--- title: "UK legal status of research peptides: the facts | Sable Peptides" description: "Verified summary of the UK law that applies to research peptides: the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, each with its source. Not legal advice." canonical: https://www.sablepeptides.co.uk/guides/uk-legal-status-of-research-peptides dateModified: 2026-10-14 publisher: Sable Peptides Limited (UK company 17488610) note: Research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. --- # UK legal status of research peptides: the facts This page summarises, with exact sources, the main UK rules that apply to research peptides. Every statement links to the legislation or official guidance it comes from. It is not legal advice; for a specific situation, read the source and take advice from a qualified solicitor. ## What counts as a medicinal product Regulation 2(1) of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 defines a medicinal product as (a) any substance or combination of substances presented as having properties of preventing or treating disease in human beings, or (b) any substance or combination of substances that may be used by or administered to human beings with a view to restoring, correcting or modifying a physiological function by exerting a pharmacological, immunological or metabolic action, or making a medical diagnosis. Regulation 46(1) provides that a person may not sell or supply, or offer to sell or supply, an unauthorised medicinal product. Source: [Human Medicines Regulations 2012, reg. 2 (legislation.gov.uk)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/1916/regulation/2); [Human Medicines Regulations 2012, reg. 46 (legislation.gov.uk)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/1916/regulation/46) ## How the MHRA decides The MHRA decides case by case whether a product is a medicine. Its guidance says it looks at the claims made about what the product does (explicit and implicit), the pharmacological, metabolic or immunological properties of the ingredients, the primary intended purpose, whether similar licensed products exist, and how the product is presented through labelling, packaging, promotional literature, advertisements, websites, social media and customer reviews. This is why presentation matters: research use only labelling, and the absence of administration instructions and health claims, are part of how a product is presented. The MHRA also notes that its opinion that a product is not a medicine is not an approval to sell it. Source: [MHRA: Borderline products, how to tell if your product is a medicine (gov.uk)](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/borderline-products-how-to-tell-if-your-product-is-a-medicine); [MHRA: request borderline advice](https://forms.mhra.gov.uk/requestborderlineadvice) ## Misuse of Drugs Act 1971: peptide hormones in Class C Schedule 2, Part III (Class C drugs), paragraph 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 lists the following peptide and related hormones: chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), non-human chorionic gonadotrophin, somatotropin, somatrem and somatropin. Clenbuterol, which is not a peptide, appears in the same list. Paragraphs 2 to 4 extend this to stereoisomers, salts and preparations containing them. The other research peptides in the Sable catalogue are not named in Schedule 2. Check the current Schedule for any specific compound, because it is amended from time to time. Section 3 of the Act prohibits importing or exporting a controlled drug except where regulations make an exception or under a licence issued by the Secretary of State. Source: [Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, Schedule 2 (legislation.gov.uk)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1971/38/schedule/2); [Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, s. 3 (legislation.gov.uk)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1971/38/section/3) ## Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 Section 2 defines a psychoactive substance as one capable of producing a psychoactive effect in a person who consumes it, where a psychoactive effect means affecting mental functioning or emotional state by stimulating or depressing the central nervous system, and which is not an exempted substance. The test is the substance's effect, not its name. Source: [Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, s. 2 (legislation.gov.uk)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2016/2/section/2) ## Sport Separately from general law, the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List bans category S2, 'Peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances, and mimetics', at all times in sport. It names many research peptides as examples, including growth hormone releasing factors and secretagogues and thymosin beta-4 derivatives. Whether a substance is legal to possess and whether it is permitted in sport are different questions. Source: [WADA Prohibited List (wada-ama.org)](https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/world-anti-doping-code-and-international-standards/prohibited-list) ## Sable's position Sable Peptides supplies research peptides for laboratory and in vitro research only. It does not supply HCG or somatropin, gives no administration information, and makes no health claims. Products are not medicines and are not for human or veterinary use. ## Related - [How do you check a UK peptide supplier on Companies House](/guides/how-to-check-a-uk-peptide-supplier-on-companies-house) - [What we do not claim](/what-we-do-not-claim) - [Terms](/policies/terms) - [Supplier checklist](/guides/uk-research-peptide-supplier-checklist) Updated 2026-10-14. Research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. No administration amounts or health claims are made.