Kratom

Can I take Kratom across a border? Yes in many places, with conditions. Of the 15 country-rules we've indexed for Kratom, 2 are allowed (often with limits), 7 are restricted (permit, declaration, or quantity cap), and 6 are prohibited outright. Customs rules depend on the destination, the purpose (travelling, posting, importing personally, or importing commercially), and the quantity.

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia — particularly Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea — whose leaves contain active alkaloids, primarily mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, that produce dose-dependent stimulant effects at low doses and opioid-like sedative and analgesic effects at higher doses. Kratom leaves have been chewed or brewed as tea by agricultural workers in Thailand and Malaysia for centuries as a stimulant to combat fatigue. The leaves and powder are also sold in the US and Europe in capsule and powder form as an herbal supplement or wellness product, often marketed for energy, mood enhancement, pain relief, and opioid withdrawal management. The regulatory status of kratom is one of the most complex and inconsistent in the global supplement market. In Thailand, kratom was criminalized in 1979 under the Kratom Act and remained illegal until 2021, when the government decriminalized it in a reversal driven by recognition of its traditional cultural and medical use and its potential as an export crop for Thai farmers. However, the regulatory framework for legal kratom production and sale in Thailand is still being developed and possession rules remain complex for tourists and travelers. Malaysia continues to criminalize kratom despite its traditional use there. Indonesia, the world's largest exporter of kratom raw material, permits cultivation and export but has debated domestic restrictions. In the EU, kratom is not approved as a food supplement in most member states and is classified as a new psychoactive substance or unapproved food in many, leading to seizures at borders. The UK classified kratom-related alkaloids under its Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, effectively banning it. Australia classifies mitragynine as a Schedule 9 prohibited substance (similar to heroin). The US DEA proposed scheduling kratom in 2016 before withdrawing the proposal; it remains legal federally in the US though several states have banned it.

Common mistakes with Kratom

• Assuming the rules at the origin apply at the destination — they don't. The destination customs authority is the binding rule.
• Travelling and posting are treated differently: an item you can carry may be prohibited by post (and vice versa).
• Personal vs commercial intent: above a quantity threshold, customs may treat your shipment as commercial regardless of intent.
• Undervaluing on the customs declaration to avoid duty — treated as fraud in most jurisdictions.
• Vague item descriptions on CN22/CN23 — biggest single cause of postal customs holds.
• Missing required certificates (phytosanitary, veterinary, CITES, prescription, product compliance).

Always verify against the destination's customs authority before acting. Not legal advice.

HS codes

• 1211.90 — Other plants / parts of plants used in pharmacy / perfumery / insecticidal
• 1302.19 — Other vegetable saps and extracts

Regulatory trend

Thailand 2021 decriminalisation is the exception — Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and several EU member states retain outright bans; US FDA import alerts escalated 2022-2024.

Excise duties

This item is subject to excise duty in the following jurisdictions. Duty is typically collected at the border in addition to any customs tariff.

Names in other languages

es

kratom, catha kratom, keton

fr

kratom, mitragyne

de

Kratom, Kratomblätter

zh

卡痛, 克拉通

ja

クラトム, クラトン

General notes