Department of Health

Key messages

  • Drugs, poisons and controlled substances are controlled under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 and the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2017.

Drugs, poisons and controlled substance regulation in Victoria

Drugs, poisons and controlled substances in Victoria are controlled under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (the Act) and the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2017.

Drugs, poisons and controlled substances are defined under the Act as being in Schedule Eleven to the Act, the Poisons Standard (the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons) or the Poisons Code. Only these defined substances are controlled. They include:

  • prescription medicines
  • pharmacy-only medicines
  • pharmacist-only medicines
  • drugs of dependence (as included in Schedule Eleven to the Act)
  • many household, industrial and agricultural chemicals.

In partnership with manufacturers, distributors, health professionals and the public, the Department of Health & Human Services encourages the proper use of drugs, poisons and controlled substances.

Reviewed 08 August 2018

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