Don’t forget the medical certificate
Some medicines fall under the Opium Act and are strictly prohibited abroad, for example certain sleeping pills and painkillers. Arrange a medical statement in time, so that you do not have any problems at customs.
The Opium Act contains a list of soft and hard drugs that you are not allowed to have in your possession. Many medicines also contain substances that fall under the Opium Act, such as strong painkillers, sedatives, ADHD medication and medicinal cannabis. Medical use is allowed, but if you want to take such medicines with you abroad, you need an official statement from your doctor that you are taking them with a doctor’s prescription. With such a statement you show that you are taking the medication for your own use.
The most common opium law drugs are:
| Substance name | Brand name |
| Methylphenidate | Ritalin, Concerta, Medikinet |
| Morphine | Kapanol, Oramorph |
| Oxycodone | Oxycontin, Oxynorm |
| methadone | Symoron, Pindadone |
| Temazepam | Normisom |
| Oxazepam | Seresta |
If in doubt, ask your doctor or pharmacy check whether the medicines you are taking fall under the Opium Act.
Medical Statements
Are you going on a trip and do you want to take medicines with you that fall under the Opium Act? Then you need an official statement from your doctor, which is then legalized by the CAK, the body responsible for opium exemptions.
There are two different declarations: a Schengen declaration for travel within the Schengen area and an English-language declaration for travel outside the Schengen area. The processing time of the forms is approximately four weeks, so request one of these statements in good time.
Schengen countries
The Schengen area includes Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Czech Republic, Iceland, Sweden and Switzerland. If you are going to one of these countries and you are taking medication that falls under the Opium Act, you will need a Schengen declaration.
Download the form at www.hetcak.nl and fill it out completely, don’t forget your doctor’s stamp and signature. Send the form to the CAK by post or digitally. With one Schengen statement you can take one medicine with you and visit a maximum of four countries. Take into account a processing time of four weeks. The statement is valid for thirty days. If your trip lasts longer, you must request several statements.
Other countries
Are you going to a country that does not belong to the Schengen area? Then you need a medical statement from your doctor. This must be drawn up in English and in letter form. Here you will find an example in which your doctor can fill in the necessary information. An English medical statement is valid for one year if your medication and dose remain the same. If your medication or the dosage changes, you will need a new statement.
Depending on the country you are traveling to, in some cases the statement still needs to be legalized by the embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For certain countries additional documents are required or the procedure is different. On the website of the CAK you can look up the exact steps you need to take per country.
Bringing other medicines
Medicines that do not fall under the Opium Act can simply be taken with you on a trip. Take them with you in the original packaging that still has the pharmacy sticker with your name and the dosage on it.
It is convenient to have with your general practitioner or pharmacy to apply for a medicine passport (also known as a medicine passport). It states which medicines you are taking and what the internationally used substance names are. If you lose medication, a doctor can prescribe the correct replacement. Such a medicine passport is useful, but not an official travel document. It is not enough to be allowed to take medicines that fall under the Opium Act, an official statement is required for this.
Keep medicines in your hand luggage if you are taking the aeroplane travel, because it can get very cold in the hold and medicines can become useless. Moreover, you always have them at hand, even if your suitcase gets lost.
