Travelling with medicinal products containing controlled substances

You live in Luxembourg and are about to travel abroad
Your medicinal products, in particular those containing narcotics or psychotropic substances, may be subject to control, depending on where you are travelling to

Which medicinal products are subject to control?

Medicinal products containing narcotics, quasi-narcotics and certain psychotropic substances are subject to control in many countries, especially opioid substitution treatment medication, certain antalgics, and medicines prescribed for attention-deficit disorders with or without hyperactivity*.
Non-exhaustive list of molecules for which a transport certificate is often required:

Molecule	Specialities
Methadone	Methasan^®
Buprenorphine	Suboxone^®, Subutex^®, Temgesic^®
Fentanyl	Durogesic^®
Hydromorphone	Palladone^®
Oxycodone	Oxycontin^®, OxyNorm^®, Targinact^®
Morphine	MS Contin^®, MS Direct^®
Methylphenidate	Medikinet^®, Rilatine^®
Cannabis	Medicinal cannabis
Lisdexamfetamine	Elvanse^®

* Other non-narcotic medicinal products (e.g. beta blockers, antihypertensives, cholesterol-lowering medicines, antidiabetic drugs, anti-inflammatories, etc.) are not subject to special controls. However, when travelling with any of these medicinal products, it is recommended that you carry a copy of the prescription with you.

If you're not sure whether your medication includes one or more narcotic and/or psychotropic medicinal products, seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist.

If you intend to travel with your medication, you may need a personal transport certificate, depending on your country of destination.
The specific arrangements for different countries can be consulted on the website of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB).

In addition, before travelling, it is strongly recommended that you check with the Embassy or the Ministry of Health in the country of destination to find out what regulations are in force in the country.

Which documents do I need to travel safely with my medication?

A copy of the prescription for the medicine in question (provided by the prescriber, or by the dispensing pharmacy).

Or, alternatively, a certificate signed by the prescriber, specifying the patient's contact details, the prescriber's contact details, and the current treatment and medicine(s).
A travel certificate issued by the Luxembourg Health Directorate (Direction de la santé).

How do I get a certificate?

You need to fill in a travel certificate application form with your doctor at least 2 weeks before your departure date. The type of form depends on the destination country:

For a countries in the Schengen Area, please complete the following application with your doctor:

https://sante.public.lu/dam-assets/fr/formulaires/prevention/modes-vie/medicaments/certificat-de-transport-stup-psychotrope-pays-schengen.pdf

For countries outside the Schengen Area, please complete the following application with your doctor:

https://sante.public.lu/dam-assets/fr/formulaires/prevention/modes-vie/medicaments/certificat-international-de-transport-stup-psychotrope.pdf

Travellers should send their completed documents* to the Division of Pharmacy and Medicines (Division de la pharmacie et des médicaments - DPM) at least 10 days before their date of departure:

By post:
Division de la pharmacie et des médicaments - Unité des stupéfiants et substances psychotrope
2, rue Thomas Edison
L-1445 Strassen

* The completed documents:

The controlled-substance travel certificate application form, signed and stamped by your doctor,
A copy of the prescription or, where applicable, a certificate issued by the prescriber, mentioning the medicine in question.

All complete, eligible applications will be sent to the Health Directorate to be signed, then returned to the applicant by post.

Questions about using this form?

Contact us in writing at one of the 2 addresses mentioned above, or call us on +352 247 55 559.

Note about the substitution treatment programme:

As a general rule, certificates are issued to transport quantities to last for a period of treatment not exceeding the maximum authorised prescribing interval of 28 days. For longer trips, it is recommended that travellers contact the responsible body in the destination country to complete the formalities required to extend their treatment in the country in question.

* (If you are travelling abroad, you can file an application for exemption (for a one-time issue for travel abroad) with the Health Directorate so that a pharmacy can dispense 28 days of treatment).

Useful information, and the contact details of substitution therapy organisations abroad, can be found on the website of the non-profit association INDRO e.V.

Travel guide index

You live abroad and are about to travel to Luxembourg with narcotic or quasi-narcotic medicines

To certify the legitimacy of the narcotics you are bringing with you to Luxembourg, it is strongly recommended that you obtain the following before arriving in Luxembourg:

a copy of a recent prescription;
a medical certificate approved by the authorities in the country of residence.

If you have any questions on this subject, please email the Division of Pharmacy and Medicines at infostupefiants@ms.etat.lu.