Watchdog vows Botox crackdown after BBC exposé

The pharmacists' watchdog has promised to investigate and "take action" after the BBC exposed illegal and potentially harmful practices in the aesthetic Botox industry.

Under UK law, Botox can only be supplied under prescription by a qualified medic following a face-to-face consultation with the patient, to check it is safe for them.

But undercover BBC researchers caught several pharmacists trying to prescribe the medicine to beauticians to use on people who had not been clinically assessed.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) said it was continuing to review the BBC's evidence for its own investigation.

Its chief enforcement officer Dionne Spence said: "We will take enforcement action against pharmacies, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians when required to protect patient safety."

Under UK law, only a doctor, prescribing nurse or pharmacist, or dentist is legally allowed to prescribe botulinum toxin - commonly known as Botox – after an appropriate face-to-face clinical assessment.

East London pharmacist Cornelius Agoye from Rainham was filmed selling vials of Botox to an undercover BBC reporter who was posing as a beautician intending to inject a customers

Mr Agoye asked the reporter to complete paperwork that would create a false record of a patient consultation taking place.

He also told the BBC he was willing to illegally supply additional Botox under the same prescription to use on other patients - which constitutes fraud.

When approached by the BBC, Mr Agoye apologised and admitted his conduct had fallen below professional standards.

Other pharmacists filmed or spoken to by BBC undercover researchers posing as beauticians described taking similar shortcuts.

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Source: BBC News, 13 October 2025