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Can I bring my own medicine, or medicine for my mother, from a country outside the EU?

In short

You can bring medicine for your own use, with a prescription or a doctor's report, in an amount that fits your treatment. Before you travel, ask the official authority to confirm the maximum amount allowed. Selling medicine is forbidden.

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This rule in 59 seconds
Video transcript

Your suitcase holds your own medicines and a few boxes for your mother. It depends: For your own use, you may bring medicine with a prescription or doctor's report, in an amount that fits the treatment. Bringing it for others can be a problem. The right way: Carry the prescription and the box. Ask FAGG / AFMPS the maximum amount before you travel. Selling medicine is forbidden. Outcome: Medicine breaking rules: Seized; Also: Risk of a fine; Selling or narcotics: Criminal case.

What is not allowed, what is required?

  • You may only bring medicine for personal use. The amount must fit your treatment. Before you travel, ask the official authority (FAGG / AFMPS or customs) to confirm the maximum amount allowed.
  • Carry your prescription or doctor's report, preferably with the medicine in its box with the leaflet.
  • For medicines with narcotic or psychotropic substances (some painkillers, sleeping pills and sedatives), you must show a valid prescription or an officially approved document. You can bring at most 3 months of treatment.
  • Medicine brought for someone else (your mother, a neighbour, a relative) may not count as personal use; check before you travel. Selling medicine is forbidden.
  • Only use antibiotics on a doctor's advice. Even if antibiotics are sold without a prescription in some countries, do not bring them back without a prescription to take on your own.

Penalty and indirect consequences

PENALTY NOTICE
Fine / payment
Medicines that break the rules are seized; you risk a fine.

Legal basis:Geneesmiddelenwet 25.3.1964, art. 14 §2, 16

Court / prison
Selling medicine, or bringing medicine with narcotics without permission, can lead to a criminal case.

Legal basis:Geneesmiddelenwet 25.3.1964, art. 16 §3, §4

What really matters: the indirect consequences

What do these terms mean?

Criminal record
The state register of convictions handed down by a court. The extract asked for a job, residence or nationality application comes from it. Municipal GAS fines are not entered in it.

All terms: glossary →

Why does this rule exist?

This rule protects people from fake, spoiled or wrongly used medicine. Using antibiotics without a prescription makes antibiotics stop working (resistance) and puts everyone in danger.

Check your own situationSuitcase and customsComing back from outside the EU? Pack your suitcase and see what gets you into trouble at customs.

Where can you go?

  • CustomsIf in doubt, go through the red channel at the airport and ask
  • Food safety agency (FAVV / AFSCA)Rules for bringing in food and plants
  • Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.

This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses

Source and reliability

Official source
Source check
7 / 8 statements in an official source
Checked: 12.10.2026
Last checked
12.10.2026
Rules can change
Show the 8 checked statementsopen

The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.

General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?

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