Peptide Import Laws: Customs & Personal Use

Ordering peptides from overseas sounds simple until your package doesn't arrive. U.S. Customs and Border Protection screens international shipments for pharmaceutical products, and peptides — whether labeled "research chemicals" or not — regularly get flagged, detained, and seized. The FDA's personal importation policy technically allows some unapproved drugs to enter the country under narrow circumstances, but peptides almost never qualify. Meanwhile, different countries apply wildly different rules to peptide imports, from Australia's near-total ban on unauthorized peptide importation to Mexico's pharmacies selling compounds over the counter.

This guide covers the FDA's import rules, the personal use exemption and why it rarely applies to peptides, what happens when customs seizes a package, and how import regulations differ across major markets.

Table of Contents

FDA Import Rules for Pharmaceutical Products
The Personal Use Exemption: What It Actually Says
Why the Personal Use Exemption Rarely Works for Peptides
How Customs Identifies and Seizes Peptide Shipments
What Happens After a Seizure
Country-Specific Import and Export Rules
Traveling With Peptides Across Borders
Importing From Common Source Countries
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bottom Line
References

FDA Import Rules for Pharmaceutical Products

The starting point is simple: importing unapproved drugs into the United States is illegal. Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), any product classified as a drug — meaning it's intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent disease — must be FDA-approved before it can legally enter the country.

Most popular peptides — BPC-157, TB-500, CJC-1295, ipamorelin, GHRP-2, GHRP-6, MK-677 — have never received FDA approval. Importing them is technically illegal regardless of what the label says.

Even foreign-made versions of FDA-approved drugs (like semaglutide manufactured for overseas markets) are generally prohibited. The FDA has stated that "it is highly unlikely that the version for the foreign market would meet all of the requirements" for U.S. approval — even when the active ingredient and manufacturer are identical.

CBP's Role

U.S. Customs and Border Protection works with the FDA to screen incoming international shipments. Peptides are classified as biological materials, and CBP explicitly lists "monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies, proteins, peptides, enzymes, and extracts" among the regulated biological materials subject to inspection. Importers are responsible for knowing and adhering to regulations, and noncompliance may result in delays, civil penalties, criminal penalties, or seizure.

Import Alert 66-57

The FDA maintains Import Alert 66-57, which authorizes the detention without physical examination of unapproved prescription drug shipments — including those from online pharmacies and individual importers. When a shipment hits this import alert, it's automatically flagged for detention. The sender or importer then bears the burden of proving the product is legal.

The Personal Use Exemption: What It Actually Says

The FDA does exercise enforcement discretion for certain personal imports of unapproved drugs. This policy — sometimes called the Personal Importation Policy (PIP) — is guidance, not law. It describes situations where the FDA "does not intend to object" to importation, not situations where importation is explicitly permitted.

The criteria are specific:

The drug treats a serious condition for which no effective treatment is available in the United States
The product is not being sold or promoted to U.S. consumers
The quantity does not exceed a 90-day supply for personal use
The user can provide the name and address of a U.S.-licensed physician overseeing treatment, or documentation that treatment began abroad

All four conditions must be met. The FDA evaluates each case individually — there is no blanket exemption for any category of products.

Why the Personal Use Exemption Rarely Works for Peptides

On paper, the personal use exemption seems like it could cover someone importing peptides for personal therapeutic use. In practice, peptides fail the test at multiple points.

Criterion 1: "No Effective Treatment Available"

This is the most common failure point. For someone importing BPC-157 for tendon repair, the FDA's position would be that effective treatments exist domestically — physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, surgery, or other FDA-approved approaches. The exemption was designed for situations like a terminally ill patient importing a drug approved in Europe but not yet in the U.S. It was not designed for importing unapproved research peptides when conventional treatments exist.

For growth hormone-related peptides, the argument is even weaker. FDA-approved growth hormone is available by prescription. Importing unapproved GH secretagogues doesn't meet the "no effective treatment" standard.

Criterion 2: Not Promoted to U.S. Consumers

Many overseas peptide vendors actively market to U.S. customers through English-language websites, U.S.-targeted advertising, and pricing in dollars. This promotion disqualifies their products from the personal use exemption.

Criterion 3: 90-Day Supply

Even if other criteria were met, the quantity must be reasonable for personal use. A large order of multiple peptide compounds — the type common from overseas research chemical vendors — would exceed what the FDA considers a personal supply.

The Practical Reality

The FDA's personal importation policy was never written with research peptides in mind. It exists primarily for conventional pharmaceuticals approved in other countries. Trying to import BPC-157 or GHRP-6 under this exemption is like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole — the policy's language technically allows for case-by-case evaluation, but the substance doesn't fit any of the intended criteria.

How Customs Identifies and Seizes Peptide Shipments

CBP uses several methods to identify peptide shipments entering the United States.

Package Screening

International mail and express shipments undergo risk-based screening. Factors that trigger closer inspection include:

Shipping origin. Packages from China, India, and certain other countries with known peptide manufacturing operations receive greater scrutiny.
Customs declarations. Vague or evasive descriptions ("laboratory supplies," "health products," "powder") may trigger inspection. Conversely, declaring "research peptides" truthfully can also trigger attention because it identifies the contents as pharmaceutical in nature.
Inconsistent documentation. When the shipping label, customs declaration, and invoice don't match, CBP treats the shipment as suspicious.
Package characteristics. Small packages with declared values that seem disproportionately high or low for their contents may be flagged.

X-Ray and Physical Inspection

Flagged packages may undergo X-ray screening or physical opening. Vials, lyophilized powder, and syringes are identifiable on X-ray and will prompt further examination.

Intelligence-Based Targeting

CBP maintains targeting systems that track patterns — specific senders, specific routes, specific product types. If a vendor has had previous shipments seized, all future packages from that sender may be automatically flagged.

Rising Enforcement

CBP has increased peptide interdiction following FDA guidance changes in 2023-2024, particularly the Category 2 classification of popular peptides and the end of the GLP-1 shortage (which removed the compounding exemption). The volume of peptide seizures has grown as enforcement priorities shifted.

What Happens After a Seizure

If your peptide shipment is seized, you'll typically receive a written notice from CBP or the FDA explaining the action. Here's what to expect.

The Seizure Notice

The notice identifies the product, the legal basis for seizure (usually sections 505(a) and 301(d) of the FD&C Act — introducing an unapproved new drug into interstate commerce), and your options for response.

Your Options

File a petition for relief. You can submit a written petition arguing that the seizure was improper. For peptides, this is difficult to win because the legal basis for seizure (unapproved drug) is usually straightforward.
Request administrative review. You can ask for a formal review of the seizure decision. This involves presenting evidence that the product is legal — again, difficult for unapproved peptides.
Take no action. If you don't respond within the specified deadline (usually 30 days), the product is permanently forfeited and destroyed.
Consult an attorney. For significant shipments or repeat seizures, legal counsel may identify procedural or substantive arguments for challenging the seizure.

Consequences Beyond the Seized Package

A single seizure typically results only in loss of the product. However:

Your name and address enter CBP records. Future shipments to the same address from similar senders may receive automatic scrutiny.
Repeat seizures escalate risk. Multiple seized shipments can shift enforcement from administrative seizure to investigation for illegal drug importation.
Vendors may be blacklisted. If a sender is placed on an import alert list, all their shipments may be automatically detained.

One Consumer's Experience

In a 2025 case documented on Justia, a consumer reported receiving a customs seizure notice for "peptides and saline water for personal use" in Massachusetts. The notice cited federal regulations, and the consumer was given a limited window to respond or forfeit the products. This type of experience has become increasingly common as CBP enforcement has tightened.

Country-Specific Import and Export Rules

Peptide import regulations vary dramatically across jurisdictions. What's sold freely in one country may lead to criminal charges in another.

United States

FDA classifies most therapeutic peptides as unapproved drugs
CBP screens and seizes incoming peptide shipments
Personal importation policy provides narrow, discretionary exemption
Category 2 classification blocks compounding of BPC-157, TB-500, and others
State laws add additional restrictions in some jurisdictions

Australia

Australia maintains some of the world's strictest peptide import controls. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) classifies most peptides as Schedule 4 (Prescription Only) medicines. Australian Border Force screens incoming packages aggressively, and seizure rates for peptides are among the highest globally.

An individual received a $3,756 AUD infringement notice from the TGA for unlawful peptide importation without approval. Importing growth hormone-releasing peptides like GHRP-2, GHRP-6, and CJC-1295 requires a TGA import permit that is nearly impossible to obtain for personal use.

Australia does have a Personal Importation Scheme that allows individuals to import certain unapproved therapeutic goods for personal use, but the conditions are strict and most research peptides don't qualify.

United Kingdom

The UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) classifies most therapeutic peptides as Prescription Only Medicines (POM). Since Brexit, UK regulations have diverged from the EU framework. Personal importation of small quantities is sometimes tolerated, but selling peptides for human consumption or making medical claims is illegal. Research peptides sold strictly for laboratory use exist in a gray area similar to the U.S.

Canada

Health Canada classifies many peptides under Schedule F (Prescription Only). The rules mirror the U.S. in many respects: unapproved peptides are illegal to sell for human use, and imports of unapproved drugs face seizure. Canada's approach to enforcement has been somewhat less aggressive than the U.S. or Australia, but the legal framework supports action when warranted.

Notably, Novo Nordisk's primary semaglutide patent is set to expire in Canada in 2026, which may affect the Canadian market for GLP-1 peptides.

European Union

EU member states generally require prescriptions for peptide use under medicinal product classifications. Germany, France, and Switzerland maintain strict oversight. Eastern European countries, including Poland, show more permissive attitudes toward research chemical sales, but importing into Western Europe from these sources still carries legal risk.

A major Interpol operation across 90 countries confiscated 50.4 million doses of fake, misbranded, unapproved, or diverted drugs — with peptide supplements making up a significant portion of European seizures. Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom all reported large seizures.

Mexico

Mexico's regulatory environment is more permissive. Many peptides are available through pharmacies, though the regulatory body COFEPRIS (Comisión Federal para la Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios) technically regulates pharmaceutical products. Enforcement varies widely. This has made Mexico a popular source for U.S. consumers seeking peptides, though bringing them across the border remains legally risky.

Japan and Singapore

Both countries impose strict controls. Japan's Pharmaceutical Affairs Law prohibits most unapproved peptide compounds. Singapore employs advanced customs screening and imposes significant penalties for attempted imports of unauthorized pharmaceutical products.

Countries with Minimal Restrictions

Thailand, Russia, and India currently impose relatively few barriers to peptide acquisition. However, lack of regulation correlates with quality concerns — counterfeit products, incorrect dosing, and contamination risks are higher in unregulated markets.

Traveling With Peptides Across Borders

If you use prescription peptide medications (like semaglutide or tesamorelin), traveling internationally requires preparation.

Domestic U.S. Travel (TSA)

TSA allows injectable medications, liquid vials, and medical syringes in carry-on bags. FDA-approved prescription peptides with proper labeling and documentation generally pass through security without issues. Research-grade or unlabeled compounds may raise questions — carry supporting documentation including your prescription and pharmacy labels.

International Travel

Do:

Keep medications in original pharmacy packaging with your name on the label
Carry a copy of your prescription and a letter from your prescribing physician
Declare medications at customs when required
Research the destination country's rules before departure
Carry only what you'll need for the trip (90-day supply maximum as a general guideline)

Don't:

Repackage peptides into unlabeled containers
Carry research-grade compounds labeled "not for human consumption" — this creates obvious questions at customs
Mail peptides separately to "avoid questions" — mailed imports face different rules and are more likely to be detained
Assume that a peptide legal in your home country is legal at your destination

Crossing the Mexico-U.S. Border

Many travelers purchase medications in Mexican pharmacies and bring them home. For FDA-approved drugs (with a valid prescription and in limited quantities), this is sometimes tolerated under enforcement discretion. For unapproved peptides, CBP officers can seize the product regardless of where it was purchased. Keep pharmacy receipts and original packaging, and carry only personal-use amounts.

Importing From Common Source Countries

China

China is the world's largest manufacturer of research-grade peptides. Most online peptide vendors — even those with U.S. or European websites — source their products from Chinese synthesis labs. Common import issues include:

Mislabeled shipments leading to customs holds
Incomplete Certificates of Analysis or missing "research-use only" declarations
Failure to declare contents accurately on customs forms
Suppliers listing contents as "amino acid powder" or "lab reagent" rather than identifying the specific peptide

If the shipping label and invoice don't match the actual contents, CBP may treat the shipment as misdeclared. Accurate customs declarations — "research chemical" or "research peptide, not for human use" — are necessary for legal compliance, though accuracy alone doesn't prevent seizure of unapproved products.

India

India is another major peptide source, particularly for GLP-1 analogs. Indian pharmaceutical companies produce both research-grade and pharmaceutical-grade peptides. Import risk depends on the product: attempting to import an Indian-manufactured version of semaglutide into the U.S. would be treated as importing an unapproved drug, regardless of the product's quality.

Mexico

Proximity makes Mexico attractive for personal importation. Some peptides available only by prescription in the U.S. can be purchased over the counter at Mexican pharmacies. However, crossing the border with these products remains legally risky, and CBP applies the same standards at the border that apply to mail shipments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I legally import peptides for personal use in the U.S.?

Generally, no. The FDA's personal importation policy requires that no effective domestic treatment exists for the condition being treated — a criterion that unapproved research peptides almost never meet. The policy is discretionary guidance, not a legal right, and the FDA evaluates each case individually.

What happens if customs seizes my peptide order?

You'll receive a written notice explaining the seizure and your options. You can petition for relief, request administrative review, or take no action (resulting in forfeiture). Most consumers simply accept the loss. A single seizure typically has no further legal consequences, but it puts your address on file for future scrutiny.

Are peptides considered controlled substances for import purposes?

Most peptides are not scheduled controlled substances (like opioids or anabolic steroids). They're classified as unapproved drugs, which is a different category. The import prohibition comes from the FD&C Act rather than the Controlled Substances Act. Some peptides that function similarly to scheduled hormones may face additional scrutiny.

Can I import peptides if I have a prescription from a foreign doctor?

A foreign prescription does not make an unapproved drug legal to import into the U.S. The FDA requires that the drug itself be approved in the United States. A prescription from an overseas physician may support a personal importation claim, but it doesn't override the fundamental requirement that the product be legal.

Is it safer to order from domestic U.S. vendors than international ones?

Domestic vendors eliminate customs risk. However, domestic sales of unapproved peptides for human use are still illegal — you're trading import risk for different enforcement risk. Domestic vendors also source their raw materials internationally (usually from China), so the product quality chain is similar.

How has enforcement changed since 2024?

Enforcement has increased substantially. The FDA's Category 2 classification of popular peptides, the end of GLP-1 compounding exemptions, more than 50 warning letters to peptide companies in 2025 alone, and state attorney general enforcement actions have all tightened the regulatory environment. CBP has followed the FDA's lead by increasing interdiction of peptide shipments.

The Bottom Line

Importing peptides into the United States — whether by mail, courier, or in person — carries real legal and practical risks that have grown significantly since 2024. The personal use exemption is narrower than most consumers realize, and it was never designed for unapproved research peptides. Customs seizure rates are rising. Documentation requirements are strict. And the consequences of getting it wrong range from losing your order to having your address flagged for ongoing scrutiny.

For consumers seeking peptide therapy, the legal path runs through U.S.-licensed healthcare providers prescribing FDA-approved peptides from regulated pharmacies. For researchers with legitimate scientific needs, proper institutional import documentation, DEA registration where applicable, and accurate customs declarations are essential.

For a full overview of how peptide regulations differ across the U.S., see our state-by-state legal guide. For global regulations, see our international peptide legality guide.

References

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Personal Importation." FDA. https://www.fda.gov/industry/import-basics/personal-importation
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Importing Human Drugs." FDA. https://www.fda.gov/industry/importing-fda-regulated-products/importing-human-drugs
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Import Alert 66-57." FDA. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/importalert_197.html
U.S. Customs and Border Protection. "Importing Biological Materials into the United States." CBP. https://www.cbp.gov/border-security/protecting-agriculture/importing-biological-materials-united-states
U.S. Customs and Border Protection. "Traveling with Medication to the United States." CBP. https://www.help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1444
Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration. "Personal Importation Scheme." TGA. https://www.tga.gov.au/products/unapproved-therapeutic-goods/access-pathways/personal-importation-scheme
Euronews. "Police Seize 57 Million in Illegal Ozempic, Peptides, and Other Black Market Drugs in Global Bust." June 2025. https://www.euronews.com/health/2025/06/25/police-seize-57-million-in-illegal-ozempic-peptides-and-other-black-market-drugs-in-global
Congressional Research Service. "Prescription Drug Importation." Congress.gov. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF11056
Mercury Shipping. "Importing Research Peptides from China to US." https://www.shipmercury.com/blog/importing-research-peptides-from-china-to-us
Florida Healthcare Law Firm. "Are Peptides Legal in the U.S.? Complete 2025 Legal Guide." https://floridahealthcarelawfirm.com/are-peptides-legal/