Tia Maria
25th April 2008, 02:16 PM
Someone bought this to my attention a while back:
If you are traveling through Dubai be careful what medicines you have in your hand luggage as many medicines that can be bought over the counter in other countries (Tixylix for instance), are considered illegal in UAE.
Check out this report:
On the list of substances that travellers can be jailed for possessing are dozens of compounds used in over-the-counter remedies. These include Benylin children’s coughs and colds formula, which contains dextromethorphan, and Tixylix children’s cough syrup. Other products on a blacklist of more than 300 substances include the popular antidiarrhoea treatment Lomotil, cough treatments Coldex and Robitussin, and antidepressants Valium and Prozac. Possession of any of these without a prescription or an explanatory letter from your GP could lead to arrest and imprisonment.
And despite the fact that more than 800,000 British tourists will visit Dubai this year, none of the tour operators contacted by The Sunday Times offers information about what medicines can be taken into the emirate. “We would not put detailed banned substances on the website as this would be too much information to digest,” Kuoni said. “We do, however, refer clients, both in the brochure and links on the website, to the Foreign Office’s website.”
In its entry on Dubai, the Foreign Office advises: “Some over-the-counter medicines, such as codeine, are illegal without a doctor’s prescription. In some cases, you will be allowed to take these medicines in, providing they are in their original packaging and, in addition to the prescription, you provide a note from your GP outlining what the medicine is required for.” The definitive list can be found only as a file buried deep in the pharmacists’ section of the United Arab Emirates ministry of health’s website, but is it reasonable to expect families to ask GPs for a letter to cover a bottle of Tixylix bought in Boots?
Full article here:
http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/travel/news/article3552235.ece
Another view:
Customs in Dubai also want to set the record straight regarding punishments for bringing banned medicines into the UAE. There have been several reports about people being jailed or deported simply for having a box of Co-Codamol in their hand luggage. In these cases, say Dubai Customs, there were other circumstances to consider, and that in the case of an honest mistake the substances are simply confiscated. However, officers do have the right to quiz anybody they suspect does not have genuine reasons for the medicine they have.
‘If it is an accident then we take it off them. It is only when there are large quantities or something else is happening that there are different punishments. Officers are trained to speak to the public about any situation to avoid any problems. When it comes to actual illegal drugs then obviously this is much more serious,’ added Bin Lahej.
Full article here:
http://emiratesreuters.blogspot.com/
Full list of banned drugs here:
www.gulfnews.com/images/06/11/14/controlleddrugslist.pdf
Its always hard to know whether the media is making more of this than is really the case, but its something to be aware of......
Cheers
Tia
If you are traveling through Dubai be careful what medicines you have in your hand luggage as many medicines that can be bought over the counter in other countries (Tixylix for instance), are considered illegal in UAE.
Check out this report:
On the list of substances that travellers can be jailed for possessing are dozens of compounds used in over-the-counter remedies. These include Benylin children’s coughs and colds formula, which contains dextromethorphan, and Tixylix children’s cough syrup. Other products on a blacklist of more than 300 substances include the popular antidiarrhoea treatment Lomotil, cough treatments Coldex and Robitussin, and antidepressants Valium and Prozac. Possession of any of these without a prescription or an explanatory letter from your GP could lead to arrest and imprisonment.
And despite the fact that more than 800,000 British tourists will visit Dubai this year, none of the tour operators contacted by The Sunday Times offers information about what medicines can be taken into the emirate. “We would not put detailed banned substances on the website as this would be too much information to digest,” Kuoni said. “We do, however, refer clients, both in the brochure and links on the website, to the Foreign Office’s website.”
In its entry on Dubai, the Foreign Office advises: “Some over-the-counter medicines, such as codeine, are illegal without a doctor’s prescription. In some cases, you will be allowed to take these medicines in, providing they are in their original packaging and, in addition to the prescription, you provide a note from your GP outlining what the medicine is required for.” The definitive list can be found only as a file buried deep in the pharmacists’ section of the United Arab Emirates ministry of health’s website, but is it reasonable to expect families to ask GPs for a letter to cover a bottle of Tixylix bought in Boots?
Full article here:
http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/travel/news/article3552235.ece
Another view:
Customs in Dubai also want to set the record straight regarding punishments for bringing banned medicines into the UAE. There have been several reports about people being jailed or deported simply for having a box of Co-Codamol in their hand luggage. In these cases, say Dubai Customs, there were other circumstances to consider, and that in the case of an honest mistake the substances are simply confiscated. However, officers do have the right to quiz anybody they suspect does not have genuine reasons for the medicine they have.
‘If it is an accident then we take it off them. It is only when there are large quantities or something else is happening that there are different punishments. Officers are trained to speak to the public about any situation to avoid any problems. When it comes to actual illegal drugs then obviously this is much more serious,’ added Bin Lahej.
Full article here:
http://emiratesreuters.blogspot.com/
Full list of banned drugs here:
www.gulfnews.com/images/06/11/14/controlleddrugslist.pdf
Its always hard to know whether the media is making more of this than is really the case, but its something to be aware of......
Cheers
Tia