UK Intensifies Battle Against Illegal Botox: 41 Victims Hospitalized, Potential Prison Sentences Issued
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has initiated a significant crackdown on illegal botulinum toxin products. This action comes in the wake of 41 individuals being hospitalized due to botulism between June and August 2025. This perilous condition, capable of causing paralysis and posing a threat to life, has been associated with unlicensed ‘Botox-like’ products, a large number of which originate from South Korea.
Currently, criminal enforcement units are zeroing in on sellers and practitioners who offer these illegal treatments. Offenders are warned of severe consequences, including up to two years in prison and unlimited fines. Since May 2023, the authorities have confiscated over 4,700 vials of unlicensed botulinum toxin products. These include brands such as Botulax, reNTox, Innotox, and Toxpia.
The MHRA cautions that these products are being marketed through various channels including social media, beauty salons, and even ‘kitchen table’ operations conducted by untrained practitioners. Symptoms of botulism, which can take up to four weeks to manifest, include difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, and breathing problems. Anyone who experiences these symptoms following recent cosmetic treatments is strongly advised to seek immediate medical attention.
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-crackdown-on-illegal-botox-after-victims-left-seriously-ill