglobin
BCG vaccine, Iopromide, lotrolan
Legionella Pnuemophilis IF kits
Muromonab-CD3
Octreotide
Typhoid Vaccines : (i) VI Antigen of Salmonella Typhi, and (ii) Ty 21a cells and attenuated non-pathogenic strains of S.Typhi
(a) Rabbit brains thromboplastin for PT test; (b) Reagent for PT tests; (c) Human Thrombin for TT tests
Pnuemocystis carinij IF Kits
Puenoxytelzamins
Rabies immunoglobulin of equine origin
Thrombokinase
Teniposide
Vidarabine
Iscador, CLIA Diagnostic kits
Lamivudine
Zalcitabine
Saquinavir
Zidovudine
Ritonavir
Amifostine
Gemcitabine
Goserlin Acetate
Teicoplanin
Recuronium Bromide
Abeciximab
Disodium Pamidronate
Savoflurane
Ticarcillin Disodium and Potassium Clavulante combination
Trans 1-Diamino cyclohexane Oxalatoplatinum
Letrozole
Irinotecan
Leuprolide Acetate
Fludarabine Phosphate
Lenograstim
Tretinoin
Enoxaparin
Eptifibatide
Mycophenolate Mofetil
Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1)
Natural Micronised Progesterone
Latanoprost
Riluzole
Cefpirome

Procedure in case of Postal Imports:
The Rules prescribed for landing and clearing at notified Ports/Airports/Land Customs Stations of parcels and packets forwarded by the foreign mails or passenger vessels or air liners are as follows: -

(a)
The boxes or bags containing the parcels labeled as "Postal Parcel", "Parcel Post", "Parcel Mail", "Letter Mail" will be allowed to pass at the Foreign Parcel Department of the Foreign Post Offices and Sub Foreign Post Offices.

(b)
On receipt of the parcel mail, the Postmaster hands over to the Customs the following documents:
(i)
a memo showing the total number of parcels received from each country of origin;
(ii)
parcel bills in sheet form (in triplicate) and the senders’ declarations (if available) and any other relevant documents that may be required for the examination, assessment etc. by the Customs Department;
(iii)
the relative Customs Declarations and dispatch notes (if any); and
(iv)
any other information required in connection with the preparation of the parcel bills which the Post Office is able to furnish.

(c)
On receipt of the documents, the Customs Appraiser shall scrutinize the particulars given in the parcel bill and shall identify the parcels required to be detained for examination either for want of necessary particulars or defective description or suspected misdeclaration or under-valuation of contents. The remaining parcels are to be assessed by showing the rates of duty on the declarations or parcel bill, as the case may be. For this purpose, the Appraisers are generally guided by the particulars given in the parcel bill or Customs declarations and dispatch notes (if any). When any invoice, document or information is required whereby the real value, quantity or description of the contents of a parcel can be ascertained, the addressee may be called upon by way of a notice to produce or furnish such invoice, document and information.

(d)
Whenever necessary, the values from the declarations are entered into the parcel bill and after conversion into Indian Currency at the ruling rates of exchange, the amount of duty is calculated and entered. The relevant copies of parcel bills with the declarations so completed are then returned to the Postmaster immediately. In case of postal imports, duty is calculated at the rate and valuation in force on the date that the postal authorities present a list of such goods to the Customs. In case the list is presented before the arrival of the vessel carrying the goods, the list is deemed to have been presented on the date of the arrival of the vessel.

(e)
All parcels marked for detention in the manner indicated above are to be detained by the Postmaster. Rest of the parcels will go forward for delivery to the addressee on payment of the duty marked on each parcel.

(f)
As soon as the detained parcels are ready for examination, they are submitted together with the parcel bill to the Customs. After examining them and filling in details of contents of value in the parcel bills, Customs note the rate and amount of duty against each item. The remarks "Examined" is then to be entered against the entry in the parcel bill relating to each parcel examined by the Customs Appraiser and the Postmaster’s copies will be returned by the Customs.

(g)
In the case of receipt of letter mail bags, the Postmaster gets the bags opened and scrutinized under the supervision of the Customs with a view to identify all packets containing dutiable articles. Such packets are to be detained and are presented in due course to the Customs Appraiser with letter mail bill and assessment memos for assessment.
As soon as packets so detained are ready for examination and assessment, they shall be submitted together with the relative letter mail bill and assessment memos to the Customs. After examining them and filling the details of contents of value in the bill, the Customs Appraiser will note the rate and amount of duty against each item. He will likewise fill in these details on the assessment memos to be forwarded alongwith each packet.

(h)
All parcels or packets required to be opened for Customs examination are opened, and after examination, re-closed by the Post Office officials and are then sealed by them with a distinctive seal. The parcels or packets remain throughout in the custody of the Post Office officials.

(i)
If on examination the contents of any parcel or packet are found to be misdeclared or the value understated or to consist of prohibited goods, such parcels or packets must be detained and reported to the Customs and the Postmaster does not allow such parcels or packets to go forward without the Customs’ orders.

(j)
The duties as assessed by the Customs Appraiser and noted in the parcel bill or letter mail bill shall be recovered by the Post Office from the addressees at the time of delivery to them. The credit for the total amount of duty certified by the Customs Appraiser at the end of each bill are given by the Post Office to the Customs Department in accordance with the procedure settled between the two Departments.

(k)
The parcel bills or letter mail bills and other documents on which assessment is made remain in the custody of the Post Office, but the duplicates, where these are prepared, are kept in the Customs Department for dealing with claims for refunds, etc.

Safer way of importing through post

it is better that you ask your parcel sender that either it get Insured or registered parcel.No pilfrage of goods take place in the insured or registered parcel. If there is any complained about missing articles in the parcel,it is advisable to address complain to the Director(Foreign post) of the Postal department. Also, any dispute regarding missing or theft of postal article can be redressed through Honourable consumer courts.


Faster method of exporting through post

You can hand over your parcel to the Post office for export purpose then the parcel is presented before the Customs authority. Again parcel is re-open for customs formalties.

The other alternative is to first produced parcel to the Customs Authority and get it examined. The customs department will put a seal that it has been passed in the Customs.Then the parcel is handed over to the Postal authority.At this stage the parcel is not opened by the postal authority.Therefore, you know that parcel is not delayed by the postal authority on account of non obtaining Customs clearance.