Legal status · Australia
Is Resveratrol legal in Australia?
Resveratrol can be sold in Australia as a supplement or cosmetic ingredient, classified as "Permitted ingredient in listed complementary medicines (AUST L)". That is not drug approval: TGA has not evaluated any health claim, and injectable or "research use only" versions fall outside supplement rules, so that label does not make human use lawful. Human evidence: Moderate.
Resveratrol in Australia at a glance
| Classification | Permitted ingredient in listed complementary medicines (AUST L) |
|---|---|
| Note | The TGA publishes a compositional guideline for resveratrol and products must be entered on the ARTG before supply. |
| TGA approval status | Not a TGA drug approval; sold as a supplement or cosmetic |
| Evidence level | Moderate (research strength: Strong) |
| Reviewed | Sep 2026 |
Classification and note come from the Resveratrol profile, checked against Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) listings at the reviewed date.
What this means
- 01
Resveratrol can be sold in Australia as a supplement, food or cosmetic ingredient under the classification above, without drug approval.
- 02
Supplement status means TGA has not evaluated any health claim; manufacturers are responsible for safety and labeling, and quality varies by product.
- 03
Injectable or "research use only" versions are not supplements. That label does not make human use lawful, and injectables fall under medicines rules.
What Resveratrol is
The polyphenol behind the sirtuin era of longevity research and one of the most heavily trialled supplements in this database: over 150 completed registered studies, results that conflict by population and dose rather than pointing one way, and no trial of lifespan or any hard clinical outcome in people.
Resveratrol became the best known longevity molecule in the world after a 2003 Nature paper from David Sinclair's laboratory reported that it activates the sirtuin SIRT1 and extends lifespan in yeast, followed by a 2006 Nature paper reporting improved health and survival in mice fed a high-calorie diet. Neither finding transferred cleanly.
Mechanism: Proposed as an allosteric activator of the NAD+-dependent deacetylase SIRT1, with downstream AMPK and PGC-1alpha signalling that mimics parts of calorie restriction. That direct-activation claim is disputed: groups at Amgen (2009) and Pfizer (2010) showed the measured activation depends on a fluorophore-tagged assay peptide and disappears with native substrates, while Sirtris and Sinclair's group argue in Science (2013) that activation is real but requires substrates carrying specific hydrophobic motifs and a single SIRT1 residue, Glu230.
Regulatory history: Dietary supplement; not an approved drug. Labels may carry structure/function claims with the DSHEA disclaimer, but not disease treatment or prevention claims
How TGA treats this kind of product
Registers or lists therapeutic goods on the ARTG and schedules substances in the Poisons Standard. Many peptides are Schedule 4 (prescription only), so possession without a prescription and personal importation are restricted even when no product is registered.
The classification above is the The Longevity Archive reading of Therapeutic Goods Administration listings for Resveratrol at the reviewed date, not a legal opinion. Rules change, and importing, prescribing and possessing a compound can each be treated differently. Check the regulator directly before acting on anything here.
Resveratrol in other countries
United States
Supplement or cosmeticSold as a dietary supplement; not an approved drug
Is Resveratrol legal in the United States?United Kingdom
Supplement or cosmeticSold as a food supplement
Is Resveratrol legal in the United Kingdom?Canada
Supplement or cosmeticSold as a natural health product supplement; a Health Canada product licence and NPN are required
Is Resveratrol legal in Canada?Frequently asked questions
Is Resveratrol legal in Australia?
Resveratrol can be sold in Australia as a supplement or cosmetic ingredient, classified as "Permitted ingredient in listed complementary medicines (AUST L)". That is not drug approval: TGA has not evaluated any health claim, and injectable or "research use only" versions fall outside supplement rules, so that label does not make human use lawful. Human evidence: Moderate. Note: The TGA publishes a compositional guideline for resveratrol and products must be entered on the ARTG before supply.
Can I buy Resveratrol in Australia?
Yes, in supplement or cosmetic form. In Australia Resveratrol is classified as "Permitted ingredient in listed complementary medicines (AUST L)", so oral, topical or cosmetic products can be sold under supplement rules. Injectable versions and products labeled "research use only" are not supplements and are not approved for human use. Note: The TGA publishes a compositional guideline for resveratrol and products must be entered on the ARTG before supply.
Is Resveratrol TGA approved?
No. In Australia Resveratrol is classified as "Permitted ingredient in listed complementary medicines (AUST L)", which is not a TGA marketing approval. For comparison, the US FDA status is: Dietary supplement; not an approved drug. Labels may carry structure/function claims with the DSHEA disclaimer, but not disease treatment or prevention claims. Evidence level: Moderate.
Related compounds in Australia
Full research profile
Mechanism, cited studies, FDA status and the full legal summary for Resveratrol live on its compound profile.
Resveratrol profileThis page is general information about the regulatory status of Resveratrol in Australia, current as of Sep 2026. It is not legal advice, and classifications change; check Therapeutic Goods Administration directly or consult a lawyer for a specific situation. Educational use only. This database summarizes published research. It is not medical advice and contains no dosing protocols or recommendations for personal use. The Longevity Archive has no vendor relationships and does not recommend where to buy anything.