From 5 November 2026, the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act and Regulation will be replaced by the:
This page outlines the requirements that will apply from 5 November 2026 onwards.
If you need information under the current legislation, see webpages on Schedule 4 Appendix D - Prescribed restricted substances and Schedule 4 Appendix B drugs - Special restricted substances.
Schedule 4 (prescription only) medicines with a potential for risk of abuse, misuse or diversion require stricter controls on possession and supply. These medicines are regulated as Schedule 4D (S4D) medicines in the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2026 (the Regulation) and include medicines that are anabolic or androgenic steroidal agents.
S4D medicines are listed in the Regulation and below, under List of S4D medicines.
The following S4D medicines are listed on the NSW monitored medicines list:
When an S4D medicine on the monitored medicines list is prescribed or dispensed, this event is recorded under the patient's profile in the SafeScript NSW database. More information can be found on SafeScript NSW.
Prescribers and pharmacists are encouraged to use SafeScript NSW to support safe prescribing and dispensing and assist with clinical decision making.
You must be authorised to obtain and supply S4D medicines. Those authorised include:
Storage of S4D medicines must comply with the Regulation, including the Medicines Storage Standard.
Prescribing and supplying S4D medicines follows the same requirements as other Schedule 4 (prescription only) medicines, with additional precautions applied due to their high risk of abuse, misuse and diversion.
Prescribers and pharmacists should apply the principles listed in Safe prescribing of high-risk medicines. Additional requirements apply where an S4D medicine is an anabolic or androgenic steroidal agent.
The following requirements apply when prescribing and supplying S4D medicines that are anabolic or androgenic steroidal agents:
A prescription for a S4D medicine is valid for dispensing for 12 months from the date it is issued. Previously this was 6 months.
The following record-keeping requirements apply to S4D medicines.
A prescriber must make and keep a record of each S4D prescription. Records must be kept for 2 years at the prescriber's practice, public health entity or private health facility where the prescription was issued.
The record must include:
Note: When a prescription is issued using prescribing software, these details are usually recorded and stored automatically as part of the patient's clinical record.
A pharmacist who supplies any medicine on a prescription is required to keep a copy of the prescription for 2 years. The following requirements apply to prescriptions for anabolic or androgenic steroidal medicines:
Pharmacists should be vigilant when dispensing prescriptions for S4Dmedicines. Extra care should be taken when:
The prescription and surrounding circumstances should be carefully reviewed to ensure the prescription is not forged or fraudulently obtained. For further guidance and prescription verification tips for pharmacists, refer to Lost, stolen or forged prescriptions.
A pharmacist may supply a registered S4D medicine to an authorised practitioner for urgent use, but only on a written order that is signed and dated by the authorised practitioner.
In an emergency or urgent situation, a prescriber may direct a pharmacist to supply a S4D medicine via email, phone (verbal), or fax.
Pharmacists cannot supply an S4D medicine to a patient without a valid prescription or a direction for emergency supply from a prescriber.
Lost or stolen S4D medicines must be reported to NSW Health. Patients do not need to report lost or stolen medicines to NSW Health.
Explained losses (such as medicine lost in the dead space of a syringe, a witnessed spill, etc.) do not need to be reported.
For more information on how to notify a loss or theft, see Notifying the loss or theft of drugs under Poisons and Therapeutic Goods legislation.
See below list of S4D substances in NSW.
Please note:
Supporting information to help understand the requirements of the legislation are available on Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods legislation update.
The information on this webpage is provided for general guidance only. While reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and currency of the information, users should refer to the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2022 and the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2026 for full and current legal requirements.
