Letters: French import duties on medication are unfair 

To the Editor,

I have been on an injectable medication in France for some time.

This has now been in ‘rupture’ and unavailable in France since October 2024.

The supplier sent me some via my pharmacy until the end of December, but I have been unable to get it here since.

My specialist in the UK writes prescriptions, which I have bought in the UK, but I will not be travelling back before September and my supply is low.

Read more: What to do if your local pharmacy in France is out of stock of your medicine

My UK chemist will send it, at a cost of £500-plus for 12 vials/ampoules and the douane tell me I will also have to pay import duty and VAT when it is delivered to my address in France.

Since I have to buy this medication in the UK thanks to a ‘rupture’ in France, surely one should not have to pay import duty on an essential medication?

(Added to which the medication is made in Sweden, but I am unable to get a supply directly from there).

I do not think those of us who are battling serious illness should have to pay import duties on our medication.

Candace Campbell, by email

Have you been asked to pay for an import duty on your medication? Let us know at letters@connexionfrance.com