Taking medicines with you on a trip

1. Some medicines fall under the Opium Act and are therefore strictly prohibited abroad. This applies, for example, to certain sleeping aids and painkillers. Arrange a medical statement on time, so that you do not have any problems with customs.

2. Some medicines fall under the Opium Act and are therefore strictly prohibited abroad. This applies, for example, to certain sleeping aids and painkillers. Arrange a medical statement on time, so that you do not have problems with customs.

1. The Opium Act contains a list of soft and hard drugs that you are not allowed to have in your possession. Many medicines also contain substances that fall under the Opium Act, such as strong painkillers, sedatives, ADHD medication and medicinal cannabis. Medical use is allowed, but if you want to take such drugs abroad, you need an official statement from your doctor that you are taking them on a prescription. With such a statement you demonstrate that you are taking the medication with you for your own use. The most common Opium Act drugs are: Substance name Brand name Methylphenidate Ritalin, Concerta, Medikinet Morphine Kapanol, Oramorph Oxycodone Oxycontin, Oxynorm Methadone Symoron, Pindadone Temazepam Normisom Oxazepam Seresta A If in doubt, ask your doctor or pharmacy whether the medicines you or your children use are covered by the Opium Act.

Medical statements

1. Are you traveling and do you want to take medicines with you that fall under the Opium Act? Then you need an official statement from your doctor, which is then legalized by the CAK, the body responsible for opium exemptions. There are two different declarations: a Schengen declaration for travel within the Schengen area and an English-language declaration for travel outside the Schengen area. If you send the statement via the 'Send Schengen statement' form, you will receive a response by email within 5 working days. If you send the statement by post, you will receive the approved statement by post within 2 weeks. Take into account a processing time of 2 weeks for the English statement.

Schengen countries

1. The Schengen area includes Belgium, Denmark, Â Germany, Â Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Â Hungary, Â Italy, Â Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Austria , Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, the Czech Republic, Iceland, Sweden and Switzerland. If you are going to one of these countries and you are taking medication that falls under the Opium Act, you will need a Schengen certificate. Download the form at www.hetcak.nl and fill it in completely, do not forget the stamp and signature of your doctor. Send the form by post or digitally to the CAK. With one Schengen declaration, you can take one medicine with you and visit a maximum of four countries. Take into account a processing time of 5 working days if you send the statement digitally. Then take into account a processing time of 2 weeks by post. The statement is valid for thirty days. If your trip takes longer, you have to apply for several certificates.

Other countries

1. Are you going to a country that does not belong to the Schengen area? Then you need a medical statement from your doctor. This must be in English and in letter form. Here you will find more about the type of form in which your doctor can fill in the necessary information. An English-language medical statement is valid for one year if your medication and dose remain the same. If your medication or the dosage changes, you need a new statement. Depending on the country you are traveling to, in some cases your statement must still be legalized by the embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For certain countries additional documents are required or the procedure is different. On the CAK website you can find out which steps you need to follow for each country.

2. Are you going to a country that does not belong to the Schengen area? Then you need a medical statement from your doctor. This must be in English and in letter form. Here you will find more about the type of form in which your doctor can fill in the necessary information. An English medical statement is valid for one year if your medication and dose remain the same. If your medication or the dosage changes, you need a new statement. Depending on the country you are traveling to, in some cases your statement must still be legalized by the embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For certain countries additional documents are required or the procedure is different. On the website of the CAK you can find out which steps you have to follow for each country.

Take other medicines with you

1. Medicines that do not fall under the Opium Act can be taken with you when you travel. Take them with you in the original packaging with the sticker from the pharmacy with your name and the dosage on it. It is useful to request a medicine passport (also called a medicine passport) from your doctor or pharmacy. This states which medicines you use and what the internationally used substance names are. If you lose medication, a doctor can prescribe the correct replacement. Such a medicine passport is useful, but not an official travel document. It is not enough to be allowed to take medicines that fall under the Opium Act, an official statement is required for this. Keep medicines in your hand luggage when traveling by plane, as the hold can get very cold and medicines can become unusable. Moreover, you always have them at hand, even if your suitcase gets lost.