Regulator: Some Botox-type treatments 'operating outside law'
'RTÉ Investigates' reporter Pamela Fraher went undercover examining regulation of the Irish beauty industry, with illegal botox and the sale of prescription medicine widely available.
Some people offering Botox-type treatments may be “operating outside the law” and putting profit ahead of patient safety, the Irish medicines regulator has warned.
This follows an programme on Monday night which found people selling and offering botox-type products illegally during a six-month investigation.
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) said the examples highlighted are similar to cases they have investigated.
“Certain individuals offering aesthetic services may be operating outside the law by providing prescription medicines without a prescription,” a spokeswoman said.
“In such cases, they aim to take commercial advantage of consumers. Their primary concern is financial gain — not the health of consumers availing of these services.”
She added the HPRA regretted it was unable to take part in the programme, saying: “Commenting directly on the scenarios outlined may prejudice our open cases.”
The HPRA advised anyone considering a cosmetic procedure involving botulinum toxin to ensure the work is carried out by a registered doctor, dentist, or in some circumstances a nurse.
“Medicines that contain botulinum toxin are prescription-only. It is illegal to supply these without a prescription,” she warned.
In the last three years, they have detained more than 10,000 dosage units of medicines containing botulinum toxin, hyaluronidase, or lidocaine.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told reporters that he is also aware of the concerns.
"I've had correspondence from doctors and other people who are involved in providing aesthetic medicine ... and they're seeking that there should be better regulation of the area,” he said.
“And I think that they're right in that regard and something the minister for health is looking at at the moment."
A spokesman for the Department of Health said this relates to the Patient Safety (Licensing) Bill.
“It is envisaged that private health services, which are engaged in aesthetic procedures which are considered to be high risk, will fall within the scope of the Patient Safety (Licensing) Bill when enacted,” he said.
“It will include, for example, medical, surgical, or dental procedures carried out under anaesthesia.”
The chain of supply should also involve, he said, “appropriately authorised medicine manufacturers, wholesalers, registered practitioners, and registered pharmacies for prescription medicines".
A British-based supplier told RTÉ he transports large shipments of unlicenced Korean products to people working in the beauty industry here.
He brings this to the border region and told RTÉ: “I have girls who drive from Clare, from Limerick, from Cork."
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