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Personal importation at a glance

Access to unapproved therapeutic goods

  • Personal importation occurs when:
    • an individual either brings a therapeutic good into Australia on their person or arranges from within Australia for a therapeutic good to be sent to them from an overseas supplier; and
    • the goods are to be used by that individual or a member of his/her immediate family and are not sold or supplied to any other person.
  • The goods can only be either for use by the importer or a member of the importer's immediate family.
  • The quantity imported can not exceed three months' supply per importation and the total quantity imported per year can not exceed 15 months' supply at the manufacturer's recommended maximum dosage.
  • Substances, which are a prohibited import under the CPI Regulations, can not be imported as Personal Imports. These drugs may be imported via the Special Access Scheme <http://www.tga.gov.au/hp/sas.htm>.
  • Products which are injections containing material of human or animal origin (except insulin) can not be imported as Personal Imports. These drugs may be imported via the Special Access Scheme <http://www.tga.gov.au/hp/sas.htm>.
  • In order to import any product which is a prescription medicine (ie, in Schedules 4 or 8 of the Poisons Standard), the importer must have a prescription issued by a medical practitioner registered in an Australian State or Territory. Note: medicines carried by a passenger on a plane or ship are an exception to this requirement, however, an import licence is still required in the case of medicines in Schedule 4 of the CPI Regulations if the passenger does not have a prescription.
  • Prior quarantine clearance must be obtained to import any material of biological origin (human, animal, plant or bacterial). The importer should contact the Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service to see if an import permit is required. Further information can be obtained from the AQIS website <http://www.aqis.gov.au>.
  • The import or export of substances containing parts of animals and plants listed as endangered species required a permit issued under the Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1982. Further information can be obtained from the Environment Australia website <http://www.biodiversity.environment.gov.au/wildlife>.