# Can I bring Japanese cold medicine to Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, Korea or Taiwan? Rules on codeine and pseudoephedrine by country

> As of October 2026, many Japanese combination cold medicines contain dihydrocodeine (ジヒドロコデイン) and methylephedrine, and some nasal and cold medicines contain pseudoephedrine (プソイドエフェドリン). What official sources state explicitly: Singapore lists codeine and dihydrocodeine as controlled substances that need approval from the Health Sciences Authority in advance; New Zealand treats every medicine containing pseudoephedrine as a controlled drug (up to one month's supply, declared); Australia requires a prescription or doctor's letter for codeine of any strength; and Korea Customs warns that codeine cold medicines may be treated as narcotics. Elsewhere, controlled-substance rules apply, so check the ingredients before you buy, bring only a personal supply and keep the original packaging.

- Page: https://bestjapanbuy.com/en/q/japanese-medicine-travel-rules/
- Updated: 2026-10-24

## Check the ingredients first

| Japanese name on the box | Ingredient | Commonly found in |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ジヒドロコデインリン酸塩 | Dihydrocodeine | Combination cold and cough medicines, e.g. [Pabron Gold A](/en/p/taisho-pabron-gold-a-210/), [Lulu Attack EX](/en/p/daiichi-sankyo-lulu-attack-ex-24/) |
| コデインリン酸塩 | Codeine | Some cough medicines |
| dl-メチルエフェドリン塩酸塩 | Methylephedrine | Combination cold and cough medicines |
| プソイドエフェドリン塩酸塩 | Pseudoephedrine | Some nasal and cold medicines |

For how Japanese drugstores classify medicine (Class 1, 2, 3), see [How to choose OTC medicine in Japan](/en/q/otc-drugs-buying-guide/).

## Official rules by destination

### Singapore

- The Health Sciences Authority's list of controlled substances (Appendix A) includes **codeine and dihydrocodeine**. To bring personal medication containing a controlled substance you must **apply for approval at least 2 weeks before arrival** and carry a prescription or doctor's letter.
- Medicines that need no approval and aren't prohibited: up to 3 months' supply.
- Pseudoephedrine and methylephedrine aren't on that list, which doesn't mean no other rule applies; ask HSA if unsure.

### New Zealand

- New Zealand Customs states that **all medicines containing pseudoephedrine are controlled drugs**: bring no more than one month's supply, declare it on the New Zealand Traveller Declaration, keep it in its original packaging in your hand luggage and carry a prescription or doctor's letter. You can't bring it for friends or family.
- Prescription medicines: up to three months' supply.

### Australia

- The Office of Drug Control says that for medicine containing codeine **of any strength** brought in for personal use, you must have a prescription or a letter from your doctor.
- The traveler's exemption generally covers up to 3 months' supply, kept in the original packaging.

### South Korea

- Korea Customs warns that medicines sold abroad containing narcotic ingredients may count as narcotics under Korea's Narcotics Control Act and be punished, and lists **codeine cold medicines** among the items commonly seized.
- For self-treatment, you need prior approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

### Taiwan

- OTC Western medicine: **up to 12 bottles (boxes) per type and 36 in total**; prescription medicine without a prescription: up to 2 months' supply.
- Controlled drugs need a statement certified by Taiwan's FDA for customs clearance. The official pages don't say directly whether low-dose Japanese combination cold medicines count as controlled drugs in Taiwan; follow TFDA's answer.

### Hong Kong

- The Department of Health says a reasonable quantity of medicine for personal use in your baggage can be exempt from licensing, but visitors bringing medicine containing "dangerous drugs" need prior written approval from the Drug Office. The traveler pages don't say directly whether low-dose codeine combinations fall into that category.

### United States, Canada, United Kingdom

- **US**: declare all medicine. The FDA allows foreign nationals to bring a 90-day supply and suggests carrying a prescription or doctor's letter in English; controlled substances must also meet DEA requirements.
- **Canada**: non-prescription drugs up to a 90-day supply or a single course of treatment (whichever is less), in the original retail package; medicines with controlled substances must be prescribed, are limited to a 90-day supply and must be declared.
- **UK**: medicine containing controlled drugs is limited to 3 months' supply, with a letter signed by the prescriber.

None of these pages says directly how low-dose Japanese combination cold medicines are classified locally. **We don't publish what we can't verify**: check the official links above before you travel, or simply choose a medicine without these ingredients.

## Tips

- Buy only what you'll use yourself and keep the **original packaging and leaflet** (a translation app helps with the Japanese text).
- Japan treats medicines with codeine or ephedrine-type ingredients as "medicines at risk of misuse", and many stores limit how many you can buy. That's a Japanese sales rule, separate from your destination's import rules.
- Under Japan's new tax-free rules, medicine opened and used in Japan can't be refunded; see [Japan's new tax-free rules](/en/q/tax-free-2026/).
- We don't give medical advice. Follow the package leaflet or your doctor's instructions.

## Frequently asked questions

### How do I tell whether a Japanese cold medicine contains codeine or pseudoephedrine?

Check the 成分 (ingredients) section on the box or leaflet: ジヒドロコデインリン酸塩 (dihydrocodeine phosphate), コデインリン酸塩 (codeine phosphate), dl-メチルエフェドリン塩酸塩 (methylephedrine) and プソイドエフェドリン塩酸塩 (pseudoephedrine). Our model pages also list the main ingredients, for example [Pabron Gold A](/en/p/taisho-pabron-gold-a-210/).

### Are ibuprofen or loxoprofen painkillers restricted too?

They aren't the controlled ingredients above, but personal medicine is still subject to quantity rules, for example up to 12 bottles (boxes) per type and 36 in total for OTC medicine in Taiwan, and up to 3 months' supply in Singapore for medicines that don't need approval. Combination painkillers can contain other ingredients, so read the label.

### What if I'm unsure about a medicine I'm carrying?

Declare it when you arrive and keep the original packaging and leaflet. Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea all require advance approval for controlled medicines, so asking only at the airport is usually too late.


## Sources

- [Health Sciences Authority (HSA), Singapore: Travelling with medications to Singapore](https://www.hsa.gov.sg/travelling-with-medication-and-medical-devices/personal-medications/)
- [Health Sciences Authority (HSA), Singapore: Document guide for bringing in personal medications (Annex A list of controlled substances)](https://go.gov.sg/document-guide-for-bringing-in-personal-medications)
- [New Zealand Customs: What you can and can't bring – Medicines](https://www.customs.govt.nz/travel-to-and-from-new-zealand/medicines)
- [Office of Drug Control (ODC), Australia: Travelling to or from Australia with medicines](https://www.odc.gov.au/travellers/travelling-or-australia-medicines-and-medical-devices)
- [Australia TGA: Entering Australia (carrying medicines)](https://www.tga.gov.au/products/travelling-medicines-and-medical-devices/entering-australia)
- [Korea Customs Service: notes on medicines containing narcotic ingredients](https://www.customs.go.kr/kcs/cm/cntnts/cntntsView.do?mi=13807&cntntsId=7640)
- [Customs Administration (Taiwan), Taipei Customs: Items Subject to Other Regulations (medicine quantities)](https://web.customs.gov.tw/etaipei/singlehtml/3396?cntId=1c1ab06901934524b5c7494c42251bf7)
- [Taiwan Food and Drug Administration: notes on carrying controlled drugs in and out of Taiwan](https://www.fda.gov.tw/eng/siteListContent.aspx?sid=10216&id=27835)
- [Drug Office, Department of Health (Hong Kong): FAQ](https://www.drugoffice.gov.hk/eps/do/en/consumer/news_informations/faq.html)
- [U.S. FDA: Personal Importation](https://www.fda.gov/industry/import-basics/personal-importation)
- [U.S. CBP: Prohibited and Restricted Items](https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/know-before-you-go/prohibited-and-restricted-items)
- [Health Canada: Bringing health products into Canada for personal use (GUI-0116)](https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/compliance-enforcement/importation-exportation/personal-use-health-products-guidance/document.html)
- [Health Canada: Travelling with medications containing controlled substances](https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-concerns/controlled-substances-precursor-chemicals/controlled-substances/compliance-monitoring/travelling-into-and-out-of-canada-with-prescription-medication-containing-controlled-substances.html)
- [UK government (GOV.UK): Travelling with medicine containing controlled drugs](https://www.gov.uk/travelling-controlled-drugs)

> Data from BestJapanBuy (bestjapanbuy.com). Please credit and link to the page when using it. Prices are for reference only; check in store.
> Translated with AI; the Chinese version is authoritative.