Legal status · United Kingdom
Is Resveratrol legal in the United Kingdom?
Resveratrol can be sold in the United Kingdom as a supplement or cosmetic ingredient, classified as "Sold as a food supplement". That is not drug approval: MHRA 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 the United Kingdom at a glance
| Classification | Sold as a food supplement |
|---|---|
| Note | Synthetic trans-resveratrol is authorised as a novel food ingredient in capsules or tablets for adults at up to 150 mg per day, with a label statement that people taking medicines should use it only under medical supervision (Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1190, retained in GB law). |
| MHRA approval status | Not a MHRA 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 Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) listings at the reviewed date.
What this means
- 01
Resveratrol can be sold in the United Kingdom as a supplement, food or cosmetic ingredient under the classification above, without drug approval.
- 02
Supplement status means MHRA 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 MHRA treats this kind of product
Licenses medicines for the UK market. A compound without a marketing authorisation is an unlicensed medicine, which can only lawfully be supplied for human use through a prescriber under the specials scheme, not sold as a research product.
The classification above is the The Longevity Archive reading of Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency 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?Australia
Supplement or cosmeticPermitted ingredient in listed complementary medicines (AUST L)
Is Resveratrol legal in Australia?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 the United Kingdom?
Resveratrol can be sold in the United Kingdom as a supplement or cosmetic ingredient, classified as "Sold as a food supplement". That is not drug approval: MHRA 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: Synthetic trans-resveratrol is authorised as a novel food ingredient in capsules or tablets for adults at up to 150 mg per day, with a label statement that people taking medicines should use it only under medical supervision (Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1190, retained in GB law).
Can I buy Resveratrol in the United Kingdom?
Yes, in supplement or cosmetic form. In the United Kingdom Resveratrol is classified as "Sold as a food supplement", 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: Synthetic trans-resveratrol is authorised as a novel food ingredient in capsules or tablets for adults at up to 150 mg per day, with a label statement that people taking medicines should use it only under medical supervision (Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1190, retained in GB law).
Is Resveratrol MHRA approved?
No. In the United Kingdom Resveratrol is classified as "Sold as a food supplement", which is not a MHRA 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 the United Kingdom
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 the United Kingdom, current as of Sep 2026. It is not legal advice, and classifications change; check Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency 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.