SAHPRA and Customs

[ietermago]

Last year I imported multivitamins (for my specific needs) from the US (where they are considerably cheaper), but the package was confiscated by customs pending SAHPRA approval. It was a huge problem getting the S21 form completed since I had to research all the ingredients in the supplements to justify its usage, (our) doctor is almost impossible to reach and he didn't complete the form with all the right details etc. etc. Paid the R350 fee only to have them state that the dosages exceed the NRV% (which most on the shelf is SA do anyway???) and would thus need to apply as an alternative medicine following a whole different process and of course you have to pay again. Months went by in a to-and-through between my doctor and I and we finally submitted it again, only to be rejected again. I then just gave up and had the package destroyed.

So, recently I bought a similar product on Amazon, thinking that it would be trouble-free experience, since the import duties are prepaid and surely, they don't get hassles since they must export such things to SA on a regular basis right? Nope, the package was once again stopped by SAHPRA My request is thus.... If you know of a doctor (in Pretoria) with experience in such matters and who would able to assist in getting the package cleared through SAHPRA, please DM me the details

 

[abeedee]

@itermage
I find myself in the exact predicament right now - BulkSupplements (USA). The insult to injury is that they state: result in your shipment being transferred to the Government State Warehouse pending clearance (additional charges will be incurred in this instance).
And nobody can tell me this fee. What did you have to pay to have the package destroyed / transferred to the Government State Warehouse?

On a more cautionary note to others - DO NOT buy via BulkSupplement . co . za . They wont refund and they dont care that they dont have approval to sell supplements to SA, they will lead you into making the purchase. That duty VAT also paid upfront on their store giving you confidence that all is in order.

Last year I imported multivitamins (for my specific needs) from the US (where they are considerably cheaper), but the package was confiscated by customs pending SAHPRA approval. It was a huge problem getting the S21 form completed since I had to research all the ingredients in the supplements to justify its usage, (our) doctor is almost impossible to reach and he didn't complete the form with all the right details etc. etc. Paid the R350 fee only to have them state that the dosages exceed the NRV% (which most on the shelf is SA do anyway???) and would thus need to apply as an alternative medicine following a whole different process and of course you have to pay again. Months went by in a to-and-through between my doctor and I and we finally submitted it again, only to be rejected again. I then just gave up and had the package destroyed.

So, recently I bought a similar product on Amazon, thinking that it would be trouble-free experience, since the import duties are prepaid and surely, they don't get hassles since they must export such things to SA on a regular basis right? Nope, the package was once again stopped by SAHPRA My request is thus.... If you know of a doctor (in Pretoria) with experience in such matters and who would able to assist in getting the package cleared through SAHPRA, please DM me the details

 

[ietermago]

I emailed my courier to get the final cost for storing/destroying the package, but never heard from them since. I hope this thread will be a strong warning to anyone ordering supplements from abroad

 

[Ghost02]

I emailed my courier to get the final cost for storing/destroying the package, but never heard from them since. I hope this thread will be a strong warning to anyone ordering supplements from abroad

@ietermago what ended up happening? I have a package from Amazon containing mutlivitamins that's been stopped too. If it was just the multivitamin that would be fine but I have a bunch of other stuff in the shipment too which is quite expensive.

 

[ietermago]

Never had a reply and wrote it off as an expensive life lesson. I'd contact the courier and ask them if they can remove the multivitamins from the package and have that destroyed by customs and then have the other items cleared.

 

[Ghost02]

Never had a reply and wrote it off as an expensive life lesson. I'd contact the courier and ask them if they can remove the multivitamins from the package and have that destroyed by customs and then have the other items cleared.

Thanks, did Amazon mark it as delivered? I was hoping it would be sent back and I could get a refund but I realise that's wishful thinking.

 

[ietermago]

Thanks, did Amazon mark it as delivered? I was hoping it would be sent back and I could get a refund but I realise that's wishful thinking.

I did once arrange with a courier to send an item back to a supplier, but it was bacause they couldn't ship it from the point of origin (it wasn't in SA). I'd suggest that you contact the courier and Amazon and ask them for advice....

 

[Mirai]

@ietermago what ended up happening? I have a package from Amazon containing mutlivitamins that's been stopped too. If it was just the multivitamin that would be fine but I have a bunch of other stuff in the shipment too which is quite expensive.

Can't you ask them to 'return to sender'?

 

[RiaX]

Last year I imported multivitamins (for my specific needs) from the US (where they are considerably cheaper), but the package was confiscated by customs pending SAHPRA approval. It was a huge problem getting the S21 form completed since I had to research all the ingredients in the supplements to justify its usage, (our) doctor is almost impossible to reach and he didn't complete the form with all the right details etc. etc. Paid the R350 fee only to have them state that the dosages exceed the NRV% (which most on the shelf is SA do anyway???) and would thus need to apply as an alternative medicine following a whole different process and of course you have to pay again. Months went by in a to-and-through between my doctor and I and we finally submitted it again, only to be rejected again. I then just gave up and had the package destroyed.

So, recently I bought a similar product on Amazon, thinking that it would be trouble-free experience, since the import duties are prepaid and surely, they don't get hassles since they must export such things to SA on a regular basis right? Nope, the package was once again stopped by SAHPRA My request is thus.... If you know of a doctor (in Pretoria) with experience in such matters and who would able to assist in getting the package cleared through SAHPRA, please DM me the details

Try the hospital pharmacies. They do section 21 all the time for doctors. Who was the importer ?