Customs says it has seized illegally ordered medicines. Erection drugs in particular are ordered online.
Be careful when ordering medicines online. Adobe Stock / AOP
In its bulletin, Customs states that it will receive contacts informing it about online pharmacies that are thought to be Finnish.
It is forbidden to obtain and receive medicinal products by post from outside the European Economic Area, so the illegality of ordering often comes as a surprise if the site looks Finnish.
– The majority of customers wonder why Customs takes over the ordered medicines. It comes as a surprise to them that the online pharmacy was not Finnish and that ordering medicines was forbidden, Customs says.
– Customs has to tell the customer a stark fact: the online store is not a Finnish or legal operator at all – ordering medicines has been illegal.
Online pharmacies increasingly popular
Customs says that ordering medicines online has clearly increased during the Korona period. At the same time, drug seizures have also become more common. According to customs, more than 70 percent more medicines were seized last year than in 2019.
According to Customs, Finns order erectile drugs, antidepressants, antibiotics and hair growth drugs online, among other things. A new trend is also being seen in parasiticides.
Erectile drugs accounted for more than 30 percent of all drugs seized by Customs last year and more than 40 percent in 2020. Customs reminds us that erectile drugs are prescription drugs, so alarm bells should ring at an online pharmacy that advertises them over-the-counter.
Identify a legitimate online pharmacy
Customs emphasizes that the customer must ensure that he or she is dealing with a legitimate online pharmacy. Customs lists the following as hallmarks:
- Common European logo
- Detailed contact information
- Reasonable and excessively unacceptable delivery terms
- A legitimate online pharmacy does not market individual prescription drugs
- A legitimate online pharmacy requires a prescription when purchasing prescription drugs
Information on whether a medicine requires a prescription in Finland can be found on the website of the Pharmaceutical Safety and Development Center Fimea drug search. Customs points out that medicines can be ordered from a legal online pharmacy for up to three months.
If the conditions for importing medicines are not met, Customs will take over the medicines. In this case, the customer loses the medicines and money they have ordered, but at worst can also commit a drug offense.