A good is subject to drug regulation if:

• it is presented as a drug (therapeutic claims);
• it has a pharmacological, immunological or metabolic action on the body.

Article L 5111-1 of the Public Health Code defines a medicinal product as “any substance or composition presented as having curative or preventive properties with regard to human or animal diseases” (medicinal product by presentation) as well as “any substance or composition that can be used in humans or animals or that can be administered to them, with a view to establishing a medical diagnosis or restoring, correcting or modifying their physiological functions by exerting a pharmacological, immunological or metabolic action” (medicinal product by function).

If you are traveling with your own medication, for personal use, you must comply with the following conditions:

• Principle: the quantity transported corresponds to the duration of treatment prescribed on the prescription or, failing that, to three months of treatment.
• Proof: if the duration of treatment exceeds 3 months, you must present the doctor's prescription to customs.

You can only import narcotic or psychotropic drugs if you transport them personally. The quantities transported must then be compatible with a personal therapeutic use during the duration of treatment provided for by the prescription or, failing that, for a period of one month of treatment under normal conditions of use.

Article 75 of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement of 14 June 1985 specifies the rules applicable depending on the country of origin.

Case 1 - You come from a Schengen Member State:

• Principle: the quantity transported must be compatible with personal therapeutic use.
• Proof to be presented to customs: the authorization issued by the competent authorities of the country of provenance is mandatory.

The Schengen Area comprises: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

Case 2 - You come from a non-Schengen country:

• Principle: the quantity transported is compatible with personal therapeutic use.
• Proof to be presented to customs: the doctor's prescription is mandatory.

Case 3 - You travel to a non-Schengen country with narcotic or psychotropic drugs:

• You must be able to produce the original medical prescription.
• For drugs classified as narcotics, if the authorities of the country of destination require a certificate for entry into the territory, the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) can issue a transport certificate. Such certificates shall be issued for quantities transported corresponding to a treatment period not exceeding the maximum prescription period.

• The website of the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM)
• The regime for the transport of narcotic drugs by private individuals