From 5 November 2026, the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966 and Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008 will be replaced, respectively, by the:
Further information is available at Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods legislation.
Changes to the management of patients receiving treatment under the NSW Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) will also commence on 5 November 2026.
The Opioid Treatment Program legislative requirements outline key legal requirements for OTP prescribers and OTP dosing points. The OTP legislative requirements refer to the OTP Standards.
The new legislative framework strengthens safeguards for patients and the community, supports contemporary clinical practice, and simplifies legal requirements for prescribers managing patients under the OTP.
The OTP Standards will take effect from 5 November 2026 and outline the minimum expectations for the safe and consistent delivery of treatment under the NSW OTP to provide opioid dependence treatment (ODT) with medicines including methadone and buprenorphine. Compliance will be mandatory for practitioners, pharmacists, and operators of public and private OTP clinics providing treatment under the program. The OTP standards comprise of three separate standards for:
The OTP Clinical Companion for Community Pharmacists provides practical guidance tailored to support pharmacists' role in the delivery of OTP services. You will find practice tips, case studies and guidance to support best practice in person-centred care, meet regulatory requirements and promote pharmacist’s clinical role in the multidisciplinary team.
A broader suite of updated OTP documents, including clinical guidance and supporting resources, will be progressively released over the coming months. Information regarding these updates will be published as it becomes available.