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Peptide laws in France

Last updated: October 3, 2026 · 5 min read · By the Grey Peptides Editorial Board

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Grey Peptides
Grey Peptides Editorial Board
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Key takeaways
  • In July 2026 France's medicines agency, the ANSM, told the public not to buy or use peptides sold online, naming retatrutide, BPC-157, TB-500 and GHK-Cu.
  • It said some are presented as medicines although they have been neither evaluated nor authorised, and that it had received reports of serious adverse effects.
  • It followed with decisions banning the sale and advertising of specific products.
  • Approved peptides such as semaglutide are prescription medicines, obtained through a doctor and a pharmacy.

How France regulates peptide medicines

France applies the EU framework: a medicine needs a marketing authorisation, centrally through the European Medicines Agency or nationally through the Agence nationale de sécurité du médicament et des produits de santé (ANSM), and prescription medicines are supplied through pharmacies 1. Our EU tracker table shows which peptides are centrally authorised.

PeptideStatusWhat the register shows
SemaglutideCentrally authorisedCentrally authorised in the EU: Kayshild, Kyinsu, Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy. National authorisations are not covered by this source.
TirzepatideCentrally authorisedCentrally authorised in the EU: Mounjaro. National authorisations are not covered by this source.
LiraglutideCentrally authorisedCentrally authorised in the EU: Ablymico, Liraglutide STADA, Saxenda, Victoza, Xultophy. National authorisations are not covered by this source.
DulaglutideCentrally authorisedCentrally authorised in the EU: Trulicity. National authorisations are not covered by this source.
SomatropinCentrally authorisedCentrally authorised in the EU: NutropinAq, Omnitrope, Skytrofa (previously Lonapegsomatropin Ascendis Pharma). National authorisations are not covered by this source.
TeriparatideCentrally authorisedCentrally authorised in the EU: Forsteo, Kauliv, Livogiva, Movymia, Sondelbay, Teriparatide Sun, Terrosa, Yorvipath, Zandoriah. National authorisations are not covered by this source.
OctreotideCentrally authorisedCentrally authorised in the EU: Oczyesa. National authorisations are not covered by this source.
LeuprolideCentrally authorisedCentrally authorised in the EU: Camcevi. National authorisations are not covered by this source.
IGF-1 (mecasermin)Centrally authorisedCentrally authorised in the EU: Increlex. National authorisations are not covered by this source.
hCGCentrally authorisedCentrally authorised in the EU: Ovitrelle. National authorisations are not covered by this source.

The other 34 peptides in our regulatory tracker had no authorised product in the same source when read (latest read 2026-10-03): BPC-157, KPV, TB-500, MOTS-c, Emideltide (DSIP), Semax, Epitalon, GHK-Cu (injectable), Melanotan II, Cathelicidin (LL-37), Dihexa, PEG-MGF, Exenatide, Orforglipron, Tesamorelin, Bremelanotide (PT-141), SS-31 (elamipretide), Retatrutide, CagriSema, Survodutide, Selank, Noopept, Cerebrolysin, Thymosin α-1, Thymopentin, GHRP-2 (pralmorelin), CJC-1295, Ipamorelin, Sermorelin, GHRP-6, Hexarelin, MK-677 (ibutamoren), AOD-9604, Tesofensine. Our Legal Status Checker shows each one with its source link.

The ANSM's July 2026 warning

On July 2, 2026, the ANSM published a public warning headed, in translation, 'Peptides sold online: do not use them, they can be dangerous'. It named retatrutide, BP180, TB500, GH (growth hormone), GHK-Cu, BPC-157 and NAD+ among products promoted online and on social media for anti-ageing, weight loss, muscle building, performance, recovery, sleep or concentration. The agency said some are presented as medicines although they have been neither evaluated nor authorised, that others are presented as food supplements although their action goes beyond what that category allows, and that it had recently received several reports after the use of fraudulent peptides, notably retatrutide, with risks especially high for injectable forms 2.

Its advice was direct: do not buy peptides, injectable or taken by mouth, on the internet, on social media or through acquaintances such as sports coaches; see a doctor or pharmacist for weight loss, performance or metabolic concerns; and report online sales on Pharos, the French government's platform for reporting illegal online content 2. Trade reports say the agency updated the warning later in the summer 2.

Enforcement decisions

The ANSM backed the warning with decisions under its public-health powers. Reports describe decisions in July 2026 against two online sellers and, in August, against a product presented as containing retatrutide, each banning the sale and advertising of the products concerned 3. We do not name the companies; the decisions are published by the ANSM. The pattern matches what regulators found elsewhere in 2026: products sold as retatrutide were linked to serious harm in Australia too, which our retatrutide testing article covers.

Illegal GLP-1s

France took part in the EU-wide warning of September 2025, when EMA and the Heads of Medicines Agencies cautioned about a sharp rise in illegal medicines sold online as GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, and said that prescription medicines should be obtained through a qualified healthcare professional and a licensed pharmacy 1. The July 2026 ANSM warning extended that concern to peptides generally 2.

Buying online and travelling

EMA notes that legitimate EU online pharmacies display a common logo and that not every member state permits online sale of prescription medicines 1. The ANSM's message on peptides from the internet, social media or acquaintances is not to buy them at all 2. For travel with prescribed medicines, carry them in labelled packaging with the prescription; our travel guide covers the basics.

Sport

French athletes follow the WADA Prohibited List through the French anti-doping agency (AFLD). BPC-157 is prohibited under S0, and growth hormone secretagogues and releasing peptides are named under S2.2.4 4. Our WADA hub lists each peptide.

Questions to check

  • Is the peptide an authorised medicine, prescribed by a doctor and supplied by a pharmacy?
  • Is it one of the products the ANSM named in July 2026?
  • Is the online seller a registered pharmacy with the EU logo?
  • Am I subject to anti-doping rules?

The bottom line

France's medicines agency has told the public plainly not to buy or use peptides sold online, naming retatrutide, BPC-157, TB-500 and GHK-Cu, and has banned specific products. Approved peptides such as semaglutide are prescription medicines. If it is sold on social media or through a gym, the ANSM's answer is no.

Frequently asked questions

Are peptides legal in France?

Authorised peptide medicines are legal on prescription. The ANSM warned in July 2026 against peptides sold online, saying some are neither evaluated nor authorised.

Is BPC-157 legal in France?

It has no EU authorisation, and the ANSM named it in its July 2026 warning against peptides sold online.

What did the ANSM say about retatrutide?

It said it had received several reports after use of fraudulent peptides, notably retatrutide, and later banned sale and advertising of a product presented as containing it.

How do I report a peptide seller in France?

The ANSM asks that online sales of peptides be reported on Pharos, the government's platform for illegal online content.

Sources

  1. European Medicines Agency and Heads of Medicines Agencies. Warning about sharp rise in illegal medicines sold in the EU. September 3, 2025; read October 3, 2026. EMA
  2. ANSM. « Peptides » vendus en ligne : ne les utilisez pas, ils peuvent être dangereux. July 2, 2026 (later updated), as reported by VIDAL (July 2026) and Univadis (July 8, 2026); read October 3, 2026.
  3. ANSM decisions of July 9 and 16 and August 14, 2026 banning sale and advertising of named peptide products, as reported in French trade press; read October 3, 2026.
  4. Grey Peptides regulatory tracker (EU: EMA register, read October 3, 2026) and WADA hub (2026 Prohibited List). Read October 3, 2026.

Educational information, not medical advice. Each dose in this guide names its source, an approved label or a published study. None is a recommendation for you. An unapproved compound has no established safe or effective human dose, and products sold for “research use only” are not made or tested for people. Talk to a doctor before acting on anything on this site, including before you start, stop or change any medicine or dose.

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