Vitamins are No Longer Allowed By post

stellasstar1



Joined: 02/07/2008
Posts: 1519

Message Posted:
13/05/2011 11:04

Hi, I just wanted to let evryone know that you can't buy vitamins on line and have them sent here anymore. The vitamins I buy from Jersey (and when I lived in England I bought them from Jersey, before anyone says buy here!)Instead of being in my P.O. Box as they normally would be, I got a note to go to Girne. To my amazement I was told I couldn't have them as the Government has changed their policy and you are no longer allowed to bring them into the country. I do try to be tolerant of all the changing rules, but there was £40.00 of my vitamins and thye wouldn't give them to me. I was so annoyed I had to stop on the way home and get a twix chocolate bar.

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
13/05/2011 11:09

Stella, when did this come in as I have just received Aloe Vera tablets from my friend in the UK. How annoying for you. xx

stellasstar1



Joined: 02/07/2008
Posts: 1519

Message Posted:
13/05/2011 11:13

Well, I went this morning, but I got my last lot about a month ago when it was ok. It was very obvious what mine were, were yours wrapped up so no one could see what they were?

TinLondon


Joined: 20/07/2009
Posts: 171

Message Posted:
13/05/2011 11:22

First the bread, bacon, ham and now the vitamins... is someone opening a shop somewhere?

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
13/05/2011 12:07

Hi Stella mine were in a jiffybag with a customs sticker saying what was in the package.

walkerscott


Joined: 13/08/2009
Posts: 901

Message Posted:
13/05/2011 13:48

http://www.cyprus44.com/forums/62557.asp

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
13/05/2011 20:28

How would they know? They don't open every parcel.

Quarmby


Joined: 15/09/2008
Posts: 975

Message Posted:
13/05/2011 20:40

what next, medicines?

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
13/05/2011 22:49

No, letters. )

rowlo



Joined: 12/10/2008
Posts: 4796

Message Posted:
13/05/2011 22:54

will my dads viagra still get to him ?

nostradamus


Joined: 15/04/2008
Posts: 557

Message Posted:
14/05/2011 13:45

This is not a new change in regulations. Speaking from memory it came into force last year sometime. I had always bought from Puritans Pride in the USA but my last package was pulled by the Customs who said I needed an import licence from the Government Pharmacy in Lefkosa and that this regulation applied to all medical, natural remedies and cosmetics. After about 4 visits, and loads of aggravation like supplying a detailed list of ingredients for all of my items, the Govt Pharmacy did issue me with a permit but said that they would not do so again as only Pharmacists could get these in future. I imagine that the 'Pharmacists Union' or whatever are probably behind this one as I have seen Puritans Pride products for sale here at about ten times the price I was paying! Have also had a package sent to my PO box in the south but the contents had to be inspected by somebody from the Ministry of Health who was only in attendance once a week - more hassle!

smwredd


Joined: 07/10/2009
Posts: 260

Message Posted:
14/05/2011 14:43

Does this mean that every woman is going to have her luggage searched and her make up confiscated, i.e. foundation, powder, moisturiser, eyeshadow, etc. etc. Packets of aspirin will be destroyed, what constitutes a 'natural remedy' in the eyes of TRNC and my fish oil capsules will be snatched from my hand baggage.

janjin



Joined: 10/04/2008
Posts: 488

Message Posted:
14/05/2011 15:08

rowlo your Dad will know if it doesn't 'get to him'

nostradamus


Joined: 15/04/2008
Posts: 557

Message Posted:
14/05/2011 17:00

Message 12: I don't really think this regulation makes any difference to baggage arriving with a passenger, it's packages arriving by mail where the problem arises. As I'm sure you are aware, the customs people have the say in what parcels are pulled for inspection. Small packages, I suspect, are more than likely to get through without trouble but you need to bear in mind that you might lose your goods.

spangles


Joined: 22/10/2008
Posts: 411

Message Posted:
14/05/2011 17:13

Looks like Holland and Barrett on Ledra Street is going to be busy.

Pippie


Joined: 02/12/2009
Posts: 1288

Message Posted:
14/05/2011 20:52

I noticed a couple of weeks ago a new Herbal Medicine shop (well I hadn't noticed it before) - around Alsancak way in a row of shops on the right hand side as you travel Girne to Lapta, I think it was around the Enliven Hair and Beauty shop.

Might be worth enquiring there if they have what you're after.



It's true, importing is for businesses only with an import licence and additional permits are required to be applied for every time you want to import any cosmetic, medicinal, electrical, or food items. However I thought that individual items would be ok - I receive chocolates every year at Christmas from my sister, the customs label states chocolates, and they've always been delivered.



Try having anything sent to you sent with an invoice stating "Sample for inspection only, no commercial value". Might work!

smwredd


Joined: 07/10/2009
Posts: 260

Message Posted:
14/05/2011 22:17

Re msg 16, that particular shop appears to be closing, for rent sign in the window. I did go in once for capsules and they told me that they are not allowed to sell anything in capsule form.

0maintenance


Joined: 22/09/2010
Posts: 2179

Message Posted:
15/05/2011 08:04

Customs in ercan do not believe that companies send goods for free as samples and to them there is no such thing as no commercial value,if they see that wording they will pick it out.



Example.3 bottles of scotch whiskey for samples,Value 3 pounds in total = paperwork from REP of UPS 115TL,give paperwork to other man,he takes it into room and shows value of goods to higher ranking customs man,they stamp off paperwork,we collect whisky,50TL charge for stamp,no dutie,Dutie would of been alot less.

stoppages 4%

2.5%

KDV 20%. on 3 pound value it would of been alot less that 50TL

Conclusion. come to that yourself.

shrimp


Joined: 01/09/2010
Posts: 939

Message Posted:
15/05/2011 20:16

Lilli, I was told when I bought aloe vera from the health food shop that they were going to restrict the sale of these and many other natural medicines so I knew it was on the cards....I wasnt sure whether or not to put it on the customs's form but was told at the post office that if I didn't they would have opened it to find out..........also they scan to see what is in it if unsure.........



can you buy aloe vera plants there????

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
15/05/2011 20:21

Hi Shrimp, gosh I didnt know all that. I will get a cutting from someone.What a nighmare for people who rely on alternative medicines . I signed a petion when Walker Scott put it on here but didnt really realise the extend.

shrimp


Joined: 01/09/2010
Posts: 939

Message Posted:
15/05/2011 20:26

It will effect so many of the health food shops everywhere I am sure.............

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
15/05/2011 20:31

Sad times , I only took them when I had ME. I know many sufferers swear by them as do many MS sufferers and many many more.

LooseBoots



Joined: 08/02/2009
Posts: 1258

Message Posted:
21/05/2011 09:26

Re Msg 11. Where abouts is the Pharmacy in Lefkosa and what did you have to supply to get the permit.

nostradamus


Joined: 15/04/2008
Posts: 557

Message Posted:
21/05/2011 11:34

Message 23: directions to govt. pharmacy. Go straight into Lefkosa past the hospital and follow this road through to the one way system, cross the roundabout (past Haci Ali's offices) and take the first left into a parallel road, the govt. pharmacy is a building on your right. When I went there I had to supply a complete ingredients list for each product that I had bought - in my case, I downloaded all this information from Puritans Pride website - together with the invoice. It's an office upstairs in the building that dealt with this and, I have to say, they messed me around for days, complete nightmare! To confirm, they also told me that they wouldn't issue another permit in the future. Good luck!

LooseBoots



Joined: 08/02/2009
Posts: 1258

Message Posted:
22/05/2011 23:23

OK Thanks very much.

LooseBoots



Joined: 08/02/2009
Posts: 1258

Message Posted:
24/05/2011 18:43

Nostradamus. Re msg 24. Didn`t quite make it . Can you contact me off board please.



e.mail add on profile

LooseBoots



Joined: 08/02/2009
Posts: 1258

Message Posted:
27/05/2011 11:47

Well I finally got my Viamins, or the boss`s.



For the benefit of others, when I found the Govt.pharmacy in Lefkosa, thanks to directions from Nostradamus, the man to see, Kasim, insisted that the postman at Girne wrote on the form that the tablets had come direct from the USA, ( even though, i hasten to add I had the invoice with me and the front address label from the package clearly showing that )

The customs lady at Girne kindly wrote the line as requested ( with a wry smile on her face ) and i duly went back to Lefkosa and Kasim authorised the delivery.

But as has been said previously I WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DO IT AGAIN,

he asked me , Please to not order any more.

So after 2 visits I got my pills. But beware..............they are not happy to do it.