Quick answer
UK rules for research compounds depend on the specific substance and how it is presented, not on a single yes/no label. Class C of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Schedule 2, Part III) names anabolic steroids and a few hormones, including growth hormone (somatropin); as checked on 30 September 2026, Schedule 2 does not name BPC-157, TB-500, CJC-1295, ipamorelin, sermorelin, GHK-Cu, MOTS-c, epithalon or NAD+. Medicines rules and other laws can still apply. Updated 30 September 2026.
What the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 controls
The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, Schedule 2 Part III, lists Class C drugs. The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Modification) Order 1996 added anabolic and androgenic steroids to that list, together with clenbuterol (an adrenoceptor stimulant, not a hormone) and a specific set of polypeptide hormones: chorionic gonadotrophin (human and non-human), somatotropin, somatrem and somatropin — somatropin being the name used for recombinant human growth hormone. Later orders added further steroids and two more substances, zeranol and zilpaterol. The steroid entry now names more than sixty compounds and adds a generic clause for close structural derivatives and their esters and ethers, so it is not a single substance.
As checked on 30 September 2026, Schedule 2 Part III does not name BPC-157, TB-500, CJC-1295, ipamorelin, sermorelin, GHK-Cu, MOTS-c, epithalon or NAD+. CJC-1295 and sermorelin (analogues of growth-hormone-releasing hormone) and ipamorelin (a growth hormone secretagogue) are different substances from growth hormone itself and are not named in the list. This is a statement about one specific piece of legislation, checked on the date given; it says nothing about any other law that might also apply to a product; the sections below cover only medicines rules and anti-doping rules.
| Substance | Listed in Schedule 2 Part III? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| BPC-157 | No | Not among the anabolic steroids or named hormones in Schedule 2 Part III. |
| TB-500 | No | Not among the anabolic steroids or named hormones in Schedule 2 Part III. |
| GHK-Cu | No | Not among the anabolic steroids or named hormones in Schedule 2 Part III. |
| CJC-1295 | No | A GHRH analogue, not growth hormone itself; the growth hormone entries named are somatotropin, somatrem and somatropin. |
| Ipamorelin | No | A growth hormone secretagogue, not growth hormone itself; the growth hormone entries named are somatotropin, somatrem and somatropin. |
| Sermorelin | No | A GHRH analogue, not growth hormone itself; the growth hormone entries named are somatotropin, somatrem and somatropin. |
| MOTS-c | No | Not among the anabolic steroids or named hormones in Schedule 2 Part III. |
| Epithalon | No | Not among the anabolic steroids or named hormones in Schedule 2 Part III. |
| NAD+ | No | Not a peptide or steroid; not named in Schedule 2 Part III. |
| Somatotropin / somatrem / somatropin (human growth hormone — not part of Pepspan's range) | Yes | Named directly in Schedule 2 Part III, added by the 1996 Modification Order. |
The Human Medicines Regulations 2012 and 'medicinal products'
The Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/1916) define a "medicinal product" in two ways: by presentation — a substance presented as having properties of preventing or treating disease in human beings — or by function — a substance that may be used by or administered to human beings to restore, correct or modify a physiological function by a pharmacological, immunological or metabolic action, or to make a medical diagnosis (regulation 2). Under regulation 46, a medicinal product may not be sold or supplied, or offered for sale or supply, unless it holds a UK marketing authorisation or one of the other authorisations listed there, subject to the exceptions in Part 10 of the Regulations.
Borderline cases, where it is not obvious whether a product counts as a medicinal product, are decided by the MHRA case by case, through its Borderline Section, not by a fixed list of ingredients. That means a label such as "for research use only" describes an intended use; it does not by itself determine how a specific product is classified under these regulations. According to the MHRA's published guidance, it looks at the claims made about what a product does (explicit and implicit), the pharmacological, metabolic or immunological properties of its ingredients, its primary intended purpose or the way consumers would use it, whether similar licensed products exist, and how it is presented through labelling, packaging, websites, social media and customer reviews. MHRA Guidance Note 8 cites case law holding that a statement that a product is not medicinal is persuasive evidence but not in itself conclusive.
Anti-doping rules sit outside criminal law
Athletes who compete under a sport's anti-doping rules (in the UK, the UK Anti-Doping Rules adopted by their governing body) are separately bound by the World Anti-Doping Agency's Prohibited List, enforced through sporting sanctions rather than the criminal-law framework described above. The 2026 Prohibited List, in force since 1 January 2026, names BPC-157 under S0 (non-approved substances); TB-500, CJC-1295, sermorelin and ipamorelin under S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances and mimetics); and MOTS-c under S4 (hormone and metabolic modulators), regardless of their status under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. This is a separate framework, administered through sport rather than the courts, and its rules bind athletes, their support personnel and other persons who are subject to them.
Why Pepspan sells for laboratory research only
Pepspan sells lyophilised peptides and bacteriostatic water for laboratory research use only, not as consumer products. Product pages cover identity, purity, lot testing, storage and laboratory handling, and give no dosing instructions or instructions for use in people.
That approach reflects the distinction described above: how a product is presented and marketed is itself part of what can bring it within medicines regulation, independently of the substance. Avoiding claims about what a compound does for a person is a deliberate editorial choice, not a certification that any particular rule does or does not apply. Pepspan's catalogue and this page are not a substitute for checking the rules that apply to your own circumstances.
About this guide
This page summarises public sources as checked on 30 September 2026; it is not legal advice. Rules change and apply case by case — check current guidance or ask a qualified adviser. It draws on the text of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Modification) Order 1996 and the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, named here rather than linked, plus published MHRA guidance on how borderline products are assessed (including MHRA Guidance Note 8) and the World Anti-Doping Agency's 2026 Prohibited List. Where a source could not be confirmed against the primary legislation or an official publication, it has been left out rather than included as a guess.
Frequently asked questions
Is BPC-157 listed in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971?
No — as checked on 30 September 2026, BPC-157 is not named in Schedule 2 Part III, which lists anabolic steroids and a specific set of hormones.
Which Pepspan compounds are not named in Schedule 2 Part III?
As checked on 30 September 2026, BPC-157, TB-500, CJC-1295, ipamorelin, sermorelin, GHK-Cu, MOTS-c, epithalon and NAD+ do not appear in that list.
What does 'research use only' mean under UK rules?
It states the intended use of a product. Whether a product also counts as a medicinal product under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 depends on its presentation and function, decided case by case by the MHRA — a label alone does not fix the classification.
Is human growth hormone the same as growth-hormone-releasing peptides like CJC-1295?
No. Growth hormone itself is named in Schedule 2 Part III as somatotropin, somatrem and somatropin. CJC-1295 and sermorelin (GHRH analogues) and ipamorelin (a growth hormone secretagogue) are different substances and are not named there.
Do anti-doping rules apply to research peptides?
Athletes registered with a sports federation are bound by the World Anti-Doping Agency's Prohibited List regardless of criminal law; this is a sporting sanction, separate from the rules described on this page.
Does Pepspan make any claims about human use?
No. Pepspan sells lyophilised peptides and bacteriostatic water for laboratory research use only, and its product pages give no dosing instructions or instructions for use in people.
Where can I check the current rules myself?
This page names the relevant instruments — the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 — so you can look up the current text yourself. Rules change, so check current guidance or ask a qualified adviser before relying on anything here.
Research Use Only: all products mentioned are intended exclusively for laboratory research and are not for human or veterinary use. Information about other suppliers reflects their public websites as checked on the date stated and may change.