Canada Customs

[Porkchops]

Got a letter from Health Canada today. It reads:

"Dear Sir or Madam:

Your mail shipment was examined by Health Canada, under the provisions of the Food and Drugs Act. It contained prescription drugs. The import of prescription drugs by Canadian residents is prohibited by law. Health Canad recommended that your shipment be refused entry into Canada. As outlined in Section C.01.045 of the Food and Drugs Regulations, importing prescription drugs is permitted only by a resident of a foreign country, while a visitor in Canada; a practitioner; a wholesale druggist; a drug manufacturer; or a registered pharmacist.

Since there is no evidence that you meet the import requirements, your shipment has been refused entry and referred back to the Canada Border Services Agency (CSBA). CSBA returns many shipments to sender, depending on such factors as a return address.

To inquire about a refund, on the products not received, you will need to contact the exporter, i.e. the company you ordered the products from. Please wait 4 - 6 weeks before contacting them to allow for processing by the CSBA.

If you are permitted to import prescription drugs you must provide evidence in all shipments. For example, your pharmacy/practitioner registration number or proof of foreign residency will be acceptable. If you have questions about this shipment please include the Customs Identification Number from the attached report and send an email to the HEalth Canada regional office at insp_woc-coo@hc-sc.gc.ca.

Information on importing prescription drugs and other health products into Canada is available on the Health Canada website:
Guidance Document on the Import Requirements for Health Products under the Food and Drugs Act and its Regulations (GUI-0084) [Health Canada, 2010]
Import and Export Policy for Health Products Under the Food and Drugs Act and its Regulations (POL-0060) [Health Canada, 2010]

A list of prescription drugs can be found in Schedule F of the Food and Drug Regulations on the Department of Justice Canada website at:
Food and Drug Regulations

Drugs you order and ship from another country have not been assessed by Health Canada and may have health risks associated with them. Health Canada recommends that you contact your healthcare practitioner to discuss the use of prescription drugs. Drugs unavailable in Canada may be imported, in consultation with your physician, through Health Canada's Special Access Programme:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/access/drugs-drogues/index-eng.php

This letter is to inform you of the import regulations."

So here is the question: I know for a fact that everything from the individual bottles, to the packing slip, to the receipt in the package were all marked 0 nicotine/nicotine free. I've ordered from MOV numerous times, and I noticed several months ago they started marking everything 0, and thought they (or I) made a mistake and I ended up with 0 nic when I ordered 1.8 ... They replied saying everything is as I ordered it, they just did it so that customs wouldn't seize it. So I'm left assuming either they tested it, found nicotine and are sending it back, or they are just assuming it contains nicotine and are sending it back. Anyone know of any way I can determine which of them are true? The good news, is my doctor agrees 100% that e-cigs are exponentionally better for me than analogues, so I suppose my next step is to talk to him about getting a prescription so I can order without fear of any CSBA issues.

Just a heads up for everyone else, it appears as though even if it's marked 0% nicotine, there's a chance it will still be intercepted and refused entry into the country. Bull .... IMO, since there is no specific law against it, just Health Canada's refusal to allow it. Last I checked, Health Canada doesn't have the authority to create laws. Rather miffed, although slightly less than I'd normally be, since I found myself a Canada vendor a few weeks ago who sells nicotine juice that is quite delightful.

 

[Porkchops]

The ....ty thing is that I was starting to get low of juice, so I ordered another shipment of it from the same vendor hoping it would squeek through customs before this order. Now that I've received this letter, I'm willing to bet that it too will be stopped and sent back since I can only imagine they'll be taking a closer look at all packages addressed to me in the future. Ugh!

 

[dahlialady]

Yeah....so the cookie crumbles. I'm pretty sure they test for nicotine. It's a great way to blow our taxpayer dollars. I also read the links they provided, and could not find nicotine under prescription drugs. It's all just a bunch of BS legal rhetoric. All you can do is just keep sending them letters, asking for further explanation. Tie those customs guys up with red tape. I feel for you. I'm sure a lot more Canadian vapers will be in the same boat sooner or later as Health Canada continues it's war on NICOTINE!

 

[MattB]

Hey Porky,

ECF has lots of Canadian vendors in these forums that sell the stuff. Not sure if it was because you hadn't found any yet that you were buying outside, but with so many here, i'm sure you're bound to fall upon one you like eventually. BUY LOCAL brotha!

Less trouble that way!

 

[light101]

Yup, jugheads has a juice that is a great tribute to boba's called 007 gunslinger. I've had it and can attest to it's deliciousness. 6 shooter is the bomb for sure. Yes, I know that it can be a pain to wait and plan to get some of his juice but imo it's worth it and will rival any American juice out there. If you look you can find many of the popular flavours talked about. I'm vaping martian dna which is a strawberry, watermelon, coconut, hmmm what does that sound like?

Light

 

[Heavyrocker]

If you orderd premixed juice with nic,ill bet the vendor sent it wit the nic strength marked on the bottles.

 

[RaymondK]

Porkchop, which vendor from the States did you purchase the e-liquid from? Can you share that info so that others may be aware of it?

 

[dahlialady]

I guess there is only one solution to this customs thing. Buy your e-liquid and nicotine within Canada. It would suck to have an entire shipment of vapeware to be returned to sender or worse yet destroyed by CBSA. I know it is more expensive generally speaking, but it still is a fraction of what smoking cost me. The problem with getting nicotine from U.S. vendors is they have to declare the nicotine. Automatic red flag. If they say massage oil or something like that they risk a serious fine, and I wouldn't want to be the cause of that. Until the laws are clear....(and they seem very grey now) I'll stick to ordering within my borders. No CBSA involved. All cool.

 

[RaymondK]

I guess there is only one solution to this customs thing. Buy your e-liquid and nicotine within Canada.

I agreed with your comments as it would suck if the entire shipment is returned. But where would the Canadian vendors get their nicotine from?

 

[Talyon]

I agreed with your comments as it would suck if the entire shipment is returned. But where would the Canadian vendors get their nicotine from?

Imported, and many have had their shipments seized as well.

I always order gear and liquid separately. I also order in small batches it costs a bit more but If u want it u want it. For the most part I do what many other Canadians are doing and stay within our borders. Thus allowing the Vendors to take all the risk.

 

[Wolffy]

OK, Health Canada is on a rampage. Who is behind it?
1) The tax man?
2) Big Pharma?
3) Big Tobacco
All three have more influence than the actual health of Canadians.

 

[Fergie]

How long is a piece of string?

Twice the distance from one end of the string to the middle of the string

 

[Fergie]

Seems to me that the cbsa are retaining more packages now then in the past, this could be the growth of shipments, or they've been given orders???

I hope my next and very last from the US gets through, no more from me ordering from the US, I can get all I really need here at home.

Can you get Boba's locally Bro?

 

[Talyon]

Can you get Boba's locally Bro?

Nope but did get my parcel without incident. Love the Boba, but now sure if I'll re order anytime soon. Bro u have to try JUGHEAD'S. I'll send u an email later of flavs to check out, he's in Canada eh! So no BS with any border.

 

[Fergie]

Tks Bro, I'll try out Jugheads.