Argentina’s medicines regulator has issued a nationwide ban on products claiming to contain retatrutide, a weight-loss substance under investigation, amid rising online sales and health risks.
Argentina’s medicines regulator has banned the sale, promotion and distribution of products that claim to contain retatrutide, a weight-loss substance that is still under clinical investigation and is not authorised for human use in the country. According to the National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology, the restriction covers all lots, sizes and presentations, including offers on electronic commerce platforms.
The measure, formalised through Disposition 6140/2026 and published in the Official Gazette, applies nationwide. ANMAT said it received an email complaint pointing to websites offering products with the ingredient, and then moved to block their circulation while it investigates the offer. The agency said the ban is aimed at preventing the spread of unregulated products that may pose a risk to public health.
ANMAT also said there are no authorised medicinal products in Argentina that contain retatrutide. The substance is still being studied in clinical trials, and the regulator cited possible adverse effects, particularly in people with type 2 diabetes and poor blood-glucose control. In the documents supporting the decision, officials noted that regulators in Brazil and Paraguay had already issued alerts over products containing the same ingredient.
The agency has also referred the matter to the federal courts in Lomas de Zamora, in a case linked to an ANMAT complaint and a distributor identified in the filing. By widening the legal response, the regulator is signalling that it wants to stop both the physical circulation of the products and their online promotion, a growing challenge for health authorities as unapproved medicines increasingly move through digital channels.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
