REGULATION
There is a Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP) produced by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
​
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is responsible for monitoring and assessing therapeutic goods such as medicines, medical devices and blood products in a timely manner to ensure that they are all available in acceptable and safety quality and effects in Australia.
​
TGA then established a SUSMP to classify drugs and poisons into different schedules that signify the recommended degree of control must be applied differently on each schedule.
There are some drugs that are dangerous to human body. Therefore, drug scheduling is utilized to categorize which medicines or drugs that can be sold in pharmacist. There were 10 drug schedules in Australia, however, one of these schedules are not currently utilized now. These schedules are
Schedule 1:
Not currently used.
Schedule 2 (Pharmacy medicine):
It is substantially safe to consume, but counselling with the doctor is necessary.
Schedule 3 (Pharmacist only medicine):
It is substantially safe to consume, but counselling with the doctor is necessary. It requires initial medical diagnosis, not close medical management.
Schedule 4 (Prescription only medicine):
It requires professional medical or counselling and needs further evaluation in medical diagnosis.
Schedule 5 (Caution):
It has low toxicity level and needs attention in handling, storage or consume.
Schedule 6 (Poison):
It has moderate to high toxicity level and it can cause death in consuming.
Schedule 7 (Dangerous poison):
It has high to extremely high toxicity level which can cause death in low dose. It requires precaution in production or handling.
Schedule 8 (Controlled drug – possession without authority illegal):
It can cause dependence on medication.
Schedule 9 (Prohibited Substance):
It only utilizes in research purpose and the distribution, manufacture and sale are strictly prohibited.
Schedule 10:
Substances of such danger to health as to warrant prohibition of sale, supply and use.