Why New Customs Requirements Could Disrupt Personal Prescription Importation

The central issue

Customs brokers and clearance companies are taking the FDA at their policy directive; if a prescription medication is available domestically, it is not eligible for importation.

With this policy guidance in mind, it is expected that brokerages will not accept prescription medications after October 22, 2026.

What the guidelines fail to recognize – accessibility and availability go hand-in-hand. If a drug is not accessible due to cost, is it really domestically available? This is why millions of Americans have turned to Canadian and international pharmacies and government-approved dispensaries for over twenty years.

The current model depends on efficient individual shipments

Licensed pharmacies and government approved dispensaries serving U.S. patients review prescriptions and dispense medication for one person at a time. Individual parcels are then sent through the international postal network.

This model helps patients access medicines at prices they can afford, but it operates on a very different scale from a large commercial import. A brokerage or compliance cost that is reasonable for a high-value shipment can be prohibitive when attached to one patient's refill. It is also unnecessarily burdensome for small package sales.

What the new process may add

The new requirements may involve:

• a customs broker for individual parcels;

• a customs bond;

• substantially more product and recipient documentation;

• additional government-agency information;

• duties, fees, or processing charges;

• more manual review and exception handling; and

• longer and less predictable border processing.

These steps create both cost and capacity problems. Even if a customs route exists, it may not offer a practical way to continue service at an affordable price for a high volume of individual parcels.

Potential patient consequences

Many patients use licensed international pharmacies and/or government approved dispensaries because U.S. prices are beyond their budgets. Losing that access may force them to pay substantially more, delay a refill, reduce spending on other necessities, or search for another source.

An unregulated seller is not a safe answer. Patients should use valid prescriptions and consult a healthcare professional if a possible interruption could affect treatment.

The policy question

We agree – bad actors leveraging the mail systems for final delivery need to be held accountable. This new system was designed to defend against unapproved and illicit substances entering the USA – but it must be made clear by the current Administration – an American's right to import a personal supply of their prescription must be guaranteed.

What customers can do

Exhaust your current supply of eligible refills to ensure you have enough stock on hand to avoid skipping or missing your doses. Please consult with your physician about getting a new prescription.

Most importantly, use CPPI's advocacy tool to contact your relevant congressional offices and tell them: "My right to import my medication must not be taken away from me!"

Calls to action: Send a letter through CPPI | Open the action guide