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

Updated 2026-10-2414 sources

Check the ingredients first

For how Japanese drugstores classify medicine (Class 1, 2, 3), see How to choose OTC medicine in Japan.

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.
• We don't give medical advice. Follow the package leaflet or your doctor's instructions.