Page 5329 - Week 17 - Thursday, 13 December 1990
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Schedule 6, S6, industrial and agricultural poisons covers poisons that must be available to the public but are of a more hazardous or poisonous nature than those classified in schedule 5. They must be packed in poison containers. The purpose of this schedule is to ensure that these more dangerous poisons are sold in safe containers and that they carry adequate cautionary warning statements and detailed first aid instructions.
Schedule 7, S7, dangerous poisons, covers poisons that require special precautions in manufacture, handling, storage and use, or special individual regulations regulating labelling and/or availability. Special conditions apply according to the particular substance. In some cases, authority to purchase is required. The purpose of this schedule is to ensure that these dangerous poisons are correctly labelled, packaged and safely stored and that they are used only by those persons knowledgeable in the hazards of using these products.
The NHMRC sought to have these revised schedules in place by 25 December 1990. Through this legislation, the ACT will be among the first jurisdictions to be completely up to date and in line with the NHMRC guidelines.
The poisons legislation is concerned with all poisons, including pesticides and industrial chemicals, which have an impact on health. In other words, it is to safeguard public health. There are no new costs involved in either the making of the amendments or their introduction. They are of a regulatory nature and considered necessary, as I have mentioned, to bring the ACT into line with the National Health and Medical Research Council's recommendations, as well as maintaining the policy of harmonisation of drugs and poisons schedules in all States and Territories.
Extensive consultation has taken place between the National Health and Medical Research Council, all States and Territories, and industry and consumer groups on the changes in the schedules of drugs and poisons. This is normal procedure before any recommendation is made by the council.
There are many hundreds of items involved in the amendment, but I would like to focus on some consumer items of importance. Because of the continuing abuse of hypnotics and sedatives in the community, all preparations of chloral hydrate for internal use will be available on prescription only. Crystal violet, also known as gentian violet and used as a topical antiseptic, is a new entry in schedule 4 and will be available on prescription only. There are better products available for treating bacterial and fungal infections of the skin, and recent overseas studies in animals have shown crystal violet to have some toxicity.
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