Can I Still Get My Prescriptions From Canada After October 22?
It is too early to know for sure. The rule does not ban prescriptions from Canada. It changes the customs paperwork that mailed medicines need at the border. The big unknown is whether everyday prescription orders will be able to meet the new rules, and U.S. officials had not addressed that as of September 28, 2026.
What People Are Asking
| What people are asking | What is known as of September 28, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Is October 22, 2026 the official date? | Yes. It is the compliance date written into CBP's rule. |
| Is the U.S. banning prescriptions from Canada? | No ban has been announced. The rule changes customs paperwork. |
| Is Canada being singled out? | No. The rule covers mail from every country. |
| Will my parcel get through? | Not known yet. CBP and the FDA have not said how they will handle personal prescription parcels. |
| Could deliveries pause for a while? | It is possible, but no one knows for how long. |
The rule covers parcels sent through the international mail system, such as Canada Post. Packages shipped another way, like a private courier, fall under separate CBP rules.
Warnings from outside the government are stronger than the rule’s own wording. Becker’s Hospital Review reported in September 2026 that patient advocacy groups fear some people could ration or skip medication. The People’s Pharmacy reported on September 24, 2026 that some pharmacies abroad were concluding their prescription parcels may no longer fit the new requirements. CBP’s own economic analysis for the rule even names temporary interruptions to mail deliveries as a possible cost. These are real warnings, not final decisions.
You are not alone in this. Researchers writing in JAMA Network Open in 2020 estimated that roughly 2.3 million U.S. adults had bought prescription medicines outside the U.S. to lower their costs, based on survey responses from 2015 to 2017.
What Should I Do Before October 22?
Focus on what you can control: your supply. Count what you have left, check which prescriptions still have refills, and order anything due soon with extra time. Then ask your prescriber about a backup in case a package runs late. These steps help no matter how the rule is applied.
What to Do Before October 22
| When | What to do | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| This week | Check every medicine you get by mail | You will know when each one runs out |
| Before your next order | Order refills due soon, with extra time | Processing, shipping and customs get more room |
| Before you run low | Ask your prescriber about a backup plan | A local prescription can bridge a gap if a parcel is late |
| Every order | Save your order and tracking numbers | Following up on a slow parcel is easier |
For PharmaGiant orders, the suggested cutoff is Monday, October 15, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. CT.
Ordering early gives you breathing room if anything changes, even though exact arrival dates are hard to predict right now.
If you take a blood thinner such as apixaban or Xarelto (rivaroxaban), please do not stop it or space out doses because a delivery is late. The FDA-approved prescribing information for Eliquis (apixaban) warns that stopping any oral blood thinner too early raises the risk of dangerous blood clots. With any medicine, call your prescriber before you run out.
What Is Changing on October 22?
A short grace period for mailed medicines ends. Since July 24, 2026, most small international parcels have cleared U.S. customs through a new, simpler process. Medicines and other FDA-regulated products were allowed to use it for a limited time. From October 22, 2026, they need one of two more detailed customs filings instead.
The change comes from a CBP interim final rule released on June 24, 2026. Among other things, it removed the old duty-free allowance for mailed packages worth $800 or less. Products covered by another agency’s import rules, including FDA-regulated medicines, were given until October 22 to move to the stricter filings, a timeline Troutman Pepper Locke’s review of the new mail entry process also describes.
Key Dates for the CBP Mail Rule
| Date | Milestone | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2026 | Rule and Entry Type 13 test notice appear in the Federal Register | The requirements become public |
| July 24, 2026 | New, simpler mail customs process starts | Mailed medicines can use it during a grace period |
| September 22, 2026 | Entry Type 13 test opens | A second customs filing becomes available |
| October 22, 2026 | Grace period ends for mailed medicines | Prescription parcels need one of the two stricter filings |
Why Could Deliveries Be Delayed?
Because both customs routes now open to mailed medicines take more work than the old process. Each needs a customs bond, which is a financial guarantee filed with U.S. Customs, plus detailed information about every package. It is not yet clear whether pharmacies and their shipping partners can handle this for everyday personal orders.
Formal Entry vs. Entry Type 13
| Formal entry | Entry Type 13 | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The standard customs filing, usually for shipments worth more than $2,500 | A newer electronic filing for mailed packages worth $2,500 or less |
| Who can file | The goods' owner or buyer, or a licensed customs broker | Same as formal entry |
| Needs a customs bond? | Yes | Yes |
| Status | Long established | Being tested since September 22, 2026 |
These details come from CBP’s notice on the Entry Type 13 test and its e-commerce FAQ page. Either filing covers the customs side only. FDA-regulated products still have to meet the FDA’s own requirements.
Could My Medication Be Affected?
If your prescription reaches you by international mail, it could be. Prescription drugs are regulated by the FDA, and that is what places them under the new customs requirements, whether they are tablets or injection pens and whichever country mails them.
For PharmaGiant customers, that could include GLP-1 pens such as Wegovy and Zepbound, tablets such as Rybelsus, and blood thinners such as apixaban.
If your usual source becomes harder to reach, take care before trying an unfamiliar website. See how to spot counterfeit medicines for the warning signs to check first.
What Does October 22 Mean for PharmaGiant Orders?
We, at PharmaGiant, are following the October 22 rule closely. For now, nothing has changed in how you order from us or how your medication ships. If that changes, we will update this page right away.
Many of our customers refill GLP-1 medications and blood thinners on a set schedule. For them, a late parcel can mean a gap in treatment, so we would rather you plan early than wait and see.
Shipping times may run longer, and Canada Post volume is expected to be heavier before October 22. To leave room for both, we suggest placing your order by Monday, October 15, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. CT. If your prescription allows a 90-day supply, ordering one means one less parcel to wait on during this stretch. Before you check out, take a moment to confirm your shipping address, your medication and strength, and your prescription details.
Whatever happens, your medication should come from a licensed pharmacy and be taken exactly as prescribed. To see how orders travel today, read our guide to shipping medications from Canada to the US. When a refill is coming up, you can order Ozempic, Mounjaro, or your usual medication right here on our site.
