Icelandic Medicines Agency
Importation of medicines by individuals
Importation of medicines by individuals refers to medicines brought into the country in personal luggage or in postal or freight shipments. Different rules apply to postal and freight shipments of medicines depending on their classification and where they are sent from.
Importation of medicines by individuals is governed by Regulation No. 1277/2022 and, where applicable, the Regulation on Habit-forming and Narcotic Substances and Other Controlled Substances, No. 233/2001.
The rules depend on the country from which the medicine is arriving, namely whether it is coming from a country within or outside the European Economic Area (EEA), and whether it is carried in luggage or arrives in a postal or freight shipment. The classification of the medicines also matters. There are three categories:
General medicines
These are prescription-only medicines that are neither narcotic and habit-forming medicines nor medicines on the WADA Prohibited List. A prescription from a doctor is required to purchase them under Icelandic rules. General medicines also include medicines sold over the counter.
Narcotic and habit-forming medicines
Medicines containing substances listed in Annex 1 to the Regulation on Habit-forming and Narcotic Substances and Other Controlled Substances, No. 233/2001.
Medicines on the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) Prohibited List
Medicines containing substances listed in sections S1 (anabolic agents/steroids) and S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors and related substances) are on the WADA Prohibited List
Medicines may generally be imported into Iceland for personal use, subject to certain restrictions. The rules depend on the country they come from (within or outside the EEA), whether they are brought in luggage or sent by post or freight, and their category. The drop-down list below outlines the main points. More detailed information is available in the section for each category.
You must present documentation to the customs authorities on request: a medical certificate, the original prescription or a dispensing label.
Each medicine’s entry in Medicinal Product Information (Sérlyfjaskrá) indicates whether it is classified as a narcotic or habit-forming medicine. These medicines are marked with the following symbol (see screenshot):
Listi yfir ávana- og fíknilyf
Í Sérlyfjaskrá er listi yfir ávana- og fíknilyf og ítarupplýsingar um lyfin.