Medical isotopes / radiopharmaceuticals

Can I take Medical isotopes / radiopharmaceuticals across a border? Yes in many places, with conditions. Of the (no rules indexed) country-rules we've indexed for Medical isotopes / radiopharmaceuticals, 0 are allowed (often with limits), 0 are restricted (permit, declaration, or quantity cap), and 0 are prohibited outright. Customs rules depend on the destination, the purpose (travelling, posting, importing personally, or importing commercially), and the quantity.

Class 7 radioactive material. Patient-administered radiopharmaceuticals are not 'in transit' but the patient may set off airport detectors; carry the dosing certificate. Patients who have received nuclear-medicine treatment (PET, SPECT, thyroid I-131) commonly set off airport radiation detectors for 24-72 hours after the procedure. Carry the issuing clinic's dosing certificate showing isotope, dose, and administration date; many travellers also carry a printed letter from the prescribing physician. Commercial transport of radiopharmaceuticals requires IATA DGR Class 7 packaging with TI (Transport Index) labels and the consignment marked Excepted Package, Yellow-II, or Yellow-III depending on activity. Hospital-to-hospital shipments use accredited radiopharmaceutical carriers.

Common mistakes with Medical isotopes / radiopharmaceuticals

• 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.
• Carrying medication in unmarked containers, without the original prescription, or above 30-90 days' supply.
• Missing required certificates (phytosanitary, veterinary, CITES, prescription, product compliance).

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

General notes