Contacts for State/Territory drugs & poisons units

Scheduling medicines & poisons

11 November 2011

Each State and Territory has its own laws that determine where consumers can buy a particular medicine or poison, and how it is to be packaged and labelled. However, State and Territory Governments classify the vast majority of medicines and poisons in accordance with the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP) to achieve a uniform national approach to the scheduling of substances and uniform labelling and packaging requirements.

The SUSMP contains the decisions of the Secretary to the Department of Health and Ageing, or a delegate, regarding the classification of medicines and poisons into Schedules.

The implementation of the SUSMP, as it affects access to and supply of medicines and poisons, is given legal effect through relevant State and Territory drugs, poisons and controlled substances legislation.

Advice on the interpretation of the SUSMP and/or the legal requirements in a particular State or Territory may be obtained from:

Australian Capital Territory

Pharmaceutical Services
ACT Health
Locked Bag 5
WESTON ACT 2611

• Telephone: 02 6205 1700
• Fax: 02 6205 0997
• Website: ACT Health - Pharmaceutical Services

New South Wales

Pharmaceutical Services Branch
NSW Health
PO Box 103
GLADESVILLE NSW 1675

• Telephone: 02 9879 3214
• Fax: 02 9859 5165
• Website: NSW Department of Health - Pharmaceutical Services

Northern Territory

Poisons Control
Department of Health, Northern Territory
PO Box 40596
CASUARINA NT 0811

• Telephone: 08 8922 7341
• Fax: 08 8922 7200
• Website: Northern Territory Government Department of Health - Poisons Control

Queensland

Drugs and Poisons Policy and Regulation Unit
Environmental Health Branch, Health Protection Directorate
Queensland Health
PO Box 2368
FORTITUDE VALLEY BC QLD 4006

• Telephone: 07 3328 9310
• Fax: 07 3328 9354
• Website: Queensland Health - Drugs and Poisons Policy and Regulation Unit

South Australia

Drugs labelling and scheduling

Pharmaceutical Services and Strategy
Department of Health
Level 5
Citi Centre
11 Hindmarsh Square
ADELAIDE SA 5000

• Telephone: 08 8204 1942
• Fax: 08 8226 9837
• Website: Drug & Alcohol Services South Australia

Poisons labelling and scheduling

Public Health
Department of Health
PO Box 6 Rundle Mall
ADELAIDE SA 5000

• Telephone: 08 8226 7100
• Fax: 08 8226 7102
• Website: South Australia Department of Health - Drugs & Poisons

Tasmania

Pharmaceutical Services Branch
Department of Health and Human Services, Tasmania
GPO Box 125
HOBART TAS 7001

• Telephone: 03 6233 2064
• Fax: 03 6233 3904
• Website: Tasmania Department of Health and Human Services - Pharmaceutical Services

Victoria

Department of Health
Drugs and Poisons Regulation
PO Box 4541
MELBOURNE VIC 3001

• Telephone: 1300 364 545
• Fax: 03 9096 9168
• Website: Victorian Government Health Information - Drugs and poisons regulation in Victoria

Western Australia

Pharmaceutical Services Branch
Disaster Management, Regulation and Planning Directorate
Department of Health, Western Australia
PO Box 8172
PERTH BUSINESS CENTRE WA 6849

• Telephone: 08 9222 6883
• Fax: 08 9222 2463
• Website: Western Australia Department of Health - Pharmaceutical Services Branch

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