Medicines and poisons: retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers

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:

• code of practice for Schedule 8 substances: storage and transport DOCX (69.3 KB)
• code of practice for Schedule 8 substances: storage and transport PDF (453.8 KB).

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.