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A boom in the use of illegal peptides for performance and cosmetics has triggered a crackdown from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
The TGA on Wednesday expanded its priority focus areas to include peptides, which are injectables often marketed online by 'influencers' and delivered without oversight.
Many of these are illegal without a valid prescription or if they are not labelled correctly. The administration said the inclusion of peptides in its priority lists marks a 'scaling up of regulatory attention'.
Professor Anthony Lawler, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and head of the TGA, said it comes as a response to an evolving market.
'The TGA's compliance priorities are informed by intelligence and market monitoring, and updated as required,' Professor Lawler said.
'As the availability of unapproved peptide products has increased, so too has evidence of potential risk to consumers.'
The TGA noted peptides are increasingly being sold as ways to improve sport performance and the cosmetic effects of aging.
However, unapproved peptides often don't meet required standards for quality, safety or efficacy.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration is cracking down on peptide injections sold online
Peptides are injectables often marketed as improving physical performance and appearance but have little oversight from authorities, meaning they're likely dangerous and ineffective
They could also be incorrectly labelled or promoted and pose risks if used without medical supervision.
'Australians should be very cautious about buying unapproved peptide products online, particularly from overseas websites or through online platforms or social media,' Professor Lawler said.
'If you don't know exactly what's in the vial, where it was made or whether it's sterile, you could be putting your health at serious risk'.
The TGA recently worked with Australian Border Force and Victoria Police to seize $2million worth of illegal peptides, performance and image enhancing drugs, and steroids.
The agencies will continue to focus on illegal importation, manufacturing, advertising and supply of peptides.
Those found to be breaking laws risk product seizures and import interventions as well as possible civil and criminal charges.
'Consumers are advised that purchasing and using unapproved peptide products, particularly from online, social media or overseas sources, can pose significant health risks,' the TGA said.
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