In plain English
Peptides are short chains of amino acids (the building blocks of proteins). A few peptide medicines, such as insulin products, are approved in Australia. Most peptides sold online are not [1].
Online, these products are often promoted with big promises. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has warned that peptide products are being advertised online with a range of health claims, even though the TGA has not checked their safety, quality or effectiveness [1, 2].
Australian law sets rules for this kind of advertising. Advertisements for therapeutic goods must be accurate, balanced and not misleading, and must not say a product is safe or has no side effects [3]. More generally, businesses must not mislead consumers, whether or not they mean to [4, 6].
What is not known matters too. For most of these products, there is no independent check of what is in the vial. One study that bought a peptide medicine from illegal online sellers found far less of the active ingredient than the labels claimed [7].
This article is a checklist of warning signs, drawn from those official rules.
Why misleading claims are common
The TGA has described a rapidly growing online market. In April 2026 it said unapproved peptide products were being promoted on online and social media platforms with a range of health claims, and that these products had not been evaluated by the TGA for safety, quality or effectiveness [1]. In July 2026 it reported “a significant increase in the online promotion, advertising and supply of peptide products” and said it had written to social media and e-commerce platforms about unlawful advertising [2]. In June 2026 it added unapproved peptide products to its compliance priorities [8].
The rules that apply
| Rule | Who administers it | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code (2021) | TGA | Advertisements must be accurate, balanced, not misleading, and substantiated before publication [3] |
| Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 advertising provisions | TGA | Advertising prescription-only medicines, and some goods not on the ARTG, to the public is prohibited [1] |
| Australian Consumer Law, section 18 | ACCC | A person must not, in trade or commerce, engage in conduct that is misleading or deceptive, or likely to be [6] |
| Australian Consumer Law, section 29 | ACCC | Prohibits false or misleading representations about the quality or composition of goods, testimonials, and claimed approval or uses [6] |
The checklist
1. A health claim for a product that is not on the ARTG
The TGA states that advertising unapproved therapeutic goods to Australian consumers is generally unlawful, and that this includes websites, online marketplaces, social media posts and influencer content [2]. A page that links an unapproved peptide to a health outcome is a warning sign in itself. A product’s ARTG status can be checked on the TGA website; see What Is the ARTG?.
2. “Research use only” next to consumer marketing
The TGA states that a “research use only” disclaimer does not make supply lawful. Such disclaimers do not change a product’s regulatory status, permit importation, or remove advertising or supply obligations [1]. A disclaimer in the footer does not cancel claims made elsewhere on the page. The ACCC makes a similar general point: fine print must not conflict with the overall message of an advertisement [4].
3. “Safe”, “no side effects” or “guaranteed”
The Advertising Code prohibits representing therapeutic goods as safe or without harm or side effects; effective in all cases or guaranteed to work; or infallible, unfailing, magical or miraculous [3]. For unapproved peptides, the TGA states it has not reviewed any scientific evidence of their safety [1].
4. “Clinically proven” with no citation
If an advertisement refers to scientific or clinical research, the Code requires it to identify the researcher, identify the financial sponsor where known, and cite the research well enough for consumers to find it. Any scientific claim must be consistent with the body of evidence [3]. Check whether the cited study was in cells, animals or people. Most peptide evidence is preclinical; see How to Read Peptide Research.
5. Testimonials
Under the Code, testimonials must not come from people involved in producing, marketing or supplying the product [3]. The TGA’s social media guidance states that third-party comments claiming use of a product are testimonials, and that prescription medicines cannot be advertised to the public through testimonials [5]. Under the Australian Consumer Law, a false or misleading testimonial is itself a prohibited representation [6].
6. Reviews that look manufactured
The ACCC lists signs that a review may be fake [9]:
- a spike in very positive or negative reviews over a short period
- many reviews from the same email or IP address
- similar reviewer names
- generic reviews with no specific detail
- reviews written in very similar language.
It is against the law for a business to create fake or misleading reviews, or to arrange for others to do so [9].
7. Undisclosed influencer or affiliate promotion
The TGA states that influencers, affiliates, online sellers and anyone else promoting unapproved peptide products may be held accountable for unlawful advertising [2]. Paid endorsements must be clearly identified as advertising, and failing to do so may also breach the Australian Consumer Law [5].
8. Purity claims without a matching certificate
A purity figure is only meaningful if it comes from a certificate of analysis (COA) for that product and batch, with the test method named. Under the Australian Consumer Law, a false or misleading representation about a product’s quality, grade or composition is prohibited [6], and the ACCC states that businesses must be able to back up their claims [4]. See How to Read a Peptide Certificate of Analysis.
9. Unclear labels, codes or blank vials
The TGA has warned about products identified only by codes, or that do not clearly state the active ingredient and strength. These cannot be assessed for lawful importation [1]. It also reports increasingly intercepting unlabelled vials at the border, and notes that “manufacture” includes applying a label to a blank vial [2].
10. Vague, exaggerated or unverifiable wording
The ACCC advises that claims should be specific, accurate and based on reasonable grounds, and that broad, vague terms may mislead [4]. It also notes that misleading conduct does not depend on intent: “It makes no difference whether a business intends to mislead or not” [4].
What testing has found
Independent testing shows the gap between labels and contents. A 2024 study examined online sellers offering semaglutide (a peptide medicine) without a prescription [7]:
| Finding | Detail [7] |
|---|---|
| Market size | 134 search links led to 59 unique illegal online pharmacy websites |
| Test purchases | Made from 6 illegal online pharmacies; 3 orders were delivered and 3 never arrived (non-delivery scams) |
| Purity | 7.7% to 14.37% measured, against 99% claimed on product labels |
| Content | Semaglutide content exceeded labelled amounts by 28.56% to 38.69% |
| Endotoxin | Detected in all samples |
| Overall | All delivered vials were considered probable substandard and falsified products |
The study concerned one approved peptide medicine sold through illegal channels. It shows that a label’s purity claim cannot be taken on trust. For questions to ask about any source, see How to Evaluate a Research Peptide Supplier.
What this means in Australia
- ARTG. Unapproved peptide products are not on the ARTG and have not been assessed by the TGA for safety, quality or effectiveness [1, 10]. The TGA names BPC-157, GHK-Cu, TB-500 and CJC-1295 among its examples [1].
- Poisons Standard. Several peptides promoted online, including BPC-157, TB-500 and CJC-1295, are named in Schedule 4 (prescription-only) and Appendix D, clause 5 (possession without authority is illegal) of the October 2026 Poisons Standard [11]. Advertising prescription-only medicines to the public is prohibited unless authorised by a government authority [1]. See The Poisons Standard Explained.
- TGA position. The TGA states that “research use only” disclaimers do not make supply lawful [1]. Those who unlawfully advertise, import, manufacture or supply unapproved peptide products may face warning letters, infringement notices, seizures, civil penalties and, in serious cases, criminal prosecution [2].
- Reporting. Suspected unlawful advertising can be reported to the TGA [12], and false or misleading claims can be reported to the ACCC [4].
This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; check the current Poisons Standard and TGA guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Are peptides legit?
Some peptide medicines are approved and on the ARTG, such as insulin products. Most peptides promoted online are unapproved, and the TGA states that they have not been assessed for safety, quality or effectiveness [1].
Is it legal to advertise peptides in Australia?
Advertising unapproved therapeutic goods to Australian consumers is generally unlawful, including on websites and social media, and advertising prescription-only medicines to the public is prohibited [1, 2].
Does “research use only” make a peptide product legitimate?
No. The TGA states that such disclaimers alone do not change a product’s regulatory status, permit importation, or remove advertising or supply obligations [1].
How can fake reviews be spotted?
The ACCC lists signs such as sudden spikes in reviews, many reviews from the same address, similar reviewer names, and generic or near-identical wording [9].
Can a purity claim on a label be trusted?
Not on its own. In one 2024 study of illegally sold semaglutide, products labelled as 99% pure measured between 7.7% and 14.37% purity [7].
References
- Therapeutic Goods Administration. Understanding your responsibilities when importing, compounding and supplying unapproved peptide products. Safety advisory, 13 April 2026. tga.gov.au. Accessed 11 October 2026.
- Therapeutic Goods Administration. Unapproved peptide product promoters and suppliers are put on notice. Media release, 20 July 2026. tga.gov.au. Accessed 11 October 2026.
- Australian Government. Therapeutic Goods (Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code) Instrument 2021 (F2021L01661), sections 8, 9, 11 and 24. Federal Register of Legislation. legislation.gov.au/F2021L01661/latest/text. Accessed 11 October 2026.
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. False or misleading claims. accc.gov.au. Accessed 11 October 2026.
- Therapeutic Goods Administration. Advertising therapeutic goods on social media. tga.gov.au. Accessed 11 October 2026.
- Australian Government. Competition and Consumer Act 2010, Schedule 2 (Australian Consumer Law), sections 18 and 29. Federal Register of Legislation. legislation.gov.au/C2004A00109/latest/text. Accessed 11 October 2026.
- Ashraf AR, Mackey TK, Vida RG, et al. Multifactor quality and safety analysis of semaglutide products sold by online sellers without a prescription: market surveillance, content analysis, and product purchase evaluation study. J Med Internet Res. 2024;26:e65440. doi:10.2196/65440. PMID: 39509151
- Therapeutic Goods Administration. TGA strengthens compliance focus on unapproved peptide products as part of evolving risk response. Media release, 10 June 2026. tga.gov.au. Accessed 11 October 2026.
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Online product and service reviews. accc.gov.au. Accessed 11 October 2026.
- Therapeutic Goods Administration. Unapproved therapeutic goods. tga.gov.au/products/unapproved-therapeutic-goods. Accessed 11 October 2026.
- Commonwealth of Australia. Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—October 2026) Instrument 2026 (F2026L01327). Federal Register of Legislation. legislation.gov.au/F2026L01327/latest/text. Accessed 11 October 2026.
- Therapeutic Goods Administration. Report a breach. tga.gov.au. Accessed 11 October 2026.
Important information and disclaimer
General information only. This article is published for general educational and informational purposes. It summarises published scientific literature and public regulatory information as at the “last reviewed” date shown above. It is not medical, health, pharmaceutical, veterinary or legal advice, and it must not be relied on as a substitute for advice from a qualified professional about your circumstances.
Not for human or animal use. Nothing in this article recommends, endorses or describes the use of any substance in humans or animals. Findings from cell, animal or early human studies cannot be assumed to apply to people. The compounds discussed have not been evaluated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for safety, quality or efficacy unless the article expressly states otherwise. Any research materials offered by Iconic Peptides are supplied solely for in vitro and laboratory research.
No therapeutic claims. Iconic Peptides makes no claim that any product treats, cures, prevents, alleviates or diagnoses any disease, condition or symptom. References to published studies, clinical trials or medicines approved by regulators are factual descriptions of the scientific and regulatory record. They are not representations about any product we supply.
Regulatory status. Many peptides are scheduled substances under the Poisons Standard. Some are prescription-only (Schedule 4), and some may not be possessed without authority (Appendix D). The TGA has stated that a “research use only” label does not make supply lawful, change a product’s regulatory status, or remove advertising or supply obligations. State and territory laws may also apply. You are responsible for knowing and complying with all laws that apply to you. Regulatory information in this article may change after the review date.
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