Written question asked by Liz Jarvis (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 29 January 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 3 February 2025. It was answered by Karin Smyth (Labour) on Monday, 3 February 2025 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Semaglutide

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to (a) monitor and (b) tackle the illegal availability of Ozempic injections online.

Answer: The illegal sale and supply of human medicines is recognised as a significant challenge for regulators across the world. Buying medicines, including weight loss medicines, from illegally trading websites can be harmful to health, as the medicines received are generally unlicenced in the United Kingdom, and can contain too little, too much, or incorrect active ingredients. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) works hard with law enforcement partners and others to tackle illegal sales and prevent products from entering the UK. Offending often takes place beyond the geographical reach of UK legislation, but where offences are identified in the UK, the MHRA can investigate and, where appropriate, bring those involved to justice. In addition to taking enforcement action where possible, the MHRA operates the #FakeMeds campaign, offering safety advice and providing practical tools to help the public stay safe when buying medicines online.

Secondary information