UK Cracks Down on Illegal Botox Sales Following 41 Botulism Cases
British health authorities have initiated a significant crackdown on illegal Botox sales. This action comes in response to 41 individuals developing botulism from unlicensed cosmetic treatments between June and August 2025. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has announced that sellers of unlicensed botulinum toxin products now face up to two years in prison and unlimited fines, as per the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.
The botulism outbreak affected patients across several regions, including the North East, East Midlands, and Yorkshire. The cause has been traced back to untrained practitioners using illegal products in unsafe settings. A significant number of the seized products originated from South Korea, featuring brands such as Botulax, reNTox, and Innotox. These brands are not authorized for sale in the UK. Since May 2023, authorities have seized more than 4,700 vials of unlicensed botulinum toxin.
“Criminals are exploiting the popularity of cosmetic treatments by peddling dangerous, unlicensed products, putting profit before safety,” warned MHRA officials. Botulism symptoms, which can take up to four weeks to develop, include:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Slurred speech
- Breathing problems
Anyone experiencing these symptoms after cosmetic treatments should seek immediate medical help.
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-crackdown-on-illegal-botox-after-victims-left-seriously-ill