Medicines and poisons: retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers

Introduction

In this section you can find out how to apply to manufacture, wholesale or sell medicines or poisons. It also has information about storing and transporting medicines and poisons.


Remote retailers: apply to sell pharmacy medicine

If you're the retailer of a remote shop, you may be able to get a licence to sell pharmacy medicines for minor and temporary ailments.

Your shop must be at least 25km away from a pharmacy by road.

You must also refer customers to health professionals for advice on using the medication safely.

What you can sell

Pharmacy medicines are called schedule 2 medicines.

Examples of schedule 2 medicines include:

  • paracetamol liquid for children
  • non-drowsy antihistamines
  • certain cough and cold remedies.

You don't need a licence to sell schedule 5 or 6 substances at your shop.

How to apply

To apply for a licence to sell pharmacy medicine at your shop, follow the below steps.

Step 1. Fill in the application

Fill in the application for a retailer licence DOCX (76.8 KB).

Step 2. Attach supporting documents

You must provide all of the following with your application:

  • a plan and description of your shop and the security measures
  • information about how your records will be kept
  • the name and address of the nearest pharmacy, and distance by road from your shop.

Step 3. Pay the fee

The fee to get a retail licence is $134.

This includes the annual fee of $67 and an initial application fee of $67.

You can register for 1, 2 or 3 years.

You can pay by cheque, money order or credit card.

Payments must be made to the Darwin Receiver of Territory Monies.

Step 4. Submit the application

Submit the application, supporting documents and a copy of your payment receipt by mail, email or fax to:

Medicines and Poisons
Department of Health
PO Box 40596
Casuarina NT 0811
poisonscontrol@nt.gov.au

Fax: 08 8922 7200

Renewal

You should renew your licence before the expiry date. The renewal fee is $67.

Displaying your licence

Your licence must be displayed in your premises.

Working with health clinics

You should:

  • talk to your local health clinic or other prescribers about the range of medicines you will stock
  • refer customers buying medicines to these services for advice
  • be wary of customers making frequent or big purchases.

Conditions

You must make sure the medicines you stock are:

  • not tampered with
  • in good condition with the labels visible
  • within their expiry date when sold
  • stored behind the counter and not for self-service sale
  • stored at the right temperature.

Read more about storing medicines and poisons.

Records

You must keep records of all transactions for drugs and poisons you're licensed to sell for 2 years.


Register to wholesale medicines or poisons

You must be registered to stock and sell certain medicines and poisons by wholesale in the Northern Territory.

If you want to wholesale medicines or poisons, you must apply for a certificate of registration.

For all first time applications, there is an initial service fee of $63 incurred. For further information in relation to pricing, refer step 3 outlined below.

Who you can supply

If granted a wholesaler certificate of registration, you can supply medicines or poisons to people authorised to keep them. These include:

  • medical practitioners
  • dentists
  • veterinarians
  • pharmacists
  • retailers licensed to sell schedule 2 or 7 substances
  • holders of medical kit authorisations.

You must see a person's authorisation or be satisfied they're authorised before you supply to them. They should give you a signed written order.

You may only supply the medicines specified in the authorisation or licence for retailers and medical kit holders.

When supplying retailers, it's your responsibility to make sure their licence is current. Retailers don't need a licence to sell schedule 5 and 6 substances.

Who you can't supply

You must not supply medicines or poisons to a person with a prescription. This includes prescriptions from:

  • doctors
  • nurse practitioners
  • dentists
  • veterinarians
  • optometrists
  • podiatrists.

You should tell people with prescriptions to go to a pharmacy.

How to apply

To register as a wholesaler of scheduled medicines or poisons, follow the below steps.

Step 1. Fill in the application

Fill in the application for a wholesaler certificate of registration DOCX (76.8 KB).

Step 2. Attach supporting documents

You must provide the following with your application:

  • a plan and description of your premises and the security measures in place
  • information about how your records will be kept (minimum of 2 years)
  • details of how you will check stock.

Step 3. Pay the fee

The fee to get a wholesaler certificate of registration is at least $201.

This includes the annual fee of $134 and an initial application fee of $67.

You can register for 1, 2 or 3 years.

You can pay by cheque, money order or credit card.

Payments must be made to the Darwin Receiver of Territory Monies.

Step 4. Submit the application

Submit the application, supporting documents and a copy of your payment receipt by mail, email or fax to:

Medicines and Poisons
Department of Health
PO Box 40596
Casuarina NT 0811
poisonscontrol@nt.gov.au

Fax: 08 8922 7200

Renewal

You should renew your licence before the expiry date.

You can renew for 1, 2 or 3 years. The renewal fee is $134 per year.

Conditions

The nominated person or a person acting on their behalf can supply the substances specified in the certificate of registration to a person who is also authorised to keep and use them.

Nominated persons only can hold the medicines or poisons specified in the certificate of registration.

The licence must be displayed at the premises specified on the certificate.

You must also follow the Australian Code of Good Wholesaling Practice for Medicines.

For more information, go to the Australian Government's Department of Health Therapeutic Goods Administration website.

Read more about storing medicines and poisons.

Records

You should keep records when you buy or sell scheduled substances.

These records must include when you have supplied or received substances, what they are, amounts, and the names and addresses of the supplier or who you have supplied to.

You must keep all records for 2 years after the date of the last entry.

Dangerous poisons

This licence can also be used to sell schedule 7 substances - dangerous poisons. It must be specified in your licence.

If you sell schedule 7 substances, you must keep a register.

Get the register form.

Receipts and supplies of a schedule 7 substances register form DOCX (33.3 KB)
Receipts and supplies of a schedule 7 substances register form PDF (33.7 KB)

You must record the following in your register:

  • the date you receive or sell a substance
  • the name, strength and and amount
  • if receiving, the name and address of the supplier
  • if selling, the name, address and authorisation or license number of the recipient
  • how much of the substance you have after the dealing.

Agricultural and veterinary chemicals

If you stock agricultural and veterinary chemicals, you must meet the minimum legislated obligations around safe transport, handling and storage.

You also must train your staff.

If you’re a retailer or wholesaler of AgVet chemical products, you can get accredited through Agsafe.

For more information, go to the Agsafe website.

Read more about using chemicals responsibly.


Register to manufacture medicines or poisons

You must be registered to manufacture medicines or poisons in the Northern Territory.

If you want to manufacture medicines or poisons, you must apply for a certificate of registration.

How to apply

To register as a manufacturer of scheduled medicines or poisons, follow the below steps:

Step 1. Fill in the application

Get the application for a manufacturer certificate of registration from NT Health ePublications.

Step 2. Attach supporting documents

You must provide all of the following with your application:

  • a plan and description of your premises and the security measures
  • information about how your records will be kept
  • details of procedures for labelling and packaging drugs and poisons.

Step 3. Pay the fee

The fee to get a manufacturer certificate of registration is at least $201.

This includes the application fee of $67 and the annual fee of $134.

You can register for 1, 2 or 3 years.

You can pay by cheque, money order or credit card.

Payments must be made to the Darwin Receiver of Territory Monies.

Step 4. Submit the application

Submit the application, supporting documents and a copy of your payment receipt by mail, email or fax to:

Medicines and Poisons
Department of Health
PO Box 40596
Casuarina NT 0811
poisonscontrol@nt.gov.au

Fax: 08 8922 7200.

Renewal

You should renew your licence before the expiry date.

You can renew for 1, 2 or 3 years. The renewal fee is $134 per year.

Conditions

You must follow the Australian Code of Good Wholesaling Practice for Medicines and the guidelines for labelling drugs and poisons.

For more information, go to the Australian Government's Department of Health Therapeutic Goods Administration website.

Read about storing medicines and poisons.


Storage

This page contains information about storing drugs and poisons.

Pharmacy and prescription medicines

Schedule 2, 3 and 4 medicines must be stored in a secure area.

Dangerous poisons

Schedule 7 poisons must be stored in a locked container which is securely fastened to the building.

If the container size makes this impractical, every effort should be made to keep it secure.

Controlled drugs

Schedule 8 drugs must be stored in a locked cabinet or safe.

For more information about storing and sending Schedule 8 substances, read the:

Wholesalers and manufacturers

Wholesalers and manufacturers must follow the Australian Code of Good Wholesaling Practice for Medicines.

For more information, go to the Australian Government's Department of Health Therapeutic Goods Administration website.

Agricultural and veterinary chemicals

You must get training to work with agricultural and veterinary chemicals.

For more information, go to the Agsafe website.


Contact

Medicines and Poisons 
5th floor Manunda Place
38 Cavenagh Street
Darwin NT 0800
poisonscontrol@nt.gov.au

Phone: 08 8922 7341
Fax: 08 8922 7200