In April 2025, the GPhC wrote to pharmacists and pharmacy owners about reports it had received regarding community pharmacies supplying non-medicinal, unregulated, unlicensed products and other products for non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

There were also concerns about pharmacists administering injections of aesthetics products in other settings.¹³

The GPhC includes assessment of aesthetic services in its pharmacy inspections. Examples of features that will be expected or commented on it reports include:¹⁴

·     - making clear records setting out the justification for prescribing;

·     - taking additional checks when dispensing prescriptions for aesthetic products to help make sure the supplies are legally valid;

·     - undertaking a physical examination of a patient before prescribing botulinum toxin;

·     - being able to demonstrate that robust checks are made to ensure that botulinum toxin is being administered by healthcare professionals;

·     - regularly auditing and updating processes to be able to provide assurances that prescriptions are issued in accordance with prescribing guidelines for non-surgical cosmetic and aesthetic products.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society supports the JCCP code of practice and competency framework, saying that pharmacists wanting to expand their scope of practice into aesthetics should have access to, and undertake, the appropriate training. It also notes the JCCP sets out procedures pharmacists should not undertake.¹⁵

In a 2019 policy statement, the RPS emphasises: “Similarly to any area of practice, whether prescribing or delivering these aesthetics services, pharmacists must make sure they have the correct knowledge, skills and competence to keep patients safe.”¹⁵