Labelling of drugs and poisons

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Poisons and drugs which are sold or supplied (ie. where there is a transfer of ownership) are subject to standards and guidelines. These poisons and drugs are substances listed in schedules of the `Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons' (SUSDP) produced by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

Agricultural chemicals are subject to the Code of Practice for Labelling Agricultural Chemical Products and Code of Practice for Labelling Home Garden and Domestic Pest Control Products produced by the Australian Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Council (available from the AGPS). Both are referenced by the National Registration Authority (see 0).

Guidelines are provided for the labelling, description and packaging, as well as controls for the advertising, supply and storage and, for some substances, the permitted level of impurities. These guidelines are adopted by 13 State and Territory-based legislation and forms part of the National Commission's requirements for the workplace labelling of hazardous substances (see 3.2).

The labelling of poisons and drugs is more fully detailed in the appendix beginning page 408.

* SUSDP labelling for industrial chemicals defers to workplace labelling as defined in the National Commission's Guidance Note.

Purpose

Labelling requirements for poisons and drugs are outlined in Appendix 9. There are in addition and generally independent of any other requirements such as workplace labels (3) and transport labels (30.4.2.1).

Labelling is a means for manufacturers and suppliers to communicate to users about suitability, safe use, applicability, storage, disposal, first aid and other emergency information.

Therefore, such labelling is used before;

Purchase to indicate;

	suitability for intended use;
	safety for intended application;
	protection advice (eg. personal protective equipment); and
	amounts required.

Use to indicate;

	protective measures (ventilation, respirators etc.);
	method of preparation;
	amounts required; and
	method of application.

Application to indicate;

	location;
	timing; and
	safety measures.

Storage to indicate;

	location;
	conditions; and
	method.

< Disposal to indicate;

methods or arrangements (product and container).

Safety and First Aid to indicate;

	hazard warning statements;
	action statements;
	protection clothing and equipment;
	after use actions; and
	First Aid on exposure

* Farm chemicals.

	Avcare (formerly the Australian Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Council) has produced the Code of Practice for Labelling of Veterinary Chemical Products which provides guidance to State Legislation. (AGPS Cat. No 89 1607 6).
	In many States it is legislated that farm chemicals must be used in terms of the information provided on the registered label for the product.

* Poisons and drugs, (in addition to being subject to specific poisons and drugs labelling), are required to be kept in specified containers. Containers to be transported are subject to the requirements of transport containers of dangerous goods (30.3).

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