Travelling to a different country is an exciting experience, but for Travellers who require medications, especially those containing controlled substances, it’s crucial to be well-prepared and informed about international regulations. The global drug control system is in place to facilitate legitimate travel for individuals needing these medications for personal medical use. While international treaties may not explicitly detail these travel provisions, they empower national governments to establish special rules, particularly for medications not listed under Schedule I of the 1971 Convention.
Key Information for International Travellers
Are you planning an international trip and need to bring medicines that contain controlled substances? Many commonly prescribed medications fall under international control. Therefore, travellers must proactively understand and comply with the regulations of their destination countries before they travel. The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) collaborates with governments and national agencies to provide travellers with essential information regarding the legal status and specific regulations for controlled substances in different countries.
It is highly recommended that travellers intending to carry medications across international borders carefully examine both general guidelines and country-specific information through the provided links. The INCB is dedicated to ensuring the availability of the most current information by working closely with various governments.
Resources for National Authorities
The INCB also supports competent national authorities in managing international travel involving controlled substances in medications. This support is primarily offered in two key areas:
1. Support in Developing National Regulations
The International guidelines for national regulations concerning travellers under treatment with internationally controlled drugs, developed jointly by the UNODC and INCB, following the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) resolution 44/15, are designed to assist national authorities. These guidelines provide a framework for creating effective regulations for travellers carrying small quantities of necessary controlled medications. Adopting these harmonized procedures, while not mandatory, would significantly improve information sharing through the INCB and streamline processes for government bodies.
2. Publication of National Regulations
Countries are encouraged to share their national regulations concerning travellers under medical treatment who carry controlled substances with the INCB, as per CND resolution 46/6. This information can be submitted using a standardized table.
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عربي
中文
English
Français
Русский
Español
The INCB translates the submitted national regulations into all official UN languages and makes them publicly accessible here. This compilation of country-specific regulations has become an invaluable resource for both international travellers and competent national authorities.
