Guidelines on Customs Clearance for Chinese Medicines (Angong Niuhuang Wan, etc.) for Travelers Returning from China Released

When bringing medicines into Korea from overseas, strict standards under domestic laws are applied. In particular, many Chinese medicines are fundamentally prohibited from customs clearance depending on their ingredients, requiring special caution. As a customs expert, I would like to provide detailed guidance on the restricted items and the specific reasons for their prohibition.

Key Restricted Chinese Medicines and Ingredient Criteria

While not all Chinese medicines are prohibited, the health authorities and Korea Customs Service strictly block specific pharmaceuticals. Representative items include Angong Niuhuang Wan, Woohwang Chungsim-won (Niuhuang Qingxin Pill), Qitongpian (去痛片), and Compound Licorice Tablets. The primary reasons these medicines are restricted are as follows:

• Inclusion of CITES-Regulated Ingredients: Medicines such as Angong Niuhuang Wan often contain ingredients like Musk, Bear Bile, or Tiger Bone, which are covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Since the international trade of these ingredients is prohibited or requires strict permit procedures, it is generally impossible for individual travelers to bring them into the country.
• Detection of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances: Qitongpian, known as a painkiller, contains psychotropic ingredients such as Phenobarbital. Its import is strictly prohibited under the Narcotics Control Act, and violators may face legal penalties upon detection.
• Harmful Heavy Metal Content: There have been continuous reports of certain Chinese medicines and pills containing mercury, lead, and arsenic in amounts hundreds of times exceeding safety standards, which can cause fatal harm to the human body.

Legal and Health-Related Rationale for Import Restrictions

The fundamental reason for restricting the import of overseas medicines is to ensure public health and safety. Medicines purchased abroad are products that have not undergone official efficacy verification or safety evaluations by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). Consequently, the ingredients may be unclear, or hygiene management during the manufacturing process may not be guaranteed, leading to unexpected side effects or fatal toxic reactions upon consumption.

Notably, some Chinese medicines are advertised as natural herbal products but are frequently found to contain large amounts of potent chemicals or steroids. These adulterated drugs can cause serious conditions such as liver damage and kidney failure if taken long-term. To protect public health from these hazardous goods, the Korea Customs Service strictly blocks their clearance in accordance with the Customs Act and related regulations.

Customs Clearance Standards and Precautions for Personal Use Medicines

Even if you bring medicines for the purpose of personal consumption, any products containing the aforementioned prohibited ingredients will be seized and destroyed regardless of the quantity. For general foreign medicines, tax-free clearance is only allowed within the Personal Use Recognition Standards (typically 6 bottles or a 3-month supply), and this standard is strictly limited to general medicines whose safety has been confirmed.

Requirements for medicines that can pass through customs include:

• The medicine must not be categorized as a drug prone to misuse or abuse, and the ingredients must be clearly indicated on the exterior of the product.
• If bringing medicines for the purpose of treating a disease, objective supporting documents such as a prescription or medical opinion from a domestic doctor must be provided.
• The product must not contain prohibited ingredients or hazardous substances designated by the MFDS.

If you are caught bringing in Chinese medicines with unclear or unverified ingredients, you may not only have the items detained but also face an investigation for violating relevant laws. Therefore, please check the ingredient list of any medicine before departure or at the time of local purchase. If you have any doubts, consult the Korea Customs Service or the MFDS in advance to avoid any legal disadvantages.