COUNTRIES WITH SPECIAL
CUSTOMS/SHIPPING REQUIREMENTS
This information was provided by missionaries upon return from these countries.
We are just passing it on, allowing you to make appropriate plans for your trip.
*KENYA – Customs in Kenya require that you have a form/document from the Minister of Health of Kenya approving the medications you are bringing in, prior to your arrival into Kenya with the medications.
*GUATEMALA – Customs in Guatemala is charging a “Tax” unless the medicine is previously approved with them by an accepted Organization with them. Also, they are requiring that the list of medications you are bringing in be translated and sent to them 2-3 months ahead of your arrival.
*NICARAGUA – Customs in Nicaragua requires that all medications have at least 6 months expiration.
*NAIROBI – Customs in Nairobi has a new form that must be completed in advance of transporting medication into their country.
*ECUADOR – Customs in Ecuador have confiscated medication in recent months. You must have a secure way of getting your medications in.
*UKRAINE – Customs in the Ukraine require at least 6 month expiration on medications brought into the Ukraine and the medications must be on the “Registry List” in the Ukraine.
*EL SALVADOR – Customs in El Salvador require a list of the medications you are bringing into El Salvador to be sent to them 2-3 months ahead of your arrival. They also require that the medications be translated into Spanish.
*NIGERIA – Customs in Nigeria require at least 6 months expiration.
*PANAMA – Customs in Panama require at least 6 months expiration.
*BELIZE - Customs is charging a small duty charge for the value of what you are carrying in. They are willing to work with you on the charge by not charging very much if any product is short dated and/or donated product.
*SIERRA LEONE - You need to contact the Ministry of Health to let them know when and where you will be doing a health clinic and send them a list of all medicines to be brought into the country so they can approve the medicine prior to you coming. When approved, ask for a document stating all medicines are approved so you can show that as you enter the country. Make sure no medicines, even over the counter, are expired. Bring the number and contact information of the Ministry of Health just in case you need to contact them. Also, connecting with a ministry that is in the country is helpful. We did all this prior to getting in and had the list of medicines with us as we entered, but the local custom guy would not let us take the medicine in until he talked with the Ministry of Health and it was 11:30 pm. So, the solution was for us to leave with the medicines that night and leave our address of where we were staying and they would send out the Department of Pharmacy to check the next morning. No one came the next day since the Ministry of Health verified we were cleared.