The State Duma banned the import of potent drugs without a prescription

The State Duma in the third reading approved a bill banning the import into Russia of potent drugs for personal use without a prescription.

For the importation of potent and toxic substances (included in the relevant government-approved lists), certified copies of documents or extracts from them are required confirming the prescription of these drugs to an individual.

The Ministry of Health claims that the ban will affect a narrow group of drugs. “[The list] includes anabolic steroids, clonidine, some anesthetics. That is, those drugs for which abuse is possible, ”said Elena Maksimkina, director of the department for drug supply and regulation of the circulation of medical devices of the Ministry of Health.

Medicines that are sold without a prescription in Russia can be imported.

• A bill to ban the import of potent drugs into the Russian Federation without a prescription was prepared by the Ministry of Health. The explanatory note to the document says that the need to adopt a law is associated with the uncertainty of legal regulation of the procedure and conditions for the movement of potent substances across the border of the Russian Federation with the countries of the Customs Union.