Following the government announcement of new regulations for aesthetic and non-invasive procedures, experts are expressing concerns about the lack of awareness surrounding the proper storage of botulinum toxin.
The Department of Health and Social Care’s formal consultation response, published on 7 August 2025, confirms a licensing scheme for lower-risk procedures such as toxin and fillers, informed by professional standards and bodies like the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) enforced locally. Providers that cannot evidence safe storage and governance may not meet licensing conditions.
Concerns around safe botulinum toxin storage
Botulinum toxin is a temperature-sensitive biopharmaceutical, meaning changes to temperature can compromise product quality and reduce clinical effectiveness. Proper controlled storage, distribution practices and transport of these medicines are imperative for patient safety.
“Practitioners offering treatments such as botulinum toxin injections and lip flips are failing to meet industry standards by storing botulinum toxin products in a domestic fridge,” shares leading medical refrigeration expert Lec Medical.
This is in line with NHS pharmacy guidance which specifies lockable pharmaceutical refrigerators, fan-assisted cooling, continuous or max-min monitoring and alarms, and explicitly advises against domestic fridges for medicines storage.
This could result in these practitioners being refused a license to practice when the Government’s proposed new licensing scheme comes into force.
“There is a widespread lack of awareness about how to handle and store botulinum toxin products, particularly among smaller clinics and salons,” said Lec Medical refrigeration specialist James Hebblethwaite.
Storing botulinum toxin safely
Botulinum toxin is classed as a medical cold chain product which, like vaccines and other medicines, will degrade and become ineffective if not stored in an approved medical refrigerator - but many practitioners mistakenly think a domestic fridge is suitable for the task.
This means they are falling short of guidelines set out by the Cosmetic Practice Standards Authority (CPSA), which will inform the strict safety standards demanded by the licensing scheme. This also means aesthetic practices risk giving substandard treatments to their customers.
“Amid all the headlines about the Government’s clampdown on so-called ‘dodgy’ cosmetic practices, it’s easy to overlook how important it is to store botulinum toxin correctly,” shared Hebblethwaite.
“But the CPSA is very clear that cosmetic injectables must be stored in line with cold chain product guidelines.”
“That means storing them in a fridge which has a security lock, within a stable temperature range of +2°C to +8°C. Fridge temperatures must also be monitored and recorded at least once a day.”
“Practitioners must apply best practice to every aspect of their service when providing cosmetic treatments such as botulinum toxin,” said aesthetic treatments specialist Dr Rosie Hicks.
“Providing a safe and professional service to patients requires in-depth knowledge of botulinum toxin products, treatment protocols, and regulatory guidelines.”
“This includes an understanding of how botulinum toxin is purified, reconstituted, stored, and administered, as well as a thorough knowledge of the patient’s medical history,” continues Dr Hicks
“This is the bare minimum required of practitioners who want to treat their patients safely.”
What is a medical fridge?
Medical fridges are designed to provide the ideal temperature environment for botulinum toxin and other temperature-sensitive products.
They should have a temperature gauge and a lockable door, and it is important that they are in a well-ventilated room which is maintained between 10°C and 25 ̊C, away from external windows and heat sources such as radiators, and at least 5-10 cm from walls and other units.
It is also important that the fridge is stocked according to first expiry, and never filled more than 75% capacity to allow for adequate air circulation.
Medical fridges should only be used for medical products, kept clean and serviced regularly, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
“We know from our experience in the field that salons and clinics want to provide the best possible care for their customers. Many simply aren’t aware that they are storing their botulinum toxin badly,” added James.
“But they need to be prepared on every front for when the new licensing scheme comes into force, and a simple thing like storing products in unsafe conditions could be a barrier to gaining a licence.”
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