Victorian Consolidated Regulations

DRUGS, POISONS AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES REGULATIONS 2017 - REG 51

    (1)     This regulation applies in relation to a pharmacist selling or supplying a Schedule 8 poison on a prescription that is—

        (a)     an original prescription; or

Reg. 51(1)(b) amended by S.R. No. 20/2023 reg. 11(1).

        (b)     a copy of an original prescription, including a digital image of an original prescription.

Reg. 51(2) amended by S.R. No. 20/2023 reg. 11(2).

    (2)     A pharmacist must not sell or supply a Schedule 8 poison in a quantity that allows for more than 2 days' treatment unless—

        (a)     the prescription is handwritten and—

              (i)     the pharmacist is familiar with the purported prescriber's handwriting; and

              (ii)     the writing on the prescription is comparable to the usual writing of the purported prescriber; or

        (b)     the pharmacist has taken all reasonable steps to verify that the prescription was written by the purported prescriber.

Penalty:     100 penalty units.

Note

Regulation 63 requires a pharmacist to retain a prescription for a Schedule 8 poison if the pharmacist cannot verify that the prescription was written by the purported prescriber and supplies a lesser quantity.

Reg. 51(3) amended by S.R. No. 20/2023 reg. 11(3).

    (3)     A pharmacist must not sell or supply a Schedule 8 poison on a prescription if it is more than 6 months since the date stated on the prescription as the day on which the prescription was written.

Penalty:     50 penalty units.

Reg. 51(4) amended by S.R. No. 20/2023 reg. 11(4).

    (4)     A pharmacist must not sell or supply a Schedule 8 poison on a prescription if—

        (a)     the pharmacist has reason to believe that the prescription—

              (i)     has been forged or is fraudulent in any way; or

              (ii)     has been altered in any way other than by, or on the instruction of, the prescriber; or

        (b)     the prescription is illegible or defaced; or

Reg. 51(4)(ba) inserted by S.R. No. 31/2018 reg. 10.

        (ba)     the prescription is not written in a durable form; or

        (c)     the Schedule 8 poison has already been sold or supplied on that prescription in the quantity that is permitted by the instructions written on the prescription.

Penalty:     100 penalty units.

Reg. 51(5) amended by S.R. No. 20/2023 reg. 11(5).

    (5)     Other than in the exceptional circumstances set out in regulation 53, a pharmacist must not sell or supply a Schedule 8 poison on a prescription contrary to the instructions written on the prescription, including by—

        (a)     supplying a quantity that exceeds the quantity authorised for supply on the first occasion; or

        (b)     supplying the poison before an interval specified in the prescription has elapsed; or

        (c)     if the prescription specifies that only a specific brand of the poison is to be supplied, supplying a different brand.

Penalty:     100 penalty units.