{"id":"tas:sr-2012-055","name":"Poisons (Adoption of Uniform Standard) Order 2012","slug":"poisons-adoption-of-uniform-standard-order-2012","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"tas","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"55 of 2012","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":313517,"registerId":"tas-tas:sr-2012-055-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-08","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Short title","content":"### 1 Short title\n\n> This order may be cited as the [Poisons (Adoption of Uniform Standard) Order 2012](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/sr-2012-055) .","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"### 2 Commencement\n\n> This order takes effect on 1 July 2012.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Interpretation of order","content":"### 3 Interpretation of order\n\n> The [Acts Interpretation Act 1931](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1931-059) applies to the interpretation of this order as if this order were by-laws.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Adoption of Uniform Standard","content":"### 4 Adoption of Uniform Standard\n\n> [*\\[Clause 4 Substituted by S.R. 2025, No. 59, Applied:03 Dec 2025\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2025-12-03/sr-2025-059#GS4@EN) Schedules 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the Uniform Standard are adopted as the Poisons List for the purposes of the [Poisons Act 1971](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1971-081) .","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Interpretation of Poisons List","content":"### 5 Interpretation of Poisons List\n\n> > (1)  Unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to a substance specified in the Poisons List includes –\n> > \n> > > > (a) that substance prepared from natural sources or artificially; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) where the substance is a plant (other than a plant included in Schedule 8 or 9 to the Poisons List or a prohibited plant), that plant, or any part of it, when packed or prepared for therapeutic use; and\n> > > \n> > > > (c) any salt, active principal or derivative of the substance, including esters and ethers and any salt of the active principal or derivative; and\n> > > \n> > > > (d) any alkaloid of the substance and any salt of the alkaloid; and\n> > > \n> > > > (e) any stereo-isomer of the substance and any salt of the stereo-isomer; and\n> > > \n> > > > (f) any recombinant form of the substance; and\n> > > \n> > > > (g) a preparation or admixture containing any proportion of the substance –\n> > > \n> > > but does not include –\n> > > \n> > > > (h) a preparation or product included in Appendix A to the Uniform Standard; or\n> > > \n> > > > (ha) [*\\[Clause 5 Subclause (1) amended by S.R. 2025, No. 59, Applied:03 Dec 2025\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2025-12-03/sr-2025-059#GS5@Hpa@EN) a substance included in the table in clause 3 of Appendix B to the Uniform Standard when used in an area, sub-area or sub-sub-area of use specified in that table in relation to the substance; or\n> > > \n> > > > (i) a substance included in Appendix G to the Uniform Standard at a concentration not exceeding the concentration specified in column 2 of that Appendix in respect of that substance; or\n> > > \n> > > > (j) any other substance included in Schedules 1 to 6, inclusive, to the Poisons List at a concentration not exceeding 10mg per litre or 10mg per kilogram, unless that substance is also included in Schedule 7 or 8 to that List; or\n> > > \n> > > > (k) any substance present as an impurity in a pesticide, at a concentration at or below the maximum content for that substance specified for the pesticide in the Standards for Active Constituents, as published by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.\n> \n> > (2)  Unless the contrary intention appears, where a concentration, strength or quantity is specified in the Poisons List in respect of a substance –\n> > \n> > > > (a) if the substance is present as a salt, active principal or derivative (including an ester or ether), the concentration, strength or quantity is calculated as the equivalent amount of the substance that is listed in the Poisons List; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) the expression \"1%\" means –\n> > > > \n> > > > > > (i) in the case of a liquid preparation, one gram of the substance per 100 millilitres of the preparation; or\n> > > > > \n> > > > > > (ii) in the case of a solid or semi-solid preparation or a pressurised spray aerosol preparation, one gram of the substance per 100 grams of the preparation –\n> > > \n> > > and any expression of a greater or lesser percentage has a corresponding meaning; and\n> > > \n> > > > (c) in the case of codeine, such concentration, strength or quantity is calculated as anhydrous codeine.\n> \n> > (3)  [*\\[Clause 5 Subclause (3) amended by S.R. 2025, No. 59, Applied:03 Dec 2025\\]*](/view/html/inforce/2025-12-03/sr-2025-059#GS5@Hpb@EN) A reference to a boiling or distillation temperature in the Poisons List means that temperature at an atmospheric pressure of 101.325kPa (760 millimetres of mercury).\n\nDisplayed and numbered in accordance with the *[Rules Publication Act 1953](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1953-050)*.\n\nNotified in the *Gazette* on 29 June 2012\n\nThis order is administered in the Department of Health and Human Services.","sortOrder":4}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation maintains its original narrow purpose: adopting the national Uniform Standard as Tasmania's Poisons List. The 2025 amendments visible in the text appear to be routine updates to the adopted schedules and appendices rather than expansion of the Order's scope. The mechanism remains simple delegation to an external standard."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive cross-referencing to external documents: the 'Uniform Standard' (10 schedules plus Appendices A, B, and G), the Poisons Act 1971, and the Acts Interpretation Act 1931","Dense chemical and pharmaceutical terminology requiring specialist knowledge (stereo-isomers, esters, ethers, alkaloids, recombinant forms)","Nested conditional logic in clause 5(1): 7 inclusive categories (a-g) followed by 5 exclusive categories (h-k) with their own internal conditions","Multiple measurement and calculation rules in clause 5(2) including percentage definitions that vary by physical state (liquid vs solid) and special anhydrous codeine calculation","Amendment history visible in text (2025 substitutions) indicating evolving regulatory framework","Technical pressure/temperature specification (101.325kPa) requiring precise scientific understanding"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this legislation does**\n\nThis Order brings a national standard for controlling dangerous substances into Tasmanian law. It adopts the \"Uniform Standard\" — a set of rules agreed across Australian states and territories — and makes it Tasmania's official \"Poisons List.\"\n\n**Who it affects**\n\n- **Pharmacists, doctors, and healthcare workers** — who must follow strict rules about which drugs and chemicals they can supply and how\n- **Farmers and agricultural businesses** — who use pesticides and veterinary chemicals\n- **Manufacturers and retailers** — who make or sell products containing controlled substances (from industrial solvents to cold medicines)\n- **The general public** — who encounter these rules when buying certain medications (like codeine products) or household chemicals\n\n**Why it matters**\n\nThe Order determines what counts as a \"poison\" under Tasmanian law. This classification controls:\n- Who can buy or sell the substance\n- Whether you need a prescription\n- How it must be stored and labelled\n- What penalties apply for misuse\n\n**Key features**\n\n- **Adopts 10 Schedules** of controlled substances (Schedule 1 being the least restricted, Schedule 10 typically the most dangerous or prohibited)\n- **Broad definitions**: A listed substance includes its chemical variants — salts, derivatives, synthetic versions, even plants prepared for medical use\n- **Important exceptions**: Some products escape classification if they're in specific appendices (like Appendix A), used in certain ways (Appendix B), or present only in tiny amounts (below 10mg per litre/kg)\n- **Technical rules**: Special calculations apply for measuring concentrations, particularly for codeine and liquid preparations"},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The order has been amended since first made. Clause 4 was substituted to adopt Schedules 1–10 of the Uniform Standard as the Poisons List (s.4), and clause 5 was amended to add or revise exclusions and technical interpretive rules (notably s.5(1)(ha) and s.5(3)). Those amendments modify which items are captured or excluded and clarify measurement conventions, thus changing operational scope for regulated parties."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-references to an external 'Uniform Standard' and multiple Appendices (A, B, G) create dependency on another document for substance scope (s.4; s.5(1)(h),(ha),(i)).","Technical concentration and measurement rules (percentage definitions, mg/L or mg/kg thresholds, codeine measured as anhydrous) require laboratory and formulation interpretation (s.5(2)(a)-(c); s.5(1)(j)).","Multiple exceptions and thresholds (10 mg/L or 10 mg/kg for Schedules 1–6; Appendix G concentration limits; APVMA impurity limits) produce edge cases where classification flips to non-poison (s.5(1)(i),(j),(k)).","Interpretive breadth—includes salts, derivatives, stereoisomers, alkaloids, recombinant forms and preparations—broadens coverage and requires chemical expertise to apply (s.5(1)(a),(c)-(f),(g)).","Dependence on external regulatory standards (Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority Standards for Active Constituents) introduces variable, administratively-set limits (s.5(1)(k)).","Amendments noted (S.R. 2025 No. 59) substitute and alter clauses, meaning the text has been updated since first made, increasing the need to track legislative history (s.4 note; s.5(1)(ha),(3) notes)."],"plain_english_summary":"This order makes the schedules of the Uniform Standard the operative Poisons List for the Poisons Act 1971 and sets rules for how listed substances are read and measured (what counts as the same substance, how percentage and concentration are calculated, and the reference boiling point). \n\nIt affects manufacturers, importers, pharmacists, prescribers and regulators who must classify, label, store and supply substances to meet the List and its exceptions, changing who decides availability and adding routine testing, labelling and record-keeping costs."},"summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The order appears to have maintained its original intent — adopting the national uniform poisons standard for Tasmania. Amendments over time reflect updates to the national standard itself rather than any expansion or contraction of the order's fundamental purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Incorporates by reference a separate national standard (the Poisons Standard), meaning you must read an external document to understand the full scope of the rules","The national standard itself is highly technical and detailed, covering hundreds of substances across multiple schedules (categories)","Has been amended multiple times, requiring readers to track version history to understand current obligations","Intersects with multiple professional licensing and regulatory frameworks (pharmacy, medicine, occupational health)","Short order text belies the complexity of the underlying national standard it adopts"],"plain_english_summary":"This Tasmanian order adopts the national uniform standard for classifying and regulating poisons, medicines and controlled substances, aligning Tasmania with the rest of Australia. It affects pharmacists, health practitioners, businesses and consumers by standardising how substances are classified, stored, sold and prescribed. The uniform approach reduces cross-border confusion and safety risks and has been updated periodically to reflect new drugs and safety knowledge (most recently December 2025)."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/poisons-adoption-of-uniform-standard-order-2012","history":"/api/acts/poisons-adoption-of-uniform-standard-order-2012/history","analysis":"/api/acts/poisons-adoption-of-uniform-standard-order-2012/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/poisons-adoption-of-uniform-standard-order-2012/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/poisons-adoption-of-uniform-standard-order-2012/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/poisons-adoption-of-uniform-standard-order-2012/documents"}}