MHRA and eBay partnership removes 215 listings of potentially
dangerous medicines from the eBay platform highlighting the
benefits of private/public working.
The ongoing partnership between the Medicines and Health products
Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and global online marketplace eBay has
removed a further 215 listings of potentially dangerous
unauthorised erectile dysfunction medicines from the platform, it
was announced today (13 April 2026).
Erectile dysfunction medicines remain one of the
most frequently illegally traded medicines in the
UK. Because these are unauthorised, MHRA has no oversight and
their contents are unknown; they may contain no active
ingredient, or too much, or toxic ingredients which could be
dangerous, particularly for people taking medications.
The shape of the tablets indicated that they were not genuine
medicines and assessment by MHRA's Borderline products team, who
are responsible for the classification of products, confirmed
this was the case. MHRA alerted eBay and the company immediately
took action by removing the listings offering the erectile
dysfunction tablets from sale to the public.
Arrangements in place between eBay and MHRA enable non-compliant
medicines and medical devices to be withdrawn from the platform
quickly and this helps to protect the health and safety of the UK
public.
eBay has been cooperating with the MHRA for many years, enabling
the Agency to provide support and advice. In 2025, a cutting-edge
AI algorithm developed with eBay successfully identified and
blocked more than two million violations of the company's
policies on prescription-only and non-prescription medicines,
before the products could be offered for sale to the public.
Erectile dysfunction medications can only be dispensed through a
UK registered pharmacy. Any health concerns should be discussed
with your GP or other healthcare professional.
Head of MHRA's Borderline, Lynda Scammell,
commented:
“Patient safety is our number one priority.
“We can all enjoy shopping online from trusted marketplaces like
eBay, but when it comes to medicines and medical devices, a
higher threshold of caution is needed for these products. You
just don't know what's in it and what it could do to you. The
message is clear, ‘Don't gamble with your health.'
“Our work with eBay continues to remove unauthorised products
from sale and prevent potential harm to public health.
Collaborations such as this between public agencies and private
companies have a substantial role to play in tackling illegal
sales of medical products and protecting the health and safety of
UK citizens.
“For tools to help you buy medicines online safely, visit our
#FakeMeds.”
Health Minister said:
“This is a great example of how government and internet-based
businesses can work together to disrupt websites and social media
accounts illegally selling these medicines and keep the public
safe.
“Buying any medicine from illegal online suppliers significantly
increases the risk of receiving falsified or unlicensed products,
often with drastic consequences.
“Doing so not only risks your own life but often provides funding
for other illegal activity, so I commend the work done by MHRA
and eBay to tackle this.”
Erectile dysfunction affects around 4.3 million men in the UK,
but research suggests that two in five
men would feel uncomfortable seeking medical advice with
many resorting to online sources for help.
The MHRA urges people to:
- Avoid buying medicines from social media,
messaging apps or unknown websites.
- For medicines that are classified as Pharmacy Only (P) or
Prescription Only Medicines (POM) visit a UK-registered pharmacy,
including those operating online services, displaying the
official green cross logo. For pharmacies based in Great Britain
you can check their registration on the General Pharmaceutical
Council's (GPhC) website . In Northern Ireland,
check via the Pharmaceutical Society
of Northern Ireland (PSNI) website.
- Speak to a GP / doctor or pharmacist about safe and effective
treatment options.
Anyone concerned about suspicious medicines or websites can
report them through the MHRA's Yellow Card scheme.
