Yes, RobTuck has mentioned this recently, it’s not clear if this is Canada only policy or global all international imports. Either way, this is an outragous limit on people who rely on such shipments to get medications within their budgets. I guess, our authorities, being composed exclusively of millionairs and billionairs (take a look a the net worth of members of Congress OF EITHER PARTY - this is not a “political” post, and also the Administration decision makers) don’t care at all about affordability of life saving medication, instead prefer to play silly customs games with our neighbors. But then again, why should they care, the people affected vote for them in overwhelming numbers anyway (i.e. the elderly - we know whom they vote for mostly, corrupt incumbents of either party). Contacting your Congressional Representative… LOL.
Either way, the advice remains the same as a year ago: stock up, because “winter us coming” - dark times ahead and poor prospects for relief… odds are it’ll only get worse. YMMV.
The problem is not really India so much as US Customs. As people know the current incumbent in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue wants to charge tariffs on lots of things. That includes even very small imported packages. The additional difficulty is that unlike other countries the USA does not (officially) allow people to import prescription medicines. This is a bit weird given the movement towards “right to try”.
I am not personally sure what the way round this is other than emigrating from the USA.
It is not looking good: One guy on reddit says he had one package of medications from India ordered just before the shutdown, which got confiscated by US customs. He then placed 2 more orders from India from 2 different merchants shipped via Dubai and both packages also got confiscated by US customs. He got the usual letter from US customs for all 3 packages about 3 weeks after tracking ended in US customs.
In addition, the Oct 22 deadline appears to terminate personal importation for all medications imported by US citizens into USA, from anywhere in the world. (There is a special exemption that non-US citizens present in USA on a temporary Visa can use to import up to 90 days worth of medications at a time).
The only silver lining is that if there is any way for the new electronic pre-clearance to be gamed by foreign merchants, those from India are more likely to be willing to look the other way, as long as no Indian laws are broken. So, as long as the Indian Postal service is not somehow forced by US customs to inspect all packages manually, an Indiamart merchant willing to get creative about the electronic customs declaration might be willing to continue shipping. The real risk is that US customs will have zero tolerance for any package caught with medications and might electronically blacklist both the sender and receipient subjecting all future packages to 100% screeening.
Jagdish took my order, sent me an invoice and I paid. Then he told me that shipments were paused because of tariffs. Since then he hasn’t answered emails or WhatsApp messages.
I did get an order from AllDayChemist recently, but they are more expensive.
I just received a year’s supply of Eris Rapacan rapamycin. I used a vendor who ships via Dubai.
He was a little slow posting, but once posted, it was only 13 days in transit. Nothing unusual on the label other than a little creative thinking on the contents, which I didn’t understand. The vendor only charged the standard $30 shipping fee, but I don’t use him much because he is much more expensive than our most trusted suppliers ($1/mg vs $0.60/mg).
The order was shipped on the 9th and arrived today.
I also just placed an order with Maulik. We’ll see how that goes.
600 tablets. I don’t how many packages because on large orders he sometimes removes the boxes. If you are asking about the shipping box it will just be one. He says his “shipper” says it’s okay for one box.
Same here. First I’ll ask my vendors how they feel about the situation. I guess Jagdish is holding off for now, so I’m not going through him. I really only need imeglimin, because the rest I’m set with for the next 4-5 years. And in a pinch I can get most of my stack prescribed stateside (hassle + expense) if desperate. But imeglimin is a different situation as it’s not FDA approved or available in the states. But as long as I’m buying imeglimin, I might just as well top off acarbose which I have a few month’s supply, but have not even tried as yet - this deadline forces my hand, may spring for a 2-3 year supply. This may need to be broken up into more than one package shipped. We’ll see.
Yes. I have between a 1-3 year supply for each med. I’m going to try and bulk up the ones that I have to go through India for. Luckily Shenzhen and Hong Kong can cover my Metformin, SGLT2I and Pitavastatin at decent prices.
I can get everything else locally too, but I have to pay through the nose… But not as much as if I was in the USA. Prices there are crazy for some drugs…
I’m going to try a couple more shipments before the window closes on October 22nd.
DeStrider, you’ve mention the October 22nd date a couple of times. That is the CBP compliance date for new CBP rules in 2026. However, from what I understand India and India Post now have in place a system that is compliant. And, some vendors are now shipping while others will be shortly. So, I don’t understand how trying to get a new order in before October 22nd would affect that order? Please explain.
Starting October 22, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enforces new data and compliance rules for international mail shipments entering the United States.What Changes on October 22New Entry Requirements: Certain low-value merchandise entering through international mail can no longer use legacy informal processes and must comply with updated regulatory data standards.Electronic Filing: Shippers and postal operators must use formal entry or CBP’s electronic filing option (Entry Type 13) for applicable goods.
Until then it’s not being enforced. Packages are still being delivered under the old exemptions. It all changes on October 22nd. I don’t want to risk it.
