Quality & complianceOfficial

Health Canada warns of bacteria in unauthorised injectable peptides sold online, seizing over 11,400 vials

🇨🇦 Health Canada · Fri 06 Nov 2026

Lab testing of products from Shanghai ERP Peptide Biotechnology found bacterial contamination, prompting seizures from two Canadian web retailers and a request that the supplier stop selling into Canada.

Health Canada has told consumers not to buy or inject unauthorised peptide products after laboratory testing found bacteria in items sold online. The public advisory, dated 6 November 2026 (reference RA-82930), says injecting contaminated products can cause serious infections, hospitalisation and, in severe cases, life-threatening sepsis. People with weakened immune systems face a higher risk.

The department seized and tested unauthorised injectable peptides from Shanghai ERP Peptide Biotechnology Co. Ltd. (ERP Peptide). It identified Acinetobacter seifertii, Acinetobacter nosocomialis and Propionibacterium (Cutibacterium) acnes. Examples of ERP Peptide products named in the advisory are human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), MOTS-C, NAD+, retatrutide, tesamorelin and tirzepatide.

Health Canada also identified two Canadian online retailers, truenorthbiolabs.ca and bcaxiompeptide.com, that were selling ERP Peptide products. It obtained court-issued entry warrants and seized unauthorised drugs from both. Following the enforcement action, the websites are no longer active. In total, more than 11,400 vials were seized from ERP Peptide and the two retailers.

The department has asked ERP Peptide to stop selling illegal peptides into Canada immediately and is working with the Canada Border Services Agency to block unauthorised shipments. It says it will continue enforcement, including seizures, testing and disruption of distribution channels.

The advisory notes that injectable peptides are generally regulated as prescription drugs in Canada, and that unauthorised products have not been assessed for safety, efficacy or quality. Consumers are told to look for an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN) on the label, to avoid products marked 'For Research Use Only – Not for Human Consumption', and to buy prescription drugs only from licensed pharmacies. Anyone who has used such a product and develops redness, swelling, pain at the injection site, fever, chills or general illness should seek medical attention immediately.

What it means for your team

  • Quality and supply-chain teams should note that the contamination findings were microbial, and that the advisory lists a wide range of other possible quality failures in unauthorised products, from wrong potency to unlisted ingredients.
  • Pharmacovigilance and medical information teams may see enquiries or adverse event reports linked to online peptides, including products presented as tirzepatide or retatrutide. Injection-site infection and systemic infection symptoms are the signs Health Canada highlights.
  • Regulatory and compliance staff should note the enforcement approach: court-issued warrants, seizures, website takedowns and cooperation with border authorities.
  • Patient-facing teams can point to the DIN check and Health Canada's Drug Product Database as ways to verify that a product is authorised.

Official source: Health Canada ↗

Article written by VigiEye from the official source (Health Canada). AI-assisted; check the source before acting.

More Quality & compliance All →