Victorian Consolidated Regulations

Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2006 - SECT 29

Containers of drugs to be labelled with certain details

29. Containers of drugs to be labelled with certain details



(1) A registered medical practitioner, pharmacist, veterinary practitioner or
dentist who supplies a Schedule 4 poison, Schedule 8 poison or Schedule 9
poison for the treatment of a specific person, or the veterinary treatment of
a specific animal, must ensure that the container in which it is packed is
labelled with the following information-

   (a)  the name of the patient or name or species of animal and the name of
        the owner or person having custody of the animal; and

   (b)  the date of recording as required by Division 5; and

   (c)  the name, address and telephone number of the place of supply; and

   (d)  the name of the poison or controlled substance or a trade name which
        unambiguously identifies the poison or controlled substance and its
        strength, form and quantity; and

   (e)  subject to subregulation (2), the directions for use.

Penalty: 50 penalty units.

(2) A registered medical practitioner, pharmacist, veterinary practitioner or
dentist who supplies a Schedule 4 poison, Schedule 8 poison or Schedule 9
poison in accordance with subregulation (1) is not required to include
directions for use of the poison on a label on the container if-

   (a)  in the case of a pharmacist-

   (i)  directions for use have not been included by the prescriber on the
        prescription for that poison; or

   (ii) the dosage regimen or use is so complex that the prescriber has
        supplied the patient with separate written instruction; or

   (b)  the dosage regimen or use is so complex that the registered medical
        practitioner, veterinary practitioner or dentist has supplied the
        patient with separate written instruction; or

   (c)  the administration of the poison is to be carried out by a registered
        medical practitioner, pharmacist, veterinary practitioner, dentist,
        authorised optometrist, authorised podiatrist or nurse.

(3) A nurse practitioner who supplies a Schedule 4 poison or Schedule 8 poison
for the treatment of a specific person must ensure that the container in which
it is packed is labelled with the following information-

   (a)  the name of the patient; and

   (b)  the date of recording as required by Division 5; and

   (c)  the name, address and telephone number of the place of supply; and

   (d)  the name of the poison or controlled substance or a trade name which
        unambiguously identifies the poison or controlled substance and its
        strength, form and quantity; and

   (e)  subject to subregulation (4), the directions for use.

Penalty: 50 penalty units.

(4) A nurse practitioner who supplies a Schedule 4 poison or Schedule 8 poison
in accordance with subregulation (3) is not required to include directions for
use of the poison on a label on the container if-

   (a)  the dosage regimen or use is so complex that the nurse practitioner
        has supplied the patient with separate written instruction; or

   (b)  the administration of the poison is to be carried out by a registered
        medical practitioner, pharmacist, dentist, authorised optometrist,
        authorised podiatrist or nurse.

(5) An authorised optometrist or an authorised podiatrist who supplies a
Schedule 4 poison for the treatment of a specific person must ensure that the
container in which it is packed is labelled with the following information-

   (a)  the name of the patient; and

   (b)  the date of recording as required by Division 5; and

   (c)  the name, address and telephone number of the place of supply; and

   (d)  the name of the poison or controlled substance or a trade name which
        unambiguously identifies the poison or controlled substance and its
        strength, form and quantity; and

   (e)  subject to subregulation (6), the directions for use.

Penalty: 50 penalty units.

(6) An authorised optometrist or an authorised podiatrist who supplies a
Schedule 4 poison in accordance with subregulation (5) is not required to
include directions for use of the poison on a label on the container if-

   (a)  the dosage regimen or use is so complex that the authorised
        optometrist or authorised podiatrist has supplied the patient with
        separate written instruction; or

   (b)  the administration of the poison is to be carried out by a registered
        medical practitioner, pharmacist, dentist, an authorised optometrist,
        an authorised podiatrist or nurse.

(7) A veterinary practitioner is not required to comply with subregulation (1)
if a Schedule 4 poison is supplied in bulk for treatment of flocks or herds of
animals provided that-

   (a)  each container of the poison retains the manufacturer's original
        label; and

   (b)  the veterinary practitioner provides written instructions containing
        the information specified in subregulation (1) to the owner of, or the
        person having custody of, the animals.