Read SAHPRA's GLP-1 product warnings

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has warned about unregistered, substandard and falsified GLP-1 products. In May 2026 it reported enforcement action against the unlawful manufacture and distribution of unregistered semaglutide, tirzepatide and combination products. Registered GLP-1 medicines remain lawful. You need to check the product itself, its registration and where it comes from. An ingredient name on a label is no proof of approval.

Compounded products differ from registered brands

Ask whether you are being offered a registered, finished product or a compounded preparation, and why. SAHPRA has described limits on compounding. It has also raised concerns about products whose active ingredients have not been shown to match registered medicines. A powder or vial sold online as a research peptide is no approved substitute for a prescribed branded product.

Check the clinician and the pharmacy

Find out who is assessing you and which registered pharmacy will dispense. Check both with the relevant professional registers. Ask which parts of your medical history they review, how follow-up works and how to report a suspected problem. Ask for the South African product information and instructions for your exact device. If a tablet is backed only by news of a launch abroad, ask for its South African authorisation or the legal basis for exceptional access.

Plan cost, cover and travel

Check whether you will pay privately or whether your medical scheme covers the treatment for your condition. Ask for an itemised cost and ask how the pharmacy handles delivery delays and storage problems. If you travel elsewhere in Africa, check each country's rules. South African rules do not carry across the region. Keep the original packaging and your prescription. Get professional advice before you use a medicine whose identity or storage history is in doubt.

Check the product with SAHPRA before you buy

Confirm the exact product and its approved use with SAHPRA before buying Mounjaro, Wegovy injection, Wegovy tablets or Foundayo in South Africa. Approval, clinical suitability, medical scheme cover, pharmacy stock and import permission each need their own check.

  • Ask a South African clinician which product suits you and whether your treatment history is enough for an assessment.
  • Get an itemised quote for the consultation, dispensing and delivery before you agree to ongoing treatment.
  • Hold on to the packaging, prescription and dispensing record. Check any damaged parcel or doubtful storage with the pharmacist before use.

Sources

Your own medicine leaflet and prescriber come first. A source from another country does not mean the same rule applies in the UK.

  1. SAHPRA: 2026 enforcement action on unregistered GLP-1 products sahpra.org.za
  2. SAHPRA: semaglutide questions and answers sahpra.org.za

Spotted something out of date? Report a mistake.