Major UK Crackdown on Unlicensed Botox Following Hospitalizations
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has initiated a significant crackdown on unlicensed botulinum toxin products. This action comes in the wake of 41 individuals being hospitalized with botulism between June and August 2025.
The agency’s Criminal Enforcement Unit has confiscated more than 4,700 vials of illegal botulinum toxin products since May 2023. The majority of these products originated from South Korea. Alarmingly, these hazardous treatments are often administered in informal settings such as bedrooms, kitchens, and hair salons by frequently untrained practitioners.
Currently, anyone found selling or supplying unlicensed botulinum toxin could face up to two years in prison and unlimited fines. The MHRA is also collaborating with social media companies to eliminate illegal listings advertising these perilous products.
“This government is determined to crack down on cosmetic cowboys who exploit vulnerable consumers seeking cut-price treatments outside suitable medical settings.” – Health Minister Stephen Kinnock
For more information, visit the official government news post on this issue.