Regulation
Are peptides legal? It depends where you are standing.
In one paragraphThree peptides — semaglutide, tirzepatide and liraglutide — are approved medicines almost everywhere and prescription-only. Nearly everything else sold online is an unapproved drug: supplying it for human use is an offence in the EU, UK, Australia and Canada, and in the United States it is unapproved and, for most compounds, not yet permitted for pharmacy compounding either. In sport, almost all of them are banned at all times. The pages below give each jurisdiction's rules with dates and sources.
United States
Are peptides legal in the United States?
Approved peptides — semaglutide, tirzepatide, tesamorelin, bremelanotide — are prescription drugs. Most others are not approved for anything.
European UnionAre peptides legal in the EU?
Semaglutide, tirzepatide and liraglutide are authorised, prescription-only medicines across the EU. Almost every other peptide discussed online has no marketing authorisation, so supplying it for human use is an offence under the medicines laws of every member state.
United KingdomAre peptides legal in the UK?
Licensed peptides — semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide — are prescription-only medicines. Everything else on LYO is an unlicensed medicine under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012: selling or supplying it is a criminal offence, and the MHRA is prosecuting.
AustraliaAre peptides legal in Australia?
In Australia peptides are prescription-only substances. Registered ones (semaglutide, tirzepatide) are Schedule 4 medicines; unapproved ones (BPC-157, TB-500, CJC-1295, ipamorelin and the rest) are also Schedule 4 but not on the Register, so they can only be obtained on a prescription, compounded for that patient, or imported under the Personal Importation Scheme with a prescription.
CanadaAre peptides legal in Canada?
Semaglutide, tirzepatide and tesamorelin are authorised prescription drugs in Canada. The research-market peptides are not authorised at all — Health Canada has not assessed them for safety, efficacy or quality — and "selling unauthorized drugs is illegal in Canada".
Sport (WADA)Which peptides are banned in sport?
Under the 2026 Prohibited List, nearly every peptide discussed online is banned at all times, in and out of competition: growth-hormone releasing factors and secretagogues (sermorelin, CJC-1295, ipamorelin, tesamorelin, GHRPs), growth-hormone fragments (AOD-9604), thymosin-β4 (TB-500), MOTS-c, kisspeptin, and — under S0 — anything not approved for human use anywhere, which covers BPC-157, epitalon, retatrutide and cagrilintide. Semaglutide and tirzepatide are not on the list, and will not be on the 2027 List published on 21 September 2026..
Matrix
Every compound, every jurisdiction
Status at a glance. Open a compound for the notes and sources behind each cell; open a region for the rules that produce them.
| Compound | United States | European Union | United Kingdom | Australia | Canada | Sport (WADA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D BPC-157 | Not approved; compounding under review | Unauthorised medicinal product | Unlicensed medicine | Schedule 4, unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| A Semaglutide | Approved, prescription-only | Approved, prescription-only | Licensed, prescription-only | Registered, Schedule 4 | Authorised, prescription-only | Not prohibited |
| B Retatrutide | Investigational; cannot be compounded | Investigational; not authorised | Unlicensed; illegal to sell | Unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| A Tirzepatide | Approved, prescription-only | Approved, prescription-only | Licensed, prescription-only | Registered, Schedule 4 | Authorised, prescription-only | Not prohibited |
| B Tesamorelin | Approved (Egrifta), prescription-only | Not authorised | Not licensed | Not registered | Authorised (Egrifta), prescription-only | Prohibited at all times |
| C Ipamorelin | Not approved; compounding barred | Unauthorised medicinal product | Unlicensed medicine | Schedule 4, unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| C GHK-Cu | Cosmetic; injectable not approved | Cosmetic ingredient; no medicinal authorisation | Cosmetic; injectable unlicensed | Cosmetic; injectable unapproved | Cosmetic; injectable not authorised | Not named |
| D Epitalon | Not approved; compounding under review | Unauthorised medicinal product | Unlicensed medicine | Schedule 4, unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| D TB-500 | Not approved; compounding under review | Unauthorised medicinal product | Unlicensed medicine | Schedule 4, unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| B Cagrilintide | Investigational; cannot be compounded | Investigational; not authorised | Unlicensed | Unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| D Semax | Not approved; compounding under review | Unauthorised in the EU | Unlicensed medicine | Schedule 4, unapproved | Not authorised | Not on the list |
| D Selank | Not approved | Unauthorised in the EU | Unlicensed medicine | Schedule 4, unapproved | Not authorised | Not on the list |
| A PT-141 | Approved (Vyleesi), prescription-only | Not authorised | Not licensed | Not registered | Not authorised | Not on the list |
| C Sermorelin | Discontinued brand; compounded on prescription | No current authorisation | Unlicensed medicine | Schedule 4, unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| C CJC-1295 | Not approved; compounding barred | Unauthorised medicinal product | Unlicensed medicine | Schedule 4, unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| D AOD-9604 | Not approved; compounding barred | Unauthorised medicinal product | Unlicensed medicine | Schedule 4, unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| D MOTS-c | Not approved; compounding under review | Unauthorised medicinal product | Unlicensed medicine | Schedule 4, unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| A Liraglutide | Approved, prescription-only | Approved, prescription-only | Licensed, prescription-only | Registered, Schedule 4 | Authorised, prescription-only | Not prohibited |
| B Survodutide | Investigational; not approved | Investigational; not authorised | Unlicensed | Unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| A Mazdutide | Not approved; cannot be compounded | Not authorised | Unlicensed | Unapproved | Not authorised | Not on the list |
| C Kisspeptin | Not approved; compounding barred | Unauthorised medicinal product | Unlicensed medicine | Schedule 4, unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times (males) |
| B Thymosin α1 | Not approved; compounding withdrawn | Authorised in Italy only | Not licensed | Not registered | Not authorised | Not on the list |
| C LL-37 | Not approved; compounding withdrawn | Unauthorised medicinal product | Unlicensed medicine | Schedule 4, unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| C SS-31 (elamipretide) | Approved (Barth syndrome only) | Not authorised | Not licensed | Not on the ARTG | Not authorised | Not listed |
| C Oxytocin (intranasal) | Approved as injection (Pitocin) | Approved as injection; nasal use unlicensed | Licensed as injection | Registered as injection | Authorised as injection | Not prohibited |
| C Melanotan II | Not approved | Unauthorised medicinal product | Unlicensed medicine | Prescription-only / unapproved | Not authorised | Not prohibited |
| C Hexarelin | Not approved | Unauthorised medicinal product | Unlicensed medicine | Prescription-only / unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| C GHRP-2 | Not approved | Not authorised | Unlicensed medicine | Prescription-only / unapproved | — | Prohibited at all times |
| C GHRP-6 | Not approved | Unauthorised medicinal product | Unlicensed medicine | Prescription-only / unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| C NAD+ and precursors | Supplement status contested | Mixed; NMN restricted | Supplement / unlicensed | Supplement / clinic use | Natural health product / clinic use | Not prohibited |
| D KPV | Not approved | Unauthorised medicinal product | Unlicensed medicine | Prescription-only / unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| D Humanin | Not approved | Unauthorised medicinal product | Unlicensed medicine | Prescription-only / unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| D Dihexa | Not approved | Unauthorised medicinal product | Unlicensed medicine | Prescription-only / unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| D 5-Amino-1MQ | Not approved | Unauthorised medicinal product | Unlicensed medicine | Prescription-only / unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| A Orforglipron | Approved, prescription-only | Not authorised | Not licensed | Not on the ARTG | Not authorised | Not prohibited |
| C Amycretin | Not approved | Not authorised | Not licensed | Not on the ARTG | Not authorised | Not prohibited |
| A Human growth hormone (somatropin) | Approved, prescription-only — anti-ageing distribution is a federal offence | Approved, prescription-only | Licensed, prescription-only | Registered, prescription-only | Authorised, prescription-only | Prohibited at all times |
| A HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) | Approved, prescription-only — weight-loss use prohibited on the label | Approved, prescription-only | Licensed, prescription-only | Registered, prescription-only | Authorised, prescription-only | Prohibited in males at all times |
| C Glutathione | Supplement; injectable unapproved | Supplement; injectable unapproved | Supplement | Complementary medicine | Natural health product | Not prohibited |
| D IGF-1 LR3 | Not approved | Unauthorised medicinal product | Unlicensed medicine | Prescription-only / unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| C DSIP (delta sleep-inducing peptide) | Not approved | Unauthorised medicinal product | Unlicensed medicine | Prescription-only / unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| B MK-677 (ibutamoren) | Not approved | Unauthorised medicinal product | Unlicensed medicine | Prescription-only / unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| A Dulaglutide | Approved, prescription-only | Approved, prescription-only | Licensed, prescription-only | Registered, prescription-only | Authorised, prescription-only | Not prohibited |
| A Exenatide | Approved, prescription-only | Approved, prescription-only | Licensed, prescription-only | Registered, prescription-only | Authorised, prescription-only | Not prohibited |
| B Gonadorelin (GnRH) | Approved products discontinued; compounded | Authorised in several member states | Licensed, prescription-only (diagnostic) | Prescription-only | Prescription-only | Prohibited at all times (males) |
| A Afamelanotide (Melanotan I) | Approved, prescription-only | Approved, prescription-only | Licensed, prescription-only | Registered, prescription-only | Not authorised | Not prohibited |
| B Setmelanotide | Approved, prescription-only | Approved, prescription-only | Licensed, prescription-only | Prescription-only | Approved, prescription-only | Not prohibited |
| D Follistatin 344 | Not approved | Unauthorised medicinal product | Unlicensed medicine | Prescription-only / unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| D Noopept (omberacetam) | Not approved | Unauthorised medicinal product | Unlicensed medicine | Prescription-only / unapproved | Not authorised | Not on the list |
| C Cerebrolysin | Not approved | Authorised nationally in Austria and some member states | Unlicensed medicine | Not registered | Not authorised | Not on the list |
| A Teriparatide | Approved, prescription-only | Approved, prescription-only | Licensed, prescription-only | Registered, prescription-only | Authorised, prescription-only | Not prohibited |
| A Leuprolide (leuprorelin) | Approved, prescription-only | Approved, prescription-only | Licensed, prescription-only | Registered, prescription-only | Authorised, prescription-only | Prohibited at all times (males) |
| A Pramlintide | Approved, prescription-only | Not authorised | Unlicensed medicine | Not registered | Not authorised | Not prohibited |
| A Octreotide | Approved, prescription-only | Approved, prescription-only | Licensed, prescription-only | Registered, prescription-only | Authorised, prescription-only | Not prohibited |
| D PEG-MGF | Not approved | Unauthorised medicinal product | Unlicensed medicine | Prescription-only / unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| D Adipotide | Not approved | Unauthorised medicinal product | Unlicensed medicine | Prescription-only / unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| D AHK-Cu | Cosmetic ingredient | Cosmetic ingredient | Cosmetic ingredient | Cosmetic ingredient | Cosmetic ingredient | Not named |
| B VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide) | Not approved | Authorised in some member states (ED, with phentolamine) | Licensed, prescription-only (Invicorp, ED) | Not registered | Not authorised | Not prohibited |
| C ARA-290 (cibinetide) | Not approved | Unauthorised medicinal product | Unlicensed medicine | Prescription-only / unapproved | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| B CagriSema | Not approved | Not authorised | Not licensed | Not on the ARTG | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| C Eloralintide | Not approved | Not authorised | Not licensed | Not on the ARTG | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| B Maridebart cafraglutide | Not approved | Not authorised | Not licensed | Not on the ARTG | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| B Ecnoglutide | Not approved | Not authorised | Not licensed | Not on the ARTG | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| A Abaloparatide | Approved, prescription-only | Approved, prescription-only | Licensed, prescription-only | Check the ARTG | Check Health Canada | Not prohibited |
| A Calcitonin (salmon) | Approved, prescription-only | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted | Restricted | Not prohibited |
| A Desmopressin | Approved, prescription-only | Approved, prescription-only | Licensed, prescription-only | Registered, Schedule 4 | Authorised, prescription-only | Prohibited at all times |
| C Thymalin | Not approved | Not authorised | Not licensed | Not on the ARTG | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| D Pinealon | Not approved | Not authorised | Not licensed | Not on the ARTG | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| D FOXO4-DRI | Not approved | Not authorised | Not licensed | Not on the ARTG | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| C Petrelintide | Not approved | Not authorised | Not licensed | Not on the ARTG | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| A Lixisenatide | Approved, prescription-only | Approved, prescription-only | Licensed, prescription-only | Registered, Schedule 4 | Authorised, prescription-only | Not prohibited |
| A Insulin | Approved; some human insulins available without prescription | Approved, prescription-only | Licensed, prescription-only | Registered, Schedule 4 | Authorised; human insulin available without prescription | Prohibited at all times |
| C Collagen peptides | Dietary supplement | Food supplement | Food supplement | Food or listed complementary medicine | Natural health product | Not prohibited |
| C Carnosine | Dietary supplement | Food supplement | Food supplement | Listed complementary medicine or food | Natural health product | Not prohibited |
| D Vilon | Not approved | Not authorised | Not licensed | Not on the ARTG | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
| C Cortexin | Not approved | Not authorised | Not licensed | Not on the ARTG | Not authorised | Prohibited at all times |
Last checked against the regulators' own pages on 7 October 2026. Legal status changes; LYO records every change on the region pages. This is a reference, not legal advice.