Peptide laws in the Netherlands
Last updated: October 3, 2026 · 5 min read · By the Grey Peptides Editorial Board
- In August 2026 the Dutch health inspectorate ordered an online seller to stop selling retatrutide, tirzepatide and semaglutide, then imposed a penalty when it kept selling.
- The inspectorate cited multiple reports of harm after retatrutide use, and harm from counterfeit tirzepatide and semaglutide.
- Approved peptide medicines follow EU authorisation rules and prescription requirements; research peptides have no EU authorisation.
- Statuses were read from the inspectorate's announcements and the EMA register on October 3, 2026.
How the Netherlands regulates peptides
The Netherlands applies the EU system: medicines need a marketing authorisation, centrally through the European Medicines Agency or nationally, and trading in medicines requires registrations and licences. Enforcement falls to the Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (Inspectie Gezondheidszorg en Jeugd, IGJ) 1 2. Our EU tracker table shows which peptides are centrally authorised.
| Peptide | Status | What the register shows |
|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide | Centrally authorised | Centrally authorised in the EU: Kayshild, Kyinsu, Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy. National authorisations are not covered by this source. |
| Tirzepatide | Centrally authorised | Centrally authorised in the EU: Mounjaro. National authorisations are not covered by this source. |
| Liraglutide | Centrally authorised | Centrally authorised in the EU: Ablymico, Liraglutide STADA, Saxenda, Victoza, Xultophy. National authorisations are not covered by this source. |
| Dulaglutide | Centrally authorised | Centrally authorised in the EU: Trulicity. National authorisations are not covered by this source. |
| Somatropin | Centrally authorised | Centrally authorised in the EU: NutropinAq, Omnitrope, Skytrofa (previously Lonapegsomatropin Ascendis Pharma). National authorisations are not covered by this source. |
| Teriparatide | Centrally authorised | Centrally authorised in the EU: Forsteo, Kauliv, Livogiva, Movymia, Sondelbay, Teriparatide Sun, Terrosa, Yorvipath, Zandoriah. National authorisations are not covered by this source. |
| Octreotide | Centrally authorised | Centrally authorised in the EU: Oczyesa. National authorisations are not covered by this source. |
| Leuprolide | Centrally authorised | Centrally authorised in the EU: Camcevi. National authorisations are not covered by this source. |
| IGF-1 (mecasermin) | Centrally authorised | Centrally authorised in the EU: Increlex. National authorisations are not covered by this source. |
| hCG | Centrally authorised | Centrally 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 August 2026 order against an online seller
On August 24, 2026, the IGJ announced that it had ordered an online webshop, trading under several names, to end the supply, delivery and trade of medicines containing retatrutide, tirzepatide and semaglutide. The inspectorate said it had recently received multiple reports of harmful effects in consumers after using retatrutide, an experimental medicine whose safety and long-term effects have yet to be studied, and reports that counterfeit tirzepatide and semaglutide were being traded and had harmed consumers. It said the order applies until it judges that the risks to public health have been removed 1.
A week later, on August 31, the IGJ announced a penalty order (last onder dwangsom) because the seller had not complied: the inspectorate found the medicines still offered for sale on August 20, 21 and 24, including on a further website attributable to the same person 3. Reporting on the case noted that semaglutide and tirzepatide are prescription-only in the Netherlands and that the seller lacked the required registrations and licences 1. We do not name the seller.
Research peptides
Research peptides such as BPC-157, TB-500 and GHK-Cu have no EU authorisation in our tracker 4. The IGJ's 2026 action concerned GLP-1 drugs and retatrutide, but the principle it applied, that trading medicines requires the registrations and licences the seller lacked, is general 1. Retatrutide sold as a 'research' product is the subject of our article on what testing has found.
Illegal GLP-1s across the EU
The Netherlands took part in the EU-wide warning of September 2025, in which EMA and the Heads of Medicines Agencies cautioned about a sharp rise in illegal medicines sold online as GLP-1 receptor agonists, said these are prescription medicines, and pointed to the EU common logo on legitimate online pharmacies 2.
Buying online and travelling
Legitimate EU online pharmacies display the common logo, which links to the national register; not every member state permits online sale of prescription medicines 2. For travel with prescribed medicines, carry them in labelled packaging with the prescription; our travel guide covers the basics.
Sport
Dutch athletes follow the WADA Prohibited List through the national anti-doping authority. 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 medicine authorised in the EU or the Netherlands, and prescribed?
- Does the online seller carry the EU common logo and appear on the Dutch register?
- Is it retatrutide, which is unapproved everywhere?
- Am I subject to anti-doping rules?
The bottom line
The Netherlands treats approved peptides as prescription medicines under the EU system, and in August 2026 its health inspectorate ordered an online seller to stop selling retatrutide and GLP-1 drugs after reports of harm, then fined it for continuing. Retatrutide is unapproved, and buying medicines outside licensed channels is the risk the inspectorate described.
Frequently asked questions
Are peptides legal in the Netherlands?
Authorised peptide medicines are legal on prescription. Trading medicines requires registrations and licences; the IGJ acted against an online seller of retatrutide and GLP-1s in August 2026.
Is retatrutide legal in the Netherlands?
It is an experimental medicine with no approval. The IGJ ordered a seller to stop trading it after reports of harm.
Is semaglutide prescription-only in the Netherlands?
Yes. Semaglutide and tirzepatide are prescription medicines.
Is BPC-157 legal in the Netherlands?
It has no EU authorisation as a medicine and is prohibited in sport under WADA's S0.
Related on Grey Peptides
Sources
- Inspectie Gezondheidszorg en Jeugd (IGJ). Bevel voor online webshop (order to end supply and trade of medicines containing retatrutide, tirzepatide and semaglutide). August 24, 2026; with contemporaneous reporting (PW, August 25, 2026). Read October 3, 2026. IGJ
- 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
- Inspectie Gezondheidszorg en Jeugd (IGJ). Last onder dwangsom (penalty order for non-compliance with the August order). August 31, 2026; read October 3, 2026. IGJ
- 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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