Is Codeine legal in Philippines?
- Legal status
- Codeine is a controlled dangerous drug under RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act 2002). The death penalty was abolished for all crimes by RA 9346 (2006), so codeine is not death-eligible; the statutory maximum is life imprisonment / reclusion perpetua.
- Consequences if caught
- RA 9165 imposes graduated imprisonment by quantity up to life; codeine is not death-eligible.
- If prescribed or medical
- Dispensed as a controlled prescription medicine.
- Documentation
- Carry a prescription and original packaging; declare controlled medicines.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Philippines’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.
Before you travel
Verify current rules with the destination country’s official drug authority and your own country’s embassy before traveling. Find the destination’s U.S. embassy & official country guidance →
Non-U.S. travelers: check your own government’s travel advisory and embassy.
If you’re detained or arrested abroad
Contact your own country’s embassy or consulate in the destination immediately — not the destination’s authorities. U.S. citizens: contact the nearest U.S. embassy/consulate and the U.S. State Department at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad). If a U.S. citizen is arrested or detained abroad →