Delays in Customs Procedures, Followed by Prohibited Importation of Cosmetics, Toiletries, and Medicines

[Brundageba]

1 hour ago, Bonnie said:

I've seen no real justification for this, but I don't believe it has much if anything to do with safety, Alison. It's more likely about commerce. The drug and cosmetic industries suspect or have reason to believe that people are bringing stuff into the country to sell in direct competition with them. There was some issue of "fake" viagra that Keith pointed out earlier, but this shouldn't impact cosmetics at all and drugs very little. Any way you look at it, it seems to me, it's overkill. And then there's the issue of inconsistent enforcement so that no one knows what to expect.

All I can say is I do hope Velkys endures through this.  What a pain it must be for her.

[Keith Woolford]

On 9/13/2017 at 9:00 AM, Bonnie said:

I've seen no real justification for this, but I don't believe it has much if anything to do with safety, Alison. It's more likely about commerce. The drug and cosmetic industries suspect or have reason to believe that people are bringing stuff into the country to sell in direct competition with them. There was some issue of "fake" viagra that Keith pointed out earlier, but this shouldn't impact cosmetics at all and drugs very little. Any way you look at it, it seems to me, it's overkill. And then there's the issue of inconsistent enforcement so that no one knows what to expect.

An international effort named Operation Pangea X, led by Interpol, and together (in Panama) with the Aduana, the Ministry of Health, the Public Prosecutor and the Policia Nacional, decommissioned more than 179,000 products and counterfeit medications in Panama with a value of $800,000. 

Internationally, operations were carried out simultaneously in 123 cities and 400 arrests were made.

Here's a report from Interpol.

25 September 2017

Millions of medicines seized in largest INTERPOL operation against illicit online pharmacies

LYON, France –  In the largest action of its kind, INTERPOL’s Operation Pangea X targeting the illicit online sale of medicines and medical devices saw some 400 arrests worldwide and the seizure of more than USD 51 million worth of potentially dangerous medicines.

Involving 197 police, customs and health regulatory authorities from a record 123 countries, Operation Pangea X led to a record number of 25 million illicit and counterfeit medicines seized worldwide.

The action resulted in the launch of 1,058 investigations, 3,584 websites taken offline and the suspension of more than 3,000 online adverts for illicit pharmaceuticals.

Among the fake and illicit medicines seized during the international week of action (12 – 19 September) were dietary supplements, pain reduction pills, epilepsy medication, erectile dysfunction pills, anti-psychotic medication and nutritional products.

In addition to medicines, Operation Pangea X also focused on the sale of illicit medical devices, such as dental devices and implants, condoms, syringes, medical testing strips and surgical equipment. Illicit devices worth an estimated USD 500,000 were recovered.

Counterfeit contact lenses were discovered for sale in Jordan following complaints from customers, and authorities warned the fake lenses could cause serious eye damage.

As well as raids at addresses linked to the illicit pharmaceutical websites, some 715,000 packages were inspected and 470,000 seized by customs and regulatory authorities.

In the country’s first year participating in Operation Pangea, authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo confiscated nearly 650 kg of illicit anti-malaria pills.

This year’s operation also saw the highest participation of African countries, many taking part for the first time, underscoring the truly global nature of the illicit online pharmaceutical trade.

“The sale of fake or counterfeit pharmaceuticals is a growing concern across Africa, as it creates a dangerous situation for the health of unsuspecting consumers who trust that the products they purchase are safe to use. Global actions such as Operation Pangea X are critical to cutting off the supply of dangerous medicines and apprehending the criminals behind this deadly trade,” said Immanuel Sam, Head of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Namibia.

This year, the operation also targeted the illicit trade in opioid painkillers, in particular the drug Fentanyl. A powerful narcotic, in the last few years the distribution of illicitly manufactured Fentanyl has been linked to thousands of overdoses and deaths worldwide.

Seizures of Fentanyl purchased from illicit online pharmacies occurred in several countries. Highlighting the scope of the demand for illicit Fentanyl, numerous websites exclusively selling the drug were closed down including one called ‘Where to buy Fentanyl without a prescription’.

Starting with just eight countries in 2008, Operation Pangea has grown exponentially during the past 10 years, with police, customs and drug regulatory authorities from 123 countries taking part in 2017.    

In addition to interventions on the ground, including the seizure of 1.2 tonnes of erectile dysfunction pills in Vietnam, the operation also targeted the main areas exploited by organized crime in the illegal online medicine trade: rogue domain name registrars, electronic payment systems and delivery services. Social media sites illegally advertising or selling illicit medicines were also shut down.

The main trend identified during the decade of Pangea operations is the continuous growth of unauthorized and unregulated online pharmacies, which capitalize on increasing consumer demand worldwide to advertise and sell illicit or counterfeit medicines.

“With more and more people purchasing everyday items including medicines online, criminals are exploiting this trend to make a profit, putting lives at risk in the process,” said INTERPOL’s Executive Director of Police Services, Tim Morris.

“The fact that we still see such strong outcomes after 10 years of Pangea operations demonstrates how the online sale of illicit medicines is an ongoing, and ever increasing, challenge for law enforcement and regulatory authorities,” concluded Mr Morris.

Investigations launched during previous Pangea actions continue to see positive results. Eleven people recently received sentences ranging from a few months to six years following a UK investigation opened in 2010 into a criminal network importing and selling counterfeit erectile dysfunction pills across Europe. Through these illicit sales, the network generated more than USD 10 million in criminal proceeds.

A dedicated operations centre at INTERPOL’s General Secretariat headquarters in Lyon served as the central hub for information exchange among the participating countries and agencies. From this base, the World Customs Organization (WCO) coordinated activities between participating customs administrations and the Pangea team via its secure messaging system, and a mobile Europol office in Budapest, Hungary also conducted cross-checks.

Viggo Elster, Manager for the WCO’s IPR, Health and Safety Programme, said: “The WCO thanks all the participating customs administrations around the globe for their support, efforts and contribution during the 10th Operation Pangea, leading to the seizure of 25 million potentially dangerous medicines and medical devices. The Pangea operation is of high importance to the WCO, particularly for the opportunity it gives for customs, police and other law enforcement authorities to strengthen their cooperation.”

In addition to disrupting the criminal networks involved in the sale of illicit and counterfeit medicines, Operation Pangea X also aimed to raise public awareness of the potential dangers associated with buying pharmaceuticals online.

https://www.interpol.int/News-and-media/News/2017/N2017-119

 

Edited September 26, 2017 by Keith Woolford

[Bonnie]

Thanks, Keith. That certainly helps in making sense of all this.

Anyone interested in the history of the opioid epidemic in the U.S. should read Dreamland, by Sam Quinones. It's one of the most interesting, well-written non-fiction books I've ever come across. There's even a Mexican connection. I couldn't put it down.

[Brundageba]

Well my single eyebrow pencil with a pair of arch supports trapped in customs scrutiny finally got released.  2+ months.  Now my multivitamins are caught .  I am assured they will be released in 2 weeks. Meanwhile I received $100 worth of exotic spices of all kinds which flew right through. Hum.

[Admin_01]

When this topic was started last May, I had no idea that it would end up with this much traffic, or so many viewings (currently over 2,500). Wow!!!

Alison, you now have very well known eyebrow pencils! Congratulations. Maybe you could put them on display and charge admission.

[Chiricana]

Does the customs policy on medicines and supplements apply to personal luggage brought when returning to Panama from the US or only to items received by the mailing services?

[Brundageba]

I sure hope not as we are returning to the states for a quick visit and I've been ordering things that gets caught up in the new intercept.....like perfume, makeup, skin care items.

[Brundageba]

8 hours ago, Admin_01 said:

When this topic was started last May, I had no idea that it would end up with this much traffic, or so many viewings (currently over 2,500). Wow!!!

Alison, you now have very well known eyebrow pencils! Congratulations. Maybe you could put them on display and charge admission.

Hallelujah my arch supports have arrived  along with that bad bad eyebrow pencil.  Upside is it has been deemed safe.  I'm relieved.  Meanwhile I received a box (heavy) full of exotic spices that zoomed right through the gauntlet like it contained laxatives.  Try figure.

Alison 

[Roger B]

7 hours ago, Chiricana said:

Does the customs policy on medicines and supplements apply to personal luggage brought when returning to Panama from the US or only to items received by the mailing services?

If you bring this on your personal luggage there wont be any problem unless you bring an exagerate amount of products.  When I travel to US I usually buy all the medicines, supplements and vitamins and bring them in mu luggage without any problem.  It is enforced on items imported and received by the mailing services.  

[Twin Wolf Technology Group]

For what it is worth, I was told (about a year ago) that customs views the various mail services different depending on if they are classified as cargo or as courier.   Mailbox Etc is classified as a cargo service whereas the service I used (Servitechnics) is classified as a courier service.   My experience was that occasionally my packages coming through Mailbox Etc got opened and examined but in 4 years none of my packages coming through Servitechnics were opened.

Perhaps someone that is more informed than myself could speak about the truth of this and how various services are classified.   After my experience with several services,  I ended up using Servitechnics in part because my packages arrived without being opened and examined, possibly delaying them.

[Bonnie]

A thoughtful person forwarded to me the below message from Airbox Express to her. I took the liberty of running it through an online translator and therefore have also provided the English translation..

Estimados clientes,
 

Les informamos que según notificación emitida por la Dirección Nacional de Farmacias y Drogas del Ministerio de Salud de Panamá las nuevas disposiciones que regulan las importaciones vía empresas de courier para cosméticos que no cuenten con el debido registro sanitario y sean para uso personal.

Las nuevas disposiciones autoriza la importación mensual de cosméticos de la siguiente manera: 

•  Máximo 3 productos cosméticos por persona
•  Volumen mensual no mayor a 500 ml 

Les recordamos los requisitos para realizar estos trámites: 

• Factura comercial
• Carta de solicitud de importación
• Copia de cédula o pasaporte
• Nombre comercial del producto
• Formato de presentación (cápsulas, líquido, comprimidos, etc.)

Los productos que aplican para estos requisitos son: 

• Maquillaje
• Champú
• Perfumes
• Cosméticos
• Lociones
• Cosméticos medicamos 
• Productos de higiene personal 

Para mayor información no dude en comunicarse con nosotros a través de nuestro Call Center al 269-9774 o a nuestro WhatsApp al 6982-1029.

Gracias por preferirnos,
Airbox Express

 

Dear customers,
 
We inform you that according to notification issued by the National Directorate of Pharmacies and Drugs of the Ministry of Health of Panama the new provisions that regulate imports via courier companies for cosmetics that do not have the proper sanitary registration and are for personal use.

The new provisions authorize the monthly importation of cosmetics in the following way:

     Maximum 3 cosmetic products per person
     Monthly volume not greater than 500 ml

We remind you of the requirements to carry out these procedures:

    Commercial invoice
    Import application letter
    Copy of identity card or passport
    Commercial name of the product
    Presentation format (capsules, liquid, tablets, etc.)

The products that apply for these requirements are:

    Makeup
    Shampoo
    Perfumes
    Cosmetics
    Lotions
    Cosmetics we medicate
    Personal hygiene products

For more information, do not hesitate to contact us through our Call Center at 269-9774 or our WhatsApp at 6982-1029.

Thanks for choosing us,
Airbox Express

 

 

 

 

 

Google Translate for Business:Translator ToolkitWebsite Translator

[Penny]

Does anybody truly believe that the Panamanian government would know if you had a previous shipment of cosmetics that month???? This sounds like another unenforceable edict.

[Bonnie]

Yes, it's possible. Every shipment of drugs and/or cosmetics requires paperwork (or computer forms) to be completed by the recipient or mail forwarder. This would provide a record.

[MarieElaine]

I was lucky that, before I left for Medellin, I was able to get 2 months supply of my meds from Revilla.  They had so little in stock.  I have not refilled here in Medellin but I am hoping I do not have the same problems as Panama.

[Moderator_02]

There is an interesting, and possibly directly related news article about trade promotion agreements between the US and Panama. Please see:

 

[Bonnie]

1 hour ago, Moderator_02 said:

There is an interesting, and possibly directly related news article about trade promotion agreements between the US and Panama. Please see:

 

I'm afraid I don't understand your point, Bud. Can you elaborate?

[Moderator_02]

15 minutes ago, Bonnie said:

I'm afraid I don't understand your point, Bud. Can you elaborate?

On August 23rd Bud made a posting about working on this importation issue but from the point-of-view that there is a 2012 "Trade Promotion Agreement" (TPA) between Panama and the USA. Upon reading that TPA, it was clear that it applied to the importation of medical prescriptions, among other commercial goods. The news article that was referenced earlier today is discussing which US government agency/department is the "administrator" of the TPA from the US side. Thus, the nexus between these two topics.

This particular TPA encompasses much more than just pharmaceuticals, but they are included in the TPA. Former Under Secretary of the USDA Ted McKinney was/is the point person for the TPA.

[Bonnie]

Thanks. I had prior understanding of the information imparted in your first paragraph, but I needed help with the second.

[Roger B]

On 12/7/2017 at 8:16 AM, MarieElaine said:

I was lucky that, before I left for Medellin, I was able to get 2 months supply of my meds from Revilla.  They had so little in stock.  I have not refilled here in Medellin but I am hoping I do not have the same problems as Panama.

Marie Elaine

it will be interesting to know how do you do with getting refills in Medellin or importing them into Colombia.