Is MOTS-c legal in New Zealand?
A plain, factual look at how MOTS-c sits within New Zealand regulation in 2026, including its TGA and ARTG position and its status in sport. General information only, not legal or medical advice.
The short answer
MOTS-c is not approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and is not listed on the New Zealand Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). This means it cannot be lawfully sold or supplied in New Zealand as a medicine or as a therapeutic supplement, and it has not been assessed by the TGA for safety, quality or effectiveness.
In practice, MOTS-c is handled in New Zealand as an unapproved substance used for laboratory research purposes only. It is also named by Sport Integrity New Zealand among peptides that are prohibited in sport. Nothing on this page is a recommendation for human use.
MOTS-c is not TGA approved, is not on the ARTG, and is prohibited in sport. It is supplied for laboratory research use only.
How the TGA and the Poisons Standard treat MOTS-c
The Poisons Standard, also known as the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP), is the instrument that assigns substances to schedules in New Zealand. Those schedules set out how a substance may be accessed, for example as a prescription-only medicine.
Many research peptides are captured as prescription-only substances within the Poisons Standard. We are not aware of a current entry that names MOTS-c specifically, and we do not state a schedule number for it, because doing so without a verified listing would be inaccurate. The practical position does not change either way: an unapproved substance that is not on the ARTG cannot be lawfully marketed or supplied for human therapeutic use in New Zealand.
If you need a definitive scheduling answer, the current Poisons Standard and the TGA are the authoritative sources to check, as scheduling can be updated over time.
Not approved and not on the ARTG
Before a medicine can be legally supplied in New Zealand for a therapeutic purpose, it generally has to be entered on the ARTG. Entry follows an assessment of safety, quality and, where relevant, effectiveness.
MOTS-c has not been through that process and is not on the ARTG. Because it is unapproved, it has not been evaluated by the TGA, and no claims about treating, preventing or managing any condition can be made for it. The absence of ARTG approval is the central fact behind its legal status in New Zealand.
Research compound versus approved medicine
It helps to separate two different categories. An approved medicine has an ARTG number, an approved label and approved uses, and can be prescribed or sold within those terms. A research compound has none of these. It is a material studied in laboratory settings and is not intended, labelled or approved for use in people or animals.
MOTS-c sits in the second category in New Zealand. Describing it as a research compound is not a technicality. It reflects that there is no approved therapeutic use for it here, and that any supply framed as suitable for human consumption would fall outside the law.
What research use only means
Research use only is a defined framing, not a marketing slogan. It means the material is intended solely for laboratory and scientific investigation by qualified researchers, and it is not for human or veterinary use, not for ingestion or injection, and not for any form of self experimentation.
Research use only means the material is
- Intended for laboratory and scientific study only
- Not for human or animal consumption
- Not a medicine, supplement or therapeutic good
- Not accompanied by any dosing, protocol or therapeutic claim
Supplying MOTS-c on this basis is how an unapproved substance can be made available for legitimate research while staying clear of therapeutic claims or human use.
What MOTS-c is, in neutral terms
MOTS-c, short for mitochondrial open reading frame of the twelve S ribosomal RNA type c, is a mitochondrial-derived peptide (MDP). It is a short peptide of 16 amino acids that is encoded within a region of the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA gene.
In the research literature, MOTS-c is studied as a signalling peptide, with much of that work discussing pathways related to AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and cellular metabolism. This describes what scientists investigate, not an established effect or benefit. MOTS-c remains at a research stage and is not an approved therapy in New Zealand or, to our knowledge, anywhere else.
Statements about what MOTS-c may or may not do in people are not established. Published work describes areas of investigation, not confirmed outcomes.
MOTS-c in sport: WADA and Sport Integrity New Zealand
Athletes face a separate and stricter set of rules. Sport Integrity New Zealand lists MOTS-c among unapproved peptides and notes that many such peptides are prohibited in sport.
On the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) framework, MOTS-c is associated with the metabolic modulators category, specifically the group covering activators of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which are prohibited at all times, both in and out of competition. Because there is no approved therapeutic use for it, a therapeutic use exemption would be very unlikely. Athletes should always check the current WADA Prohibited List and Sport Integrity New Zealand resources, as the List is updated each year.
Treat MOTS-c as prohibited in sport and verify against the current WADA Prohibited List before making any decision.
A neutral note on importation and personal use
Because MOTS-c is unapproved, importation and personal possession can carry legal complexity, and the rules differ from those for an approved medicine. We do not provide instructions on importing, acquiring or using unapproved substances for personal use.
Anyone wanting certainty about their own situation should seek advice from the TGA, the New Zealand Border Force or a qualified legal professional, rather than relying on general web content.
How Synergy Bio supplies MOTS-c
Synergy Bio supplies MOTS-c strictly as a research-use-only material for laboratory and scientific purposes. It is not sold for human or animal use, and it is not offered with dosing, protocols or therapeutic claims of any kind.
What this means in practice
- Supplied for laboratory research use only
- Backed by Novagen certificate of analysis (COA) documentation
- Shipped within New Zealand
- Provided with no therapeutic or human-use claims
If you are a researcher, the COA and sourcing information are the right place to start. If you are a member of the public looking for a health product, MOTS-c is not that, and this page should not be read as encouragement to use it.
Frequently asked questions
Is MOTS-c approved by the TGA?+
No. MOTS-c is not approved by the TGA and is not on the ARTG. It has not been assessed for safety, quality or effectiveness and cannot be lawfully supplied as a medicine or supplement in New Zealand.
What schedule is MOTS-c in under the Poisons Standard?+
We are not aware of a current Poisons Standard entry that names MOTS-c specifically, so we do not state a schedule number for it. Either way it remains an unapproved substance that is not on the ARTG. Check the current Poisons Standard and the TGA for a definitive answer.
Can I buy MOTS-c legally in New Zealand?+
It can be supplied for laboratory research use only, not for human use. It cannot be lawfully sold as a medicine, supplement or therapeutic good, and it is not intended for consumption.
Is MOTS-c banned in sport?+
Yes. Sport Integrity New Zealand lists MOTS-c among prohibited peptides, and it is associated with the WADA metabolic modulators category covering AMPK activators, which are prohibited at all times. Always check the current WADA Prohibited List.
What is MOTS-c?+
MOTS-c is a mitochondrial-derived peptide of 16 amino acids encoded within the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA gene. It is studied in research as a signalling peptide and is not an approved therapy.
Does research use only mean it is safe to take?+
No. Research use only means the material is for laboratory study by qualified researchers and is not for human or animal use. It is not a medicine and carries no dosing or safety guidance for people.
Where can I confirm the current rules?+
The TGA, the current Poisons Standard, Sport Integrity New Zealand and the WADA Prohibited List are the authoritative sources, and they can change over time.
Questions? Talk to us.
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