"A very difficult beast to cover”: TGA warns GPs on peptide imports and compliance
20 May 2026
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) says recent enforcement action seized more than 900,000 illegally imported items over a two-week period. These included melatonin products, nicotine pouches, weight-loss treatments, sexual health medicines, vitamins, supplements, and other wellness and performance products.
TGA Chief Medical Adviser Professor Robyn Langham said Australian law is clear that medicines must be registered before being supplied, with only limited exceptions allowing access to unapproved products under strict medical oversight.
She said doctors who prescribe unapproved medicines take on responsibility for assessing safety, quality, and effectiveness, and warned that some imported products may carry serious risks, including severe allergic reactions and inflammatory responses.
The TGA also highlighted ongoing concerns about social media influence, where unproven health claims are driving demand for unregulated products. Authorities say some illegal goods are being produced in uncontrolled environments and sold with misleading labels such as “not for human use” or “research only”.
GPs say they are increasingly encountering patients using peptides or related products sourced online. Experts warn that these products are often unapproved, difficult to assess, and may pose significant safety risks.
Doctors are being encouraged to ask patients directly about any non-prescribed treatments, including those purchased online, to help identify potential adverse effects.
The TGA reminded clinicians that while compounded medicines and personal importation pathways exist in limited circumstances, counterfeit medicines are never permitted.
Regulators also confirmed ongoing cooperation with the Australian Border Force and social media platforms to disrupt illegal supply chains and remove misleading advertising.
Experts say GPs remain central to patient safety, particularly as demand for unregulated peptide products continues to grow.
Source: Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) / newsGP interview