Issue of Permit to Import Medicines from a Local Agent

Service completion duration

For initial import applications: 3 working days
For shipment clearance ...

Service fees

Application fee: AED 100
Shipment clearance issuance fee: 1% of the invoice...

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About the Service

This service allows obtaining a permit to import medicinal products, narcotic drugs, controlled or semi-controlled drugs, or pharmaceutical preparations for the local agent holding a valid medical store license issued by the Ministry of Health and Prevention.

Service Process

1
Login to the MoHAP website or smart app using the UAE PASS
2
Submit an initial import permit application before shipping from the country of origin, and pay the application fees
3
If the requirements and conditions are met, the initial import permit application will be approved with sixty days validity, during which the shipment from the country of origin can be prepared
4
In completion of the second stage, the applicant submits a shipment clearance application - upon obtaining the Air Way Bill (Air) / Bill of Lading (Sea) / Truck Way Bill (Consignment Note) (Road) - and pays the due fees
5
In the event that the requirements and conditions are met, the approval is obtained electronically and the permission is printed from the electronic system. The permit is valid for sixty days from the date of its issuance and is conditional on the approval of the Ministry’s inspectors for customs clearance then the inspection for the release to loacl market

Conditions & Requirements

Obtaining marketing authorization approval from the Ministry of Health and Prevention.
Products may only be imported by the local agent mentioned in the product’s marketing authorization approval.
One commercial invoice must be attached to each initial import permit application.
It is allowed to include more than one initial import permit application, under the shipment clearance application, provided that they are all under the same bill of lading, air waybill, or truck waybill (consignment note). The shipment must contain products that are under the purview of the Ministry of Health and Prevention.
Obtaining electronic shipment clearance permits.
Inspection at the customs port by MOHAP inspectors.
Inspection to release the shipment for distribution in the local market.

FAQ’s

How to know the pharmaceutical or therapeutic product or alternative that has obtained marketing approval in the country?
Through the link below: - https://www.mohap.gov.ae/ar/services/Pages/drug-directory.aspx - In the event that a search result does not appear in the above link, please send the inquiry to the Import and Export Regulation Department through the e-mail: Import.export@mohap.gov.ae
How can I obtain the authorization of the Department for Regulating Controlled Substances and Products for Narcotic Drugs or Controlled or semi-controlled Products? Through the link below:
https://smartforms.moh.gov.ae/DEI
How can I apply for a batch release certificate (in case the product is a biological derivative and vaccine - issued by the Ministry of Health and Community Protection according to the batch number)? Apply through the link below:
https://smartforms.moh.gov.ae/DEI
How can I issue an import permit from the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (mandatory for radioactive products and materials)? Through the website link below:
https://www.fanr.gov.ae/ar/Pages/default.aspx
How can I inquire about how to obtain marketing approval for the product? Communicate with the Medical Products Regulatory Department through e-mail
DrugReg.inquiries@mohap.gov.ae

Service completion duration

For initial import applications: 3 working days
For shipment clearance applications: 2 working days

Service fees

Application fee: AED 100

Shipment clearance issuance fee: 1% of the invoice value for the CIF price, not less than 200 dirhams per invoice

Service channels

MOHAP Website: www.mohap.gov.ae
MOHAP Smart App

MOHAP offices at Customs Ports: Only to release the shipment directly to the importing medical store after printing the electronic shipment clearance permit and presenting the documents related to conformity to the Ministry’s inspectors, and before distribution in the local market.

Service locations

MoHAP Website: www.mohap.gov.ae
MoHAP SmartApp

Support

Information Technology: mohap.appsupport@mohap.gov.ae
Import & export regulation section: import.export@mohap.gov.ae
Call Center: 80011111

Payment channels

E- Payment

Target audience

Medical store with a valid license issued from the Ministry of Health and Prevention

Resources

Department name

Drug

Sector name

Health Regulation

Main service

Clearance, Import and Export Permits

Service Code

110-02-004-000

Service Classfication

Transactional

Service Type

Government to Business

Sub Service Type

Variation

Related Services

Licenses, for all medical products.
BRC (Batch Release Certificate) for biological products.
Authorization to import narcotic, controlled or semi-controlled drugs, for narcotic products, controlled and semi-controlled substances.
Import permit from the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), for radioactive products, materials and radiation devices.
Inspection before customs release of shipments and before distribution locally in the market for all medical products.

Service Bundle

This service is not linked with any service packages.

Number of Users

422

Notes

The valid electronic seal is accepted for documents of government entities and companies.

Required Documents

The first stage: Initial approval for import: The submission is made through the electronic system of import to obtain the initial approval for import before starting to ship from the country of origin, and it requires attaching the following documents:
- The invoice (Commercial Invoice or Invoice) issued by marketing authorization holder, including the country of origin, production and expiry dates for each batch, and the remaining shelf life of the product must not be less than two-thirds of the total shelf life.
- Minor Variation Certificate (MVC) - if any
- Import authorization from the Regulation of Controlled Substances and Products section- for Narcotic, Controlled or semi-controlled Drugs.
- Batch Release Certificate (BRC) - if the product is a biological derivative and vaccine - issued by the Ministry of Health & Prevention for each batch.
- Import permit from the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation - mandatory for radioactive products and materials
- European Directorate for Quality of Medicines and Healthcare (EDQM) Certificate of Suitability (if the product contains gelatin from an animal source)
- In case of importing from the designated free zones in the country, the following must be provided:
  - A valid MOHAP Marketing Office License of MAH (Marketing Authorization Holder)
  - A valid certificate of Good Storage and Distribution Practice (GSDP) issued by MOHAP (Ministry Of Health & Prevention) to the MAH (Marketing Authorization Holder)
The second Stage: Shipment Clearance Permission: The application is submitted when the freight bill is issued, and it requires attaching the following documents:
- Air Way Bill (Air) / Bill of Lading (Sea) / Truck Way Bill (Consignment Note) (Road), noting the necessity of shipping in temperature controlled containers, while adhering to the Ministerial decree No. 22 of 2022.
- The packing list must include the total weight and the number of packages.
- Original Certificates of Analysis (C.O.A) for all imported batches and must include production and expiry dates and be issued by the batch releaser (to be viewed upon request from MOHAP inspectors).