The Trump administration delayed the implementation of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection rule by 90 days, moving the mandatory compliance date from October 22, 2026 to January 20, 2027. The rule requires electronic filing and customs bonding for small international mail shipments previously exempt under de minimis rules. Patient advocacy groups and 71 members of Congress urged the delay, warning that the new requirements threaten access to lower-cost imported prescription medicines.
Customs delays new mail rule
- ▪U.S. Customs and Border Protection delayed the mandatory compliance date for new international mail entry customs requirements by 90 days, moving the implementation deadline from October 22, 2026 to January 20, 2027.
- ▪U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated that the 90-day extension gives importers, brokers, and logistics providers additional time to update systems and processes to prevent shipment disruptions.
New requirements for postal shipments
- ▪The delayed customs rule targets the de minimis exemption, which previously permitted international mail shipments valued under $800 to enter the United States without tariffs or detailed tracking data.
- ▪Under the new U.S. customs entry process, postal shipments subject to Section 201, 232, or 301 duties or under the jurisdiction of partner agencies like the Food and Drug Administration require electronic filing and a customs bond.
Concerns over impact on medication imports
- ▪The Canadian International Pharmacy Association stated that the proposed U.S. postal customs rule changes could disrupt the majority of routine personal medication orders from licensed foreign pharmacies.
- ▪Merith Basey, chief executive officer of Patients For Affordable Drugs, stated that the implementation delay provides a welcome reprieve for American patients but is not a permanent solution to high drug costs.
- ▪Patient advocacy groups warned that requiring detailed electronic data and customs bonding for small international shipments could cause order delays, package refusals, and increased prices for imported medicines.
Congressional actions
- ▪U.S. lawmakers authorized the underlying customs rule changes as part of President Donald Trump's spending and tax-cut bill, which is scheduled to take effect in July 2027.
- ▪A letter signed by 71 members of Congress, led by Representative Jan Schakowsky of Illinois and Representative Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, asked federal agencies to delay the customs rule unless personal-use drug shipments are exempted.
Official agency responses
- ▪The Department of Health and Human Services referred inquiries regarding potential personal-use drug exemptions under the new customs rule to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
- ▪U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not mention medicines in its extension announcement, and the federal rule itself does not name them.
Legality of personal drug imports
- ▪Although personal importation of foreign prescription drugs is legally prohibited, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration exercises enforcement discretion under limited circumstances to allow individuals to receive personal-use shipments.
- ▪Although federal law prohibits importing prescription drugs from abroad, many Americans rely on licensed foreign mail-order pharmacies in Canada and other countries to access lower-cost medications.
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