Dutch health inspectors warn of deadly risks from peptides sold online
The Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) is warning that peptides purchased online could pose serious or even fatal risks. The alert comes amid evidence of a growing online market for these substances, which are promoted for benefits ranging from muscle growth to weight loss.
“Buyers and users of these substances face significant risks,” an IGJ spokesperson told BNR. "You don't know what you're getting, what it is, where it comes from, or what it does."
Peptides are small proteins naturally found in foods such as fruits, vegetables, and meat, and they are also used in some approved medicines. A well-known example is the weight-loss drug Ozempic, which suppresses appetite. Online sellers claim that peptides offer benefits including skin rejuvenation, muscle growth, and longevity.
Dutch-language online stores such as 24Peptides, PeptideLab, Peptides Kopen Nederland, PeptideResearch, NextGenPeptides, and Peptide Koning sell a wide range of products, from muscle-building peptides to those advertised as extending lifespan.
Martijn Katan, emeritus professor of nutrition, criticized the safety of these products. “Accidents are bound to happen with these peptides,” he said. “These are uncontrolled, partially self-invented medicines. The long-term effects are uncertain.”
Most sellers label their products as “for research purposes only” and disclaim medical advice or liability for harm. This practice may circumvent Dutch regulations, which prohibit the direct sale of medicines to consumers outside licensed pharmacies. “Offering medicines without a trading permit, even with terms like “for research purposes,’ is illegal,” the IGJ spokesperson said.
Ruud Coolen van Brakel, director of the Institute for Responsible Medicine Use, noted that these websites operate in a legal gray area. “The sale may not be outright illegal, but sellers cannot guarantee safety. These substances are untested.”
The IGJ monitors compliance with the Opium and Medicines Acts and is conducting investigations into some of these sites, though no enforcement actions have been publicly reported.
Some online peptide vendors have pointed to compliance measures. Peptides Kopen Nederland said it does not make health claims and does not sell medicines, though it offers products under names of experimental drugs like Retatrutide, developed by Eli Lilly. NextGenPeptides said its products are tested by suppliers and safe for research purposes; most of them are sourced from China.
Meanwhile, the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), which oversees unregistered health products, has received no reports regarding peptides. A spokesperson advised consumers to consult a doctor rather than purchase health products from social media or online shops claiming health benefits.
Signals indicate that the peptide market is growing. “We are seeing increasing amounts of designer medicines seized during drug raids,” Coolen van Brakel said.
