Social Media: Substances Unfit for Human Consumption

Viscount Camrose Excerpts

Wednesday 17th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)]

The noble Lord is right that the Online Safety Act already covers illegal content and child safety duties. Those duties are in force. Ofcom is now turning its focus to the additional duties for categorised services, which will include protections against fraudulent advertising. We are expecting Ofcom’s consultation on the additional duties next month, which should cover a number of the issues that the noble Lord raises.

[Viscount Camrose (Con)]

My Lords, to pick up on the point that was well made by the noble Baroness, Lady Bull, sellers of unapproved SARMs routinely use labels in their advertising such as “not for human consumption”, while simultaneously promoting their physique-enhancing effects elsewhere on social media. Since sophisticated AI advertising tools allow sellers to target consumers with almost perfect precision, these tricks are actually no less effective than openly advertising illegal products. Can the Minister tell us who is responsible for enforcing against this and what progress they are making?

[Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)]

Where it is claimed that products are sold for research purposes only, that does not prevent regulatory action where the available evidence suggests that they are in fact unauthorised medicines intended for human use. If the product is classified as a medicine and is not appropriately authorised, the MHRA can take compliance and enforcement action.