Peru - Home

Peru’s Ministry of Health has introduced new exemptions to streamline the importation of personal-use cosmetic and hygiene products, as part of efforts to modernise regulatory processes and facilitate non-commercial trade.

In a public statement released Monday, the General Directorate of Medicines, Supplies and Drugs (DIGEMID), through its Directorate of Medical Devices and Health Products, confirmed that individuals importing small quantities of specific sanitary goods will no longer be required to present a Mandatory Health Notification (Notificación Sanitaria Obligatoria) or Health Registration Certificate.

The measure applies exclusively to natural persons using simplified customs regimes, including postal packages, express delivery services, and simplified import schemes.

Scope and Limitations

To qualify for the exemption, the following conditions must be met:

• The importer must be a private individual, not a business entity.

• The products must be declared for personal use only.

• Shipments must not exceed four (4) units per package.

• No more than three (3) such shipments may be made per calendar year, regardless of product type.

DIGEMID further clarified that if multiple parcels addressed to the same individual exceed the unit threshold under a single manifest, the exemption will no longer apply. In such cases, standard import requirements, including health registration, would be enforced.

Individual Responsibility Emphasised

Authorities emphasised that responsibility for the use and safety of imported products lies solely with the individual requesting entry. "The use of health products declared for personal use is under the exclusive responsibility of the applicant," the notice stated.

The updated guidance was previously communicated to the National Superintendency of Customs and Tax Administration (SUNAT) via Official Letter No. 355-2018-DIGEMID-DG-EA/MINSA. Further details can be found here (in Spanish). 

From March 18 to 20 2025, Peru actively participated in the Regional Preparatory Meeting for the 25th Conference of the Parties (PreCOP 2025) on the Basel, Stockholm, and Rotterdam Conventions, held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. During this meeting, key issues related to the management of chemical products and hazardous waste were discussed, particularly the progress made in the implementation of the Rotterdam, Stockholm, and Basel Conventions, as well as the Minamata Mercury Convention.

In this context, the creation of a roadmap to improve chemical management in the region was proposed, in line with commitments made at the Sixth United Nations Environment Assembly. Additionally, strategies to strengthen the Global Framework for Chemicals and the sustainable management of waste were discussed.

Peru, represented by the Ministry of the Environment (Minam), presides over the Intergovernmental Network on Chemicals and Waste for Latin America and the Caribbean. Under this responsibility, Peru has promoted the coordination of public policies and international cooperation strategies for the sustainable management of chemicals and waste.

Gari Pascual, Director General of Environmental Quality at Minam, highlighted the impact of Peru's leadership in the region, stating, "... We are currently developing the 2026-2029 Action Plan, which will be presented at the XIV Forum of Ministers of Environment in Lima this October."  He also shared that a survey had been conducted to identify the priorities of different countries for the next four years. Preliminary results highlight areas such as training to prevent the illicit trafficking of such products, the development of specialized inventories, and the generation of information on chemicals in plastics, among other relevant topics.

The COP 2025 will take place from April 28 to May 9, 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland. During this event, agreements will be made regarding proposed amendments, inclusions, and exemptions under international conventions, which were presented during preliminary meetings and aim to support environmental goals. For more information, the article can be found here (in Spanish).