Can I Take Vitamins to China?

Q: My parents are very old and can not afford the medicines and vitamins for health because there is so expensive there. I brought a dozen medications and vitamins, etc. in Taiwan without any problem. What about China. How do I know?

A: Can you take vitamins to China or to any other country? This is not an easy question to answer. There are different policies in different countries as far as taking drugs and medications through customs, and it depends on many things. What kinds of vitamins you are referring to, for instance, what kind of packaging they are in and what size; whether they are liquids or solids, and whether a prescription is required. In addition, different customs agents may have different responses on different days…one never knows! In addition, some items which are legal in certain countries are illegal in others. For example, some products containing ephedrine are legal in the U.S. but cannot be brought into Canada, where they are illegal.

If you are traveling with medications and/or vitamins, you are advised to have them in travel-friendly container sizes, and to carry prescriptions with you where applicable and possible.

Sometimes it’s easier to order things by mail and have them come that way. The choice and the chances to take are yours…sorry, but there is no easy answer as to whether you can take medicines and vitamins to China or elsewhere.

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