Scheduling is a national classification system that controls how medicines and chemicals are made available to the public. 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
| Schedule 1 | Not currently in use |
|---|---|
| Schedule 2 | Pharmacy Medicine |
| Schedule 3 | Pharmacist Only Medicine |
| Schedule 4 | Prescription Only Medicine OR Prescription Animal Remedy |
| Schedule 5 | Caution |
| Schedule 6 | Poison |
| Schedule 7 | Dangerous Poison |
| Schedule 8 | Controlled Drug |
| Schedule 9 | Prohibited Substance |
| Schedule 10 | Substances of such danger to health as to warrant prohibition of sale, supply and use |
The Schedules are published in the Poisons Standard and are given legal effect through state and territory legislation. The Poisons Standard is also referred to as the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP).
- Scheduling news
What's new following the 2017 SPF review - Scheduling legislation
Links to the legislation under which the scheduling framework operates - AHMAC - Scheduling policy framework for medicines and chemicals
The Scheduling Policy Framework sets out the scheduling policy the classification system for medicines and poisons, and provisions for public consultation. Further guidance is included in the Scheduling Handbook. - The Scheduling Handbook
The Scheduling Handbook provides guidance on the pathway a scheduling application may follow and other details of the scheduling process - Application to amend the Poisons Standard
Use of this form will ensure that applications are in an acceptable format and will help avoid possible delays in their consideration