Scheduling (national classification system)

Scheduling is a national classification system that controls how medicines and chemicals are made available to the consumers in order to protect public health.

Medicines and chemicals are classified into Schedules according to the level of regulatory control over the availability of the medicine or chemical required to protect public health and safety. The Schedules are published in the Poisons Standard and are given legal effect through state and territory legislation.

For details go to Scheduling of medicines & poisons.

The Poisons Standard and scheduling of medicines and chemicals

Find information on the Poisons Standard (the SUSMP), amending the Poisons Standard and Scheduling.
Schedule for changes to the Permissible Ingredients Determination

Find schedules for annual low-negligible risk changes, proposed changes, and final decisions on high-moderate and low-negligible risk changes.
Scheduling basics of medicines and chemicals in Australia

An overview of the scheduling of medicines and chemicals in Australia.

Key information

Scheduling

Poisons Standard

State and territory information

Reports

Updates

Latest articles

Stronger safety controls to be introduced for products containing vitamin B6

25 November 2025

Media releases

A decision by the TGA will strengthen safety controls for products containing vitamin B6, and help to reduce the risk of nerve damage associated with the long-term consumption of high doses.
Comply with paracetamol pack size changes

5 December 2024

Blog

If your business sells or advertises paracetamol, then you need to be aware of the new rules around pack sizes that commence on 1 February 2025.
Temporary labelling exemptions for paracetamol

26 November 2024

Regulatory decision notices

We are providing a 12-month period of labelling exemptions for signal words for certain Pharmacy medicine and Pharmacist Only medicine products.

Latest publications

Notice of interim decisions on proposed amendments to the Poisons Standard – ACMS #47 and Joint ACMS-ACCS #40 – June 2025

9 June 2026

Scheduling decisions (interim)

Interim decisions and invitation for comment. Closing date: 10 July 2026.
Notice of final decisions to amend (or not amend) the current Poisons Standard in relation to bacillus paralicheniformis, dimethyl disulfide, enflicoxib sodium, spidoxamat

2 June 2026

Scheduling decisions (final)

This web publication constitutes a notice for the purposes of regulation 42ZCZX of the Therapeutic Goods Regulations 1990 (the Regulations).
Notice of final decisions to amend (or not amend) the current Poisons Standard - ACCS #40, Joint ACMS-ACCS #39

25 May 2026

Scheduling decisions (final)

This web publication constitutes a notice for the purposes of regulation 42ZCZS and regulation 42ZCZX of the Therapeutic Goods Regulations 1990 (the Regulations).

Open consultations

Consultation: Proposed amendments to the Poisons Standard - ACMS and Joint ACMS-ACCS meetings - July 2026

30 June 2026

Consultation

Have your say about proposals to amend the Poisons Standard. These will be considered at the next meeting of the Advisory Committee on Medicines Scheduling (ACMS), Advisory Committee on Chemicals Scheduling (ACCS), and the joint meeting of the ACMS and ACCS.

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