Environmental Health Branch - Drugs and Poisons Policy and Regulation Unit
Role of Drugs and Poisons Policy and Regulation Unit
Queensland Health's Drugs and Poisons Policy and Regulation Unit is a key agency for legislation and policy development and standards involving drugs and poisons in Queensland, including:
The Unit:
- represents Queensland Health at various National and Statewide forums and provides expert policy and authoritative clinical advice to a wide range of stakeholders including Public Health Units (PHUs) in relation to drugs and poisons manufactured, stored, transported and used by businesses and health professionals.
- monitors, reviews, coordinates and supports the implementation and administration of legislative and regulatory responsibilities regarding drugs and poisons
- is involved in the establishment and implementation of policy, standards, guidelines, support programs and regulatory systems to manage the health risks associated with medicines and poisons and pest management.
- develops and implements a regulatory framework to support compliance activities.
Key issues
In Queensland, the Drugs and Poisons Policy and Regulation Unit maintains the coordination, management and response of the following aspects relating to medicines and poisons:
- Scheduling
- Packaging, labelling and advertising
- Storage, recording and disposal
- Endorsements including Approvals, Authorities, Licensing and Permits
- Prescribing, dispensing, supplying and selling
- Premises and vehicle specifications
- Recalls
- Information and Compliance notices
- Suspensions and cancellations of licences and approvals
- Statewide legislative audits and compliance monitoring surveys
- Notifiable incidents
- Legislative amendments
- Incidents including the suspected intentional contamination of scheduled medicines and poisons
- Notifications by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) of imported medicines and poisons that do not comply with the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP).
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The Unit supports Queensland's role in:
- the management of public health risks associated with the provision of medicines and poisons
- the development, implementation and review of national/state drugs and poisons legislation, policies and standards, guidelines and support programs
- the development and implementation of medicines and poisons composition and labelling requirements in the SUSMP
- advising the Queensland Government (Cabinet) on contentious drugs and poisons issues with whole of government implications
- the development of medicines and poisons resources and the provision of legislative advice to government, industry and the public
- the provision of consumer information on medicines and poisons
- the assessment and approval of pest management technician licences
- drugs and poisons surveillance programs including monitoring and sampling
- supporting Queensland Health Public Health Units in the administration and enforcement of medicines and poisons legislation and standards
- undertaking research activities to inform decisions relating to scheduled medicines and poisons
- development and implementation of a regulatory framework to support the continued effective and efficient operation of the legislation.
The Unit also has enforcement responsibilities, including providing advice, leadership and support to Queensland Health Public Health Units, related to the following:
- unsafe and unsuitable medicines and poisons
- suspected intentional contamination of medicines and poisons
- breaches of requirements relating to medicines and poisons
- packaging, labelling and advertising medicines and poisons in a way that fails to comply with the SUSMP
- misleading conduct in relation to medicines and poisons
- medicines and poisons contaminants and residues
- prosecutions and administrative law actions.
The Unit also has statewide responsibility for the following:
- the legislative scheme dealing with pharmacy ownership
- the enforcement taskforce dealing with the inappropriate prescribing and supply of Pseudoephedrine (PSE) and other drugs subject to diversion or misuse.
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Legislation and Standards
The Drugs and Poisons Policy and Regulation Unit is responsible for the development and implementation of the following legislation, as it relates to medicines and poisons, in Queensland:
Key partners
National
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Queensland
Drugs and Poisons Policy and Regulation Resources
Please see the links below for information about medicines and poisons, and pharmacy ownership, as it applies to health practitioners, industry and the public.
Drugs and poisons licensing and approvals
Application processes and contact information for Drugs, Poisons, Pest Management and Pharmacy Ownership
Schedule of licensing fees
Schedule of licensing fees - Licences involving scheduled medicines (drugs and poisons) and pest management technicians.
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