Egyptian Customs Announces New Regulatory Requirements for Exporting Medicines to Kuwait
The Egyptian Customs Authority has officially issued Export Regulatory Circular No. (19) for the year 2026, outlining strict controls and procedures governing the exit and transfer of medicines to the State of Kuwait.
This move comes in coordination with the Trade Agreements and Foreign Trade Sector and the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA). The regulations are designed to rigorously enforce the laws governing pharmaceutical circulation and to effectively curb the illegal cross-border movement of controlled substances.
According to the circular, these new protocols were enacted based on a directive from the Head of the Trade Agreements and Foreign Trade Sector (Letter No. 1067, dated July 21, 2026) and official correspondence from the EDA (No. 15006, dated July 16, 2026).
Mandatory Requirements for Medicines Entering Kuwait
Under the new directives, a specific range of medicines is strictly prohibited from entering Kuwaiti territory unless the following procedures are fully satisfied:
Certified Medical Reports and Prescriptions: Travelers and shippers must provide documented medical reports and prescriptions that are officially authenticated by Kuwaiti embassies abroad or by accredited diplomatic missions within Kuwait.
Prior Export Approval: Stakeholders must obtain prior official export approval directly from the Egyptian Drug Authority.
Document Authentication: The concerned party is legally obligated to personally follow up and complete all necessary certification procedures at the Embassy of the State of Kuwait.
Digital Accessibility of Regulatory Documents
To ensure widespread compliance and transparency, the Egyptian Customs Authority clarified that all attachments related to the regulatory circular have been digitally processed and uploaded to the Authority’s official website. This guarantees easy access for customs officials at all ports as well as the general public. The available digital attachments include:
Appended Schedule Lists: The official schedules attached to Kuwaiti Law No. 159 of 2025, which governs the combating of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and regulates their use and trade.
The Unified Regulatory Guide: The comprehensive rules regulating the export of internationally and locally controlled pharmaceutical preparations, issued by the EDA under the code (01.EDREX GL.PPMA), Issue No. (1 of 2023).
The Egyptian Customs Authority has strongly urged all shippers, travelers, and involved stakeholders to carefully review the attached electronic schedules and instructions before initiating any shipping or travel procedures. Failure to comply could result in severe legal accountability and the confiscation of shipments.