NEW MEDICINES, POISONS AND THERAPEUTIC GOODS LEGISLATION PASSED

ACT Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher MLA, today announced the passage in the Legislative Assembly of new legislation to reform the law regulating medicines, poisons and therapeutic goods in the ACT.

Ms Gallagher said the legislation would regulate a range of substances, including medicines, poisons and prohibited substances. She said the legislation would provide certainty for health professionals and others by having one Act and one regulation while maintaining the status quo in regard to most medicines and poisons.

“In the ACT, medicines and poisons have been regulated under a number of different Acts, such as the Poisons Act1933, the Poisons and Drugs Act1978 and the Drugs of Dependence Act1989,” Ms Gallagher said.

“Over time, these Acts and supporting Regulations have become inconsistent, aspects of their application have become unclear, or simply become out of date.

“This important piece of legislation, the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2008 gives effect to the recommendations in the National Competition Review of Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Legislation (“Galbally Review”), and in doing so consolidates the law relating to medicines and poisons in the Territory.”

Ms Gallagher said the objectives of the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act2008 were to promote and protect public health by minimising the risks of harm that medicines and poisons present through such things as poisonings, medicinal misadventure or the abuse of regulated substances.

She said the Act also provided for the regulation of therapeutic goods by the Territory. “The Galbally Review recommended that all states adopt the Commonwealth Therapeutic Goods Act to create national uniformity in this important area,” Ms Gallagher added. “The Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act2008 contains a new licensing framework for medicines and poisons, as well as grounds and powers for disciplinary action to be taken against authorised persons.

“The Act will also control the way in which medicines, poisons and therapeutic goods are dealt with through a range of offences. Enforcement of the offences will be achieved through a comprehensive range of inspection and seizure powers, including the capacity to take and analyse samples.”