Are peptides legal in Australia?

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regulates medicines under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. In April 2026 it published guidance on unapproved peptide products. It says they are regulated as therapeutic goods in Australia, and gives BPC-157, GHK-Cu, TB-500, retatrutide and CJC-1295 as examples^[1].

A second layer comes from the Poisons Standard, which sorts substances into schedules. Schedule 4 is prescription-only medicines. The states and territories then enforce the schedules through their own poisons laws, including the offences for possession^[2]. For background on these products, see what are research peptides.

The current Poisons Standard is the Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—June 2026) Instrument 2026, which took effect on 1 June 2026^[2]. It lists many of the peptides sold online in Schedule 4 and also in Appendix D, clause 5^[2]. They include:

BPC-157, TB-500 and thymosin beta-4; ipamorelin, CJC-1295 and AOD-9604; and hexarelin, GHRP-6, pralmorelin (GHRP-2), ibutamoren and capromorelin^[2]. The class entries for growth hormone releasing hormones, growth hormone releasing peptides and growth hormone secretagogues are in the same group, as is somatropin (growth hormone)^[2].

Melanotan II, semaglutide and tirzepatide are also Schedule 4, prescription-only, but they are not in Appendix D^[2]. Some websites claim melanotan II was moved to Schedule 9 in early 2026. That is not what the June 2026 instrument says: it lists melanotan II in Schedule 4.

Some peptides are not named in the June 2026 instrument at all. They include retatrutide, cagrilintide, GHK-Cu and tesamorelin^[2], although tesamorelin may fall within the class entry for growth hormone releasing hormones. The TGA still treats unapproved peptide products such as retatrutide and GHK-Cu as therapeutic goods^[1]. See our guides to BPC-157, TB-500, ipamorelin and CJC-1295.

A quick reference to the June 2026 Poisons Standard for the peptides people search for most^[2]. "Appendix D" means possession without authority is also controlled.

BPC-157, TB-500, ipamorelin, CJC-1295, AOD-9604, hexarelin, GHRP-6 and GHRP-2 (pralmorelin): Schedule 4, prescription only, and in Appendix D.

Melanotan II, semaglutide and tirzepatide: Schedule 4, prescription only, not in Appendix D.

Retatrutide, cagrilintide and GHK-Cu: not named in the instrument. The TGA still treats unapproved peptide products, including retatrutide and GHK-Cu, as therapeutic goods^[1], and importing them is subject to the rules below. Tesamorelin is not named either, but may fall within the class entry for growth hormone releasing hormones.

Appendix D, clause 5 of the Poisons Standard covers poisons that must not be possessed by a person without authority^[2]. For the peptides in that group, including BPC-157, TB-500, ipamorelin, CJC-1295, AOD-9604 and the growth-hormone peptide classes, having them without a prescription or other authority is therefore controlled. The actual offence and penalty are set in each state's and territory's poisons law, and differ between them. We have not checked each state's penalties.

This is a real difference from the UK and US, where we could not confirm that possessing these peptides is an offence. In Australia, the Poisons Standard says so expressly for the Appendix D group.

The TGA addresses research-use labels directly. It says that such disclaimers do not make supply lawful. It adds that they do not change a product's regulatory status, do not permit importation, and do not remove advertising or supply obligations^[1].

The TGA also warns that advertising unapproved peptides, especially through social media or influencers, is likely to breach advertising law^[1]. Regulators in Canada, New Zealand and the US take the same view of research-use labels.

The TGA's Personal Importation Scheme lets people import some unapproved medicines for their own use. For a prescription-only medicine, it requires a valid Australian prescription or written authority at the time of importation^[3]. The limit is three months' supply, and controlled substances are excluded^[3].

The scheme covers imports by mail and courier. The TGA says that without a prescription, an import is considered unlawful and seized^[3]. In May 2026 it added a labelling rule. Peptides imported under the scheme must be clearly and accurately labelled, and unmarked or code-only vials will not be released^[4]. They will be seized and destroyed instead.

The TGA has fined individuals, not only sellers. In 2024 it issued a $3,756 infringement notice to a person in Victoria for allegedly importing a peptide without authority^[5]. We have not confirmed whether a separate import permit is needed for peptide hormones under customs regulations, so this page does not cover that.

For a Schedule 4 peptide, the lawful route in Australia runs through a prescriber. A doctor can prescribe a prescription-only medicine where it is appropriate, and a prescription is what the Personal Importation Scheme requires before a prescription-only medicine can be imported^[3]. Some peptides, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, are available as registered medicines. Others have no registered product, and a prescriber would need to consider the TGA's other pathways for unapproved medicines, which are outside the scope of this page.

Whatever route you take, labelling matters. The TGA's May 2026 warning says vials that are unmarked or carry only a code will be seized and destroyed^[4]. A clear label naming the substance and strength is also the minimum you need to check a supplier's test certificate against the product; see how to read a peptide COA.

Buying from a supplier based in Australia avoids the import scheme. It does not change the scheduling. A Schedule 4 peptide still needs a prescription to be supplied lawfully, and the TGA's guidance covers supply within Australia as well as import^[1].

PepFinder lists where each supplier is based and ships from. Browse Australian peptide suppliers. A listing on PepFinder is not a statement that a supplier's products are legal. Our guide on how to spot a fake peptide supplier covers the warning signs, including code-only labels.

Australian athletes in tested sports are covered by the World Anti-Doping Agency's Prohibited List through Sport Integrity Australia. The 2026 List names BPC-157 under S0, non-approved substances, which are prohibited at all times^[6][7].

The List also names TB-500 and thymosin beta-4, the GHRH analogues CJC-1295, sermorelin and tesamorelin, ipamorelin, and the GH-releasing peptides GHRP-1 to GHRP-6 and hexarelin^[6]. Growth hormone and its fragments, including AOD-9604, are prohibited, and HCG is prohibited in men^[6]. A research-use label is no defence to a positive test.

This page summarises primary sources read on the date shown. It is general information, not legal advice, and the Poisons Standard is updated several times a year. Each claim links to its source, so check the current version if you are relying on it. Our methodology explains how PepFinder rates suppliers, and third-party peptide testing explains how to judge a supplier's test results.