Are peptides legal in Australia?
It depends on the compound. Several research peptides are named in Schedule 4 of the Poisons Standard, which makes them prescription-only medicines, and some are also in Appendix D, where possession without authority is an offence. Others are not named at all. None of the compounds on this site is a TGA-approved medicine, and everything Tasman supplies is for in-vitro laboratory research only.
The two rules that decide the answer
Two separate pieces of Australian law apply to any peptide, and a compound can sit differently under each.
The first is the Therapeutic Goods Act. A product that is supplied as a medicine has to be entered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) before it can be sold. Of the compounds listed on this site, only tirzepatide (as Mounjaro) and afamelanotide (as Scenesse) hold ARTG registrations, and those registered medicines are not the research-grade material sold here.
The second is the Poisons Standard, which places substances into schedules. Schedule 4 means prescription-only. Appendix D adds a further restriction, so that possession without authority is an offence. Both are set out in the current Poisons Standard instrument and apply to the substance itself, whatever a product is labelled as.
Which compounds are scheduled
Nine of the compounds in our catalogue are named in Schedule 4 of the June 2026 Poisons Standard: BPC-157, TB-500 (and thymosin beta 4), CJC-1295, ipamorelin, AOD-9604, Melanotan II, afamelanotide (Melanotan I), glutathione for parenteral use, and tirzepatide.
Five of those (BPC-157, TB-500, CJC-1295, ipamorelin and AOD-9604) are also listed in Appendix D, clause 5. BPC-157 was added by a delegate's final decision published on 22 May 2024, with effect from 1 June 2024. TB-500 and thymosin beta 4 have been scheduled since 2016, and CJC-1295, ipamorelin and AOD-9604 since the March 2015 decision.
The other compounds we list, including retatrutide, GHK-Cu, MOTS-C, semax, selank, KPV, NAD+, SS-31, DSIP and epitalon, are not named in the Poisons Standard as far as the current instrument shows. That is not the same as being approved: none of them is on the ARTG either.
What the TGA says about research-use labelling
The TGA has published several statements about unapproved peptide products, most recently in 2026. Its position is that importing, advertising, manufacturing or supplying unapproved peptide products is unlawful, and that labelling a product "research use only" does not by itself change those obligations.
We would rather state that plainly than imply otherwise. Anyone buying research compounds in Australia should understand the rules that apply to them, including any institutional, licensing or state requirements, and satisfy themselves that their intended work is lawful before ordering.
What research use means on this site
Everything Tasman supplies is for in-vitro laboratory research by qualified researchers aged 18 and over. Our products are not medicines, not supplements, not therapeutic goods, and not for human or veterinary use. We do not provide dosing guidance, protocols or advice on use in people, and our compound pages report only what published studies measured, with the model each study used stated on every row.
At checkout you confirm that you are 18 or older and that the compounds are for in-vitro research only. That declaration is stored with your order.
Importing peptides into Australia
Importing is regulated separately from supply. The TGA has said that import referrals for peptides such as BPC-157 informed its scheduling decisions, and goods can be seized at the border. Tasman dispatches from Australian stock, so an order from us is not an import by you, but any personal importation of a scheduled substance needs its own authority.
Where to check for yourself
Don't take our word for it. The Poisons Standard is published on the Federal Register of Legislation, and the TGA publishes the scheduling decisions, safety alerts and the ARTG. The sources we used are linked at the bottom of this page. This page is general information about the rules, not legal advice, and the law changes: the Poisons Standard is amended several times a year.
Status of each compound in Australia
| Compound | Status | |
|---|---|---|
| Retatrutide | Not named in the Poisons Standard; not approved by the TGA (in clinical trials only); not on the ARTG | Read → |
| Tirzepatide | Schedule 4 (prescription only) in the Poisons Standard; registered on the ARTG as Mounjaro (Eli Lilly) | |
| Cagrilintide | Not named in the Poisons Standard; no ARTG product found (unapproved) | |
| 5-Amino-1MQ | Not named in the Poisons Standard; no ARTG product found (unapproved) | |
| AOD-9604 | Schedule 4 (prescription only) and Appendix D clause 5 (possession without authority illegal) in the Poisons Standard; no ARTG product found | |
| SLU-PP-332 | Not named in the Poisons Standard; no ARTG product found (unapproved) | |
| MOTS-C | Not named in the Poisons Standard; no ARTG product found (unapproved) | |
| NAD+ | Not named in the Poisons Standard; not a permitted ingredient in listed medicines (TGA) | |
| SS-31 | Not named in the Poisons Standard; no ARTG product found (unapproved) | |
| BPC-157 | Schedule 4 (prescription only) and Appendix D clause 5 (possession without authority illegal) in the Poisons Standard; not registered on the ARTG | Read → |
| TB-500 | Schedule 4 (prescription only) and Appendix D clause 5 (possession without authority illegal) in the Poisons Standard; not registered on the ARTG | |
| KPV | Not named in the Poisons Standard; no ARTG product found (unapproved) | |
| GHK-Cu | Not named in the Poisons Standard; not registered on the ARTG (TGA lists it as an unapproved peptide product) | Read → |
| CJC-1295 (no DAC) | Schedule 4 (prescription only) and Appendix D clause 5 (possession without authority illegal) in the Poisons Standard; not registered on the ARTG | |
| CJC-1295 with DAC | Schedule 4 and Appendix D clause 5 entry for 'CJC-1295 (CAS No. 863288-34-0)'; the Standard does not separate the DAC form; not registered on the ARTG | |
| Ipamorelin | Schedule 4 (prescription only) and Appendix D clause 5 (possession without authority illegal) in the Poisons Standard; no ARTG product found | |
| Tesamorelin | Not individually named in the Poisons Standard; may fall within the Schedule 4/Appendix D 'GHRHs' group entry (not confirmed); no ARTG product found | |
| Melanotan II | Schedule 4 (prescription only) in the Poisons Standard; no products on the ARTG (TGA) | |
| Melanotan I | Schedule 4 (prescription only) as afamelanotide in the Poisons Standard; registered on the ARTG as Scenesse (afamelanotide 16 mg implant) | |
| PT-141 | Not named in the Poisons Standard; no ARTG product found (unapproved) | |
| Semax | Not named in the Poisons Standard; no ARTG product found (unapproved) | |
| Selank | Not named in the Poisons Standard; no ARTG product found (unapproved) | |
| Thymosin Alpha-1 | Not named in the Poisons Standard; no ARTG product found (unapproved) | |
| Glutathione | Schedule 4 (prescription only) for parenteral use in the Poisons Standard; oral products appear on the ARTG as listed complementary medicines | |
| DSIP | Not named in the Poisons Standard; no ARTG product found (unapproved) | |
| Epitalon | Not named in the Poisons Standard; no ARTG product found (unapproved) |
FAQ
Is BPC-157 legal in Australia?
BPC-157 is a Schedule 4 (prescription-only) substance in the Poisons Standard and is also listed in Appendix D, clause 5, which makes possession without authority an offence. It was added by a delegate's final decision published on 22 May 2024 and implemented on 1 June 2024. There is no BPC-157 product on the ARTG, and the TGA names it as an example of an unapproved peptide product.
What does Schedule 4 mean?
Schedule 4 of the Poisons Standard is the prescription-only category. It covers substances that Australian law says should be supplied on the prescription of an authorised health practitioner. Scheduling applies to the substance itself, so it does not change with how a product is described or labelled.
What does Appendix D mean?
Appendix D lists substances with additional controls beyond their schedule. For the peptides in clause 5, including BPC-157, TB-500, CJC-1295, ipamorelin and AOD-9604, possession without authority is an offence. It is a stricter control than Schedule 4 on its own.
Does "research use only" make a peptide legal to sell?
No. The TGA has stated that a research-use label does not, by itself, change the obligations that apply to unapproved therapeutic goods, and that importing, advertising, manufacturing or supplying unapproved peptide products is unlawful. We say so here rather than leave the impression that a label settles the question.
Is retatrutide legal in Australia?
Retatrutide is not named in the Poisons Standard and has no ARTG registration. It is an investigational compound still in clinical trials, so there is no approved medicine, no prescription pathway and no compounded version in Australia. Tasman supplies it as a research compound for laboratory use only.
Which compounds here are ARTG-registered medicines?
Two compounds have a registered medicine in Australia containing the same active: tirzepatide, registered as Mounjaro, and afamelanotide, registered as Scenesse. Those registered products are prescription medicines supplied through pharmacies. The research-grade material on this site is not those products and is not interchangeable with them.
Do I need a licence to buy research peptides?
That depends on the compound and on your own circumstances, including any institutional, state or professional requirements. For scheduled substances, authority matters. We can't advise you on your position, and you should confirm it before ordering.
Is this page legal advice?
No. It is a plain summary of what the Poisons Standard and the TGA publish, with links to those sources. The law changes, and the Poisons Standard is amended several times a year. If the answer matters to your work, check the current instrument or take advice.
Sources
- www.legislation.gov.au/F2026L00633/asmade/2026-05-28/text/original/pdf
- www.tga.gov.au/safety/safety-monitoring-and-information/safety-alerts/understanding-your-responsibilities-when-importing-compounding-and-supplying-unapproved-peptide-products
- www.tga.gov.au/news/media-releases/concerns-regarding-public-health-risks-associated-unapproved-peptide-products
- www.tga.gov.au/news/media-releases/tga-flexes-its-muscle-against-illegal-peptides-and-steroids
- www.tga.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-05/notice-final-decisions-amend-not-amend-current-poisons-standard-november-2023.pdf
- www.tga.gov.au/sites/default/files/reasons-medicines-scheduling-delegates-final-decisions-march-2015.pdf