Published: 21 May 2026

Safety Information

Alert communication

Consumer advisory: Unapproved peptide products health warning

21 May 2026

Medsafe is issuing this advisory to provide information about significant health and legal risks associated with using unapproved 'peptide' products and selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) imported and supplied in New Zealand.

• Unapproved peptide products are illegal and potentially harmful
• Illegal products being promoted online
• It is illegal to import, sell, or use these products
• "For research purposes only" claims are misleading
• Specific warning: Retatrutide
• Serious health and contamination risks
• What to do if you have these products

Unapproved peptide products are illegal and potentially harmful

We are aware of increasing imports and sales of unapproved peptides and SARMs and continue to seize these products (Figure 1).

Medsafe has NOT assessed these products for quality, safety or efficacy. They are unapproved products. There is a very real risk that these products may be of poor quality, not contain the substance claimed on the label (if they are labelled), contain other harmful substance not on the label or not be sterile (and so may contain substantial quantities of germs or mould).

These products, not prescribed by a doctor or sourced from a pharmacy, are illegal and potentially harmful. Using them can cause serious and potentially life‑threatening reactions.

If you think you have experienced side effects to any medicine or supplement, seek medical advice promptly and report your experience to the national pharmacovigilance database.

Illegal products being promoted online

Online sellers commonly advertise products such as BPC‑157, CJC-1295, GHRP‑6, Ipamorelin, Kisspeptin, KLOW, melanotan II, retatrutide, sealank, seamax, TB‑500 and thymosin. This is not a complete list and there are many others.

Even if these products actually contain the advertised ingredient, there is no good scientific evidence that they work as advertised or that they are safe. Neither is there any evidence that these products are sterile, and because they are injected, it means there is a high risk of a life-threatening infection from using them.

It is illegal to import, sell, or use these products

Under the Medicines Act 1981, many peptide products and SARMs are prescription medicines.

It is unlawful to import, supply, possess or procure prescription medicines unless this is authorised.

Products sold outside the regulated medicines system are illegal regardless of how they are labelled or marketed.

Claims such as "clinically proven", "safe", "approved", or "for research purposes only" do not make these products legal or safe.

"For research purposes only" claims are misleading

Many sellers label these products as "for research purposes only". This wording has no legal effect and does not permit sale, supply, or use in people. All clinical trials of 'new medicines' in New Zealand require approval from Medsafe and an ethics committee. Medsafe has not approved any clinical trials in New Zealand for these products.

If a product is being offered for personal use, injection, or consumption, it is being supplied unlawfully.

Specific warning: Retatrutide

Retatrutide is a potential medicine that is still being studied. It has not been approved for use by any trusted medicines regulator, apart from use in overseas clinical trials.

Any retatrutide sold to the public is sourced from the black‑market. International reports have linked black‑market retatrutide to fatal overdose, contamination, severe neurological symptoms, hair loss, and other serious adverse effects.

Serious health and contamination risks

None of these products have been approved in New Zealand by Medsafe. This means they have not been assessed for safety, quality, or efficacy.

Unapproved peptide products - especially injectables - may:

• cause infections, life-threatening allergic reactions, or other serious side effects
• interact dangerously with other medicines
• contain harmful or undisclosed ingredients
• have the wrong strength or no clear dosing information
• be made in non‑sterile, poor‑quality manufacturing conditions.

What to do if you have these products

• Do not use them.
• If you have used an unapproved injectable and feel unwell, seek medical advice immediately.
• Dispose of them safely by taking them to a community pharmacy or drug‑checking service.
• Dispose of needles in an approved sharps container and return them to a needle‑exchange service or participating pharmacy. Never put needles in household rubbish or recycling.
• Report any adverse effects to the national pharmacovigilance database.

Figure 1: Images of peptide products seized by Medsafe