Medications and doping preparations

Decline in medications detected.

Illegally imported medications pose health risks. Often, they have no packaging or product information leaflet, or they are a non-standard dosage or contain undeclared ingredients. 

The amount of medications and doping preparations seized last year fell by 30.7% compared to 2021 (2022: 7,806; 2021: 11,263). In 2022, the FOCBS reported 6,793 consignments of medications to Swissmedic and 1,013 consignments of doping preparations to Swiss Sport Integrity. Unsurprisingly, erectile dysfunction drugs account for nearly 79% of these products, which mostly arrive by post from Eastern Europe or Asia. This figure is slightly up compared to 2021 (77.3%).

Detections (number of consignments)

 

2020

2021

2022

Medications and doping preparations

7,486

11,263

7,806

of which, medications reported
to Swissmedic

6,733

9,421

6,793

The FOCBS checks whether these medications are approved or compliant, and whether the authorised amount for a month's treatment of one person has been respected. If a suspect consignment is detected, the FOCBS informs Swissmedic and seizes the goods. For doping preparations, by contrast, the "zero tolerance" rule applies.

Main medications seized:

  1. Erectile dysfunction drugs (79%)
  2. Sleeping tablets and tranquillisers (6%)
  3. Hormones (incl. melatonin) (5%)
  4. Nasal sprays and laxatives (4%)
  5. Antibiotics, antiparasitics, antivirals (2%)
  6. Painkillers (1%)
  7. Other (3%)

Origin of seized medications:

  • Eastern Europe 34%
  • Asia (without India) 27%
  • Western Europe 26%
  • India 9%
  • Other 4%
Medikamente
Medications may only be imported for personal use in the quantity equivalent to monthly requirements.
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