Importing licensed medicinal products for human use
When importing any medicinal product for human consumption, there are strict licencing processes that must be adhered to. The Government have set up an online portal for web applications which should be used by importers for new applications, variations applications and annual compliance reporting. New applications can typically take 90 working days to process with variations ranging from 30 working days if no inspection is required to 90 days when inspection is deemed necessary. There are fees for each application whether that be a new or amendment. These fees are not payable until after the application has been processed.
If any of this process is incomplete or not completed properly, Border Force may step in and could seize the goods on arrival to the UK. Recently, we advised a US company on exporting into the UK, and have advised a Canadian Company on its venture, in addition to dealing with investigations by HMRC and MRHA into the import and sale of products, including attending interviews with our clients.
For more information on what to do if your goods are seized or to find out how we can help you complete the paperwork prior to import, speak to one of our experts.