Orders and exemptions under the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods legislation

The Poisons and Therapeutic Goods legislation allows for some provisions for the Minister for Health, the Secretary of Health, or their delegate to issue legal instruments, such as an order, approval, or exemption that allow certain activities that are otherwise prohibited or set standards under the law.

Listed here are some recently issued orders and exemptions that are of particular interest to the public. This list is not exhaustive.

Please note that conditions are listed in the legal instrument (authority, exemption, licence) and must be complied with. Review each instrument for the conditions.

Title of instrument Commencement date Expiry date
Exemption to allow the use of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Hospital Medication C​​hart as a form of prescription for Schedule 4 and Schedule 8 substances 23 December 2025TBA
Exemption for requirement on a pharmacist to keep a methylphenidate prescription repeat 16 December 2025TBA
Authority for pharmacist supply of restricted substances without a prescription to residents in the Central Coast, Mid Coast, Upper Hunter, Muswellbrook, Warrumbungle, and Dubbo Local Government Areas8 December 20254 January 2026
Authority for registered nurses to supply restricted substances for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) 25 November 2025N/A
Authority to prescribe dexamfetamine, lisdexamfetamine and methylphenidate for the treatment of ADHD 13 November 202513 November 2026
Authority for administration of S2, S3, S4 synthetic local anaesthetics by registered dental therapists and oral health therapists25 September ​​202530 September 2026
Authority for supply of nicotine pouches by Authorised officers in the tobacco and e-cigarette compliance unit, Centre for Population Health4 April 202531 December 2030
Authority for class of persons to prescribe esketamine for the treatment of treatment-resistant depression 1 April 202531 December 2025
Appointment of Australian Federal Police as analysts 27 March 202531 March 2026
Authority for a class of persons to prescribe and supply certain restricted substances 27 March 202531 March 2026
Authority for a class of persons to prescribe, supply and administer hydroxychloroquine 10 March 202531 March 2026
Authority for registered nurses to supply Schedule 2, 3, 4 and 8 substances 7 January 20251 April 2026
Authority to supply oseltamivir by a responsible person at a residential care facility 2 August 202431 July 2026
Authority to allow persons in charge of racing boats to possess and administer medicines in an emergency
Annexure 1 for Authority to allow persons in charge of racing boats to possess and administer medicines in an emergency (updated 18 November 2021) 		19 June 202430 June 2027
Exemption to allow electronic prescriptions in NSW 19 October 202330 September 2026
Licence to supply by wholesale restricted substances – Licence No Lifeblood 001 8 August 2023N/A
Exemption from compliance to Australian Code of Good Wholesaling Practice on supply under Licence No Lifeblood 001 8 August 2023N/A
Exemption for packaging and labelling requirements applying to buprenorphine or methadone for NSW Opioid Treatment Program 30 June 2023N/A
Approval of training organisations to issue Emergency Asthma Management Certificates 3 March 2023N/A
Exemption for the labe​lling requirement to include an equilateral triangle symbol prior to a warning for medicines 10 January 2023N/A
Authority for first aiders to supply methoxyflurane and nitrous oxide 21 December 2022N/A
Approval to keeping of a drug register other than in the form of a book, see Electronic drug registers.
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Current as at: Wednesday 24 December 2025
Contact page owner: Pharmaceutical Services