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Related authorities
A number of Australian government authorities including federal, state and local authorities, have different responsibilities in relation to the regulation of controlled substances. You must ensure you comply with all relevant legal requirements.
Australian Government
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
Visit the TGA to find information about:
- Patient access to medicinal cannabis through the Authorised prescriber (AP) or Special Access Scheme (SAS)
- Medicinal cannabis: Information for health professionals
- Medicinal cannabis – information on manufacturing requirements, including Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) licence or clearance
- Conforming with Therapeutic Goods (Standard for Medicinal Cannabis) (TGO 93) Order 2017 - Minimum quality requirements standard for medicinal cannabis
- Information for Australian manufacturers of medicinal cannabis products
- Advertising guidance for businesses involved with medicinal cannabis products.
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)
Visit DAFF to find information about:
- Kava - Kava requirements
- Kava – Import and labelling requirements
- Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON) - Australian biosecurity importation requirements
- Importing food into Australia.
Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ)
Visit FSANZ to find information about:
- Proposal P1057 – Review of the Kava standard - Food standard variation for Kava.
Department of Health and Aged Care
Visit the Department of Health and Aged Care to find information about drug, alcohol and tobacco harm reduction, programs and research.
Drugs
- What we’re doing about drugs – plans, strategies, programs and research to reduce the harmful effects of drugs in Australia
- National Drug Strategy
- Drug laws in Australia - Learn about common drug offences, medicinal use of illicit drugs, drugs and driving, and workplace drug testing.
Alcohol
- What we’re doing about alcohol - plans, strategies, programs and research to reduce the harmful effects of alcohol in Australia
- National Alcohol Strategy
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Strategic Action Plan 2018–2028.
Smoking and tobacco
- What we're doing about smoking and tobacco - plans, strategies, programs and research to reduce the harmful effects of smoking and tobacco in Australia
- National Tobacco Strategy
- National Tobacco Campaign.
Australian Federal Police (AFP)
Visit the AFP to find information about:
- Drug crime - The AFP has the lead role for the Australian Government relating to the detection and prosecution of persons who attempt to illegally import or export border-controlled substances into Australia.
- Strategies - Effective border control through collaboration with domestic partner agencies such as the Australian Border Force, state and territory police and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission is the primary line of defence for combating illegal importation into Australia.
Australian Border Force (ABF)
Visit ABF to find information about:
- Prohibited goods - Drugs, medicines and therapeutic substances - You can import or export most prohibited goods with written permission, provided you meet certain conditions and requirements.
- Border Watch program.
State and territory legislation
You need to meet your own state or territory regulations as well as applying for our licences and permits. For example:
- some states have specific requirements or limitations for medicinal cannabis
- restrictions in the Northern Territory mean that kava may not be brought into this jurisdiction.
For illegal substances, common offences include:
- possession
- use
- cultivating or manufacturing
- importing or exporting
- selling or supplying (known as trafficking).
For more information on the penalties that apply in your state or territory, refer to specific state and territory legislation.
Australian Capital Territory
-
Medicinal Cannabis
ACT Health medicinal cannabis scheme
New South Wales
- Health NSW
- Cannabis and Cannabis Products for Therapeutic Purposes
New South Wales Health - NSW Poppy Industry
NSW Government Department of Primary Industries - NSW Hemp Industry
NSW Government Department of Primary Industries
Northern Territory
- NT Health
- Therapeutic medicines containing cannabinoids (medicinal cannabis)
Information from NT Health -
Industrial hemp licences
Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism -
Poppy Regulation Act
Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism
Queensland
- QLD Health
- Medicinal cannabis in Queensland
Queensland Health - Medicinal cannabis trials
- Growing industrial cannabis or hemp in Queensland
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Queensland
South Australia
- SA Health
- Medicinal cannabis patient access in South Australia
SA Health - Industrial hemp production in SA
Department of Primary Industry and Regions - Alkaloid poppy production in South Australia
Government of South Australia Department of Primary Industries and Regions
Tasmania
- Tasmanian Government Department of Health
- Medicinal cannabis
Tasmanian Department of Health -
Medicinal cannabis information for patients and the general public
Tasmanian Department of Health -
Poppy Advisory and Control Board
Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania
Victoria
- VIC Health
- Medicinal cannabis
VIC Health information about health and legislation - Cannabis in Victoria
Agriculture Victoria information - Commerical poppy crops in Victoria
Agriculture Victoria information
Western Australia
- WA Health
Links to the Western Australia Health site - Healthy WA – Cannabis
Information for consumers about medicinal cannabis from WA Health -
Industrial hemp in Western Australia
WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development