Bringing medicines to Finland
Note! The restrictions on importing medications from Great Britain changed on 1 January 2021. The maximum permitted quantities is smaller, and receiving medicines from Great Britain by mail will no longer be permitted. The change in restrictions did not concern Northern Ireland.
You can only bring medicinal products to Finland from abroad for personal use. Certain restrictions apply. Find out about the restrictions before you bring medicines from abroad or order and receive them by post. Veterinary medicines are subject to stricter restrictions than medicines for human use.
The restrictions are based on the Government Decree on importing medicinal products to Finland for personal use (1088/2002) (Finlex).
Import restrictions vary based on the following factors:
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Classification of the product in Finland (prescription drug, over-the-counter medicine, medicine classified as a narcotic, veterinary medicine)
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The country imported from
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Method of importation (carrying, sending by post)
The import requirements and restrictions are described in more detail below.
Product classification
First, find out how the product is classified in Finland: is it, for example, a prescription drug, over-the-counter medicine (OTC) or a nutritional supplement. Classification may vary in different countries. For example, a product classified as a nutritional supplement in one country can be classified a medicinal product in Finland (link to the page). Import restrictions are based on the classification of the product in Finland.
General import requirements
To be allowed to bring a medicine to Finland, you must meet the following requirements:
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The medicinal product is intended for personal use
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The medicinal product is sold legally in the country from which they are ordered
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The product has a marketing authorisation in the country where you purchased it or the product was purchased with a prescription issued by an authorised person
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You have purchased the product from a provider that is licensed to sell medicines
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The seller is allowed to sell the product through retail in their own country
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You can demonstrate that the product to be imported is intended for personal use
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For prescription drugs, you must have a prescription or a medical certificate issued by an authorised person
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If you carry the product, you must also carry the documents. If you receive the product by mail, you must have the documents in your possession before receipt
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Maximum import amount
For OTC products, the maximum allowed amount is determined based on the dose marked on the package. For prescription drugs, the amount is based on the prescribed daily dose or the daily dose indicated in the instructions for use.
Maximum import amount from EEA countries.
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If you carry the medicine, you can bring a quantity equivalent to a year’s supply
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If you order the product by post, the received amount cannot exceed a quantity equivalent to three months of use
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Separate restrictions apply to medicinal products classified as a narcotic
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EEA countries include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
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The restrictions concerning EEA countries apply to Northern Ireland as well.
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NOTE! Great Britain will not be a part of EEA starting from 1 January 2021.
Maximum import amount from outside the EEA (including Great Britain starting from 1 January 2021):
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If you carry the medicine, you can bring a quantity equivalent to three month’s supply
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Receiving medicines by post is prohibited
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Separate restrictions apply to medicinal products classified as a narcotic
Medicinal products classified as a narcotic
From a Schengen country:
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If you carry a medicinal product classified as a narcotic, you can bring a quantity equivalent to 30 days’ supply
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Receiving products classified as a narcotic by post is prohibited
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For carrying products, you also need a Schengen certificate
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If you travel in the Schengen area, you can get the certificate from a pharmacy
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If you are a Finnish resident, the certificate does not give you the right to bring any medicinal products purchased abroad classified as a narcotic to Finland
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Schengen countries are Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
From outside the Schengen area:
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If you carry a medicinal product classified as a narcotic, you can bring a quantity equivalent to 14 days’s supply
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Receiving products classified as a narcotic by post is prohibited
Additional requirements:
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Maximum allowed concentration when the active substance is buprenorphine
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Products for pain management: 48 mg from Schengen countries and 22.4 mg from other countries
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Products for opioid rehabilitation or opioid substitution therapy: 480 mg from Schengen countries and 224 mg from other countries
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Maximum allowed concentration when the active substance is methadone
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1,200 mg from Schengen countries and 560 mg from other countries
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If you bring the same medicinal product or a corresponding product classified as a narcotic to Finland for the second time, a period at least equivalent to the appropriate administration period for the previously-imported quantity of medication must have elapsed
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It is not allowed to bring medicinal products containing narcotic substances if the product specification indicates that they can cause a clinically significant and hazardous interaction if used together.
Import of veterinary medicines
A private person travelling to Finland from abroad may bring
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Only legally purchased veterinary medicine intended to treat pet diseases
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A quantity equivalent to no more than one month’s supply
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Veterinary medicines must be brought together with the pet to be treated
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It is prohibited to receive veterinary medicines from abroad by post
Monitoring imports
The customs controls compliance with import regulations. The customs has the right to request further information to demonstrate compliance with import requirements.
There are no special or exceptional procedures concerning the requirements and restrictions.
19.5.2023
Further information
Sami Paaskoski, Senior Pharmaceutical Inspector,
tel. +358 29 5223237
Kristiina Pellas, Senior Pharmaceutical Inspector (borderline classification questions)
tel. +358 29 5223422
E-mail addresses follow the form [email protected]