I made a post to this topic yesterday evening, and it seemed to work okay, but today it is not present on the thread. Here is another try:
I just learned of this today and did something really radical. I read the Spanish language order (Comunicado) dated August 1, 2017.
This appears to be sort of a tempest in a teapot. Whether it was caused by misreading of the Comunicado by government employees, by mail order clients or both is not clear.
The Comunicado, as written, applies ONlY to cosmetics. Here is a translation of the operative statement in the Comunicado and the antecedent paragraph.
As we see the standard, it refers to the requirement and to the cases of Exceptions to the sanitary registry. However, the current norm of exceptions to sanitary registry for cosmetics is not contemplated. In consequence, from this date, entrance into the country of cosmetic products for personal use is prohibited. (bold in original)
The Spanish language excerpt from the Comunicado is attached.
There is no mention in the Comunicado order of prohibition of prescription drugs nor of vitamins and supplements. The law, itself, is only quoted to provide context and authority for the Comunicado. But the purpose of the Comunicado is to single out cosmetics in the law and state that they are no longer allowed to be normal exceptions to the law.
It could be that there are some super gung-ho customs agents misinterpreting the order, or it may be that there is a rush for people to get their panties in a wad over something that will not be a problem. I think a helpful embassy official or a helpful Panamanian government official should be able to straighten it out.
Embassy Warden Hank Landis is fluent in Spanish andvery familiar with Panamanian law and probably could handle this efficiently.
