4 Definitions
(1) In this Act unless inconsistent with the context or subject-matter—
S. 4(1) def. of aged care service inserted by No. 17/2006 s. 3.
aged care service has the same meaning as it has in the Aged Care Act 1997 of the Commonwealth;
S. 4(1) def. of analogue inserted by No. 9/2014 s. 3(2).
analogue, of a drug specified in column 1 of Part 1 or column 1 of Part 3 of Schedule Eleven, means a substance, however obtained, that is—
(a) a structural modification of the drug obtained in one or more of the following ways—
(i) by the replacement of one or more of its functional groups with another;
(ii) by the replacement of up to 2 ring structures with any other ring structure;
(iii) by the addition of hydrogen atoms to one or more unsaturated bonds; or
(b) a homologue of the drug; or
(c) a derivative or isomer of a substance referred to in paragraph (a) or (b)—
but does not include a substance that is itself specified in column 1 of Part 1 or column 1 of Part 3 of Schedule Eleven;
S. 4(1) def. of animal health and welfare emergency order inserted by No. 22/2022 s. 53.
animal health and welfare emergency order means an order made under section 22J;
S. 4(1) def. of approved medicinal cannabis product inserted by No. 20/2016 s. 101(1), repealed by No. 34/2019 s. 4(1).
S. 4(1) def. of authorised police employee inserted by No. 52/2006 s. 4, amended by No. 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 47.1(b)).
authorised police employee means—
(a) a Victoria Police employee authorised under section 44A; or
(b) a Victoria Police employee who is a member of a class of Victoria Police employee authorised under section 44A;
S. 4(1) def. of authorised practitioner inserted by No. 18/2000 s. 96(1), amended by Nos 11/2002 s. 3(Sch. 1 item 16.1), 80/2004 s. 150(Sch. 2 item 2.1(a)), repealed by No. 97/2005 s. 178(1),
new def. of authorised practitioner inserted by No. 97/2005 s. 178(2), repealed by No. 13/2010 s. 35(1)(a).
S. 4(1) def. of authorised supplier inserted by No. 50/2017 s. 4.
authorised supplier means a person who—
(a) is authorised by the Secretary under section 30C(5) to access the monitored poisons database for a purpose specified in section 30C(5)(a); or
(b) is authorised by regulations referred to in section 30C(4) to access the monitored poisons database; or
(c) belongs to a class of person that is authorised as described in paragraph (a) or (b);
S. 4(1) def. of authorised user inserted by No. 50/2017 s. 4.
authorised user means a person who—
(a) is authorised by the Secretary under section 30C(5) to access the monitored poisons database for a purpose specified in section 30C(5)(b) or (c); or
(b) is authorised by regulations referred to in section 30C(4) to access the monitored poisons database; or
(c) belongs to a class of person that is authorised as described in paragraph (a) or (b);
S. 4(1) def. of authorized officer amended by Nos 10262 s. 4, 46/1998 s. 7(Sch. 1), 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 47.1(c)), substituted by No. 39/2024 s. 85(2).
authorized officer means—
(a) a person authorized by the Secretary under section 41; and
(b) other than in Division 18 of Part II, any police officer;
S. 4(1) def. of automatic machine amended by No. 9/1998 s. 10(a)(i).
automatic machine means any machine or mechanical device used or capable of being used for the purpose of selling or supplying goods without the personal manipulation or attention of the seller or supplier or his employee or other agent at the time of the sale or supply;
S. 4(1) def. of baseline sentence inserted by No. 52/2014 s. 17, repealed by No. 34/2017 s. 15.
S. 4(1) def. of category 1 precursor chemical inserted by No. 55/2009 s. 7.
category 1 precursor chemical means a substance prescribed as a category 1 precursor chemical and—
(a) includes—
(i) any form of that substance, whether natural or synthetic; and
(ii) if specified in the regulations for that category 1 precursor chemical, the salts, derivatives and isomers of that substance and any salt of those derivatives and isomers;
(b) despite the definition of substance in this section, does not include that substance when contained in or mixed with another substance;
S. 4(1) def. of category 2 precursor chemical inserted by No. 55/2009 s. 7.
category 2 precursor chemical means a substance prescribed as a category 2 precursor chemical and—
(a) includes—
(i) any form of that substance, whether natural or synthetic; and
(ii) if specified in the regulations for that category 2 precursor chemical, the salts, derivatives and isomers of that substance and any salt of those derivatives and isomers;
(b) despite the definition of substance in this section, does not include that substance when contained in or mixed with another substance;
S. 4(1) def. of category 3 precursor apparatus inserted by No. 55/2009 s. 7.
category 3 precursor apparatus means an item or class of item prescribed as a category 3 precursor apparatus;
S. 4(1) def. of certificate of health and safety destruction or disposal inserted by No. 52/2006 s. 4.
certificate of health and safety destruction or disposal means a certificate given by an analyst or a botanist under section 91(1)(c);
S. 4(1) def. of Chief General Manager inserted by No. 10262 s. 4, substituted by No. 42/1993 s. 35(b), repealed by No. 46/1998 s. 7(Sch. 1).
S. 4(1) def. of child inserted by No. 66/2017 s. 4.
child, in Part IIA, means a person under 18 years of age;
S. 4(1) def. of class approval inserted by No. 6/2024 s. 11.
class approval means an authorisation under section 20A in respect of a class of entity;
S. 4(1) def. of Commission repealed by No. 10262 s. 4.
Committee means the Poisons Advisory Committee constituted under Division 3 of Part II;
S. 4(1) def. of Common-wealth standard inserted by No. 42/1993 s. 35(c), repealed by No. 75/2014 s. 10(2)(a).
compound in relation to a poison or controlled substance means a medicament prepared in accordance with a formula and being a combination of—
(a) a poison or controlled substance; and
(b) any other substance or substances—
in such a way that the poison or controlled substance cannot be readily separated from the other substance or substances, and to compound and derivative expressions have corresponding meanings;
S. 4(1) def. of consume inserted by No. 40/2017 s. 4.
consume, in relation to a substance, includes the following—
(a) ingest the substance;
(b) inject the substance;
(c) inhale the substance;
(d) smoke the substance, or inhale fumes caused by heating or burning the substance;
(e) apply the substance externally to the body of a person;
(f) by any other means introduce the substance into any part of the body of a person;
S. 4(1) def. of dangerous poison repealed by No. 42/1993 s. 35(a).
S. 4(1) def. of data source entity inserted by No. 50/2017 s. 4.
data source entity means an entity, or a class of entity, prescribed to be a data source entity for the purposes of the monitored poisons database;
S. 4(1) def. of date of supply inserted by No. 55/2009 s. 7.
date of supply, in Part VB, means the date a category 1 precursor chemical, a category 2 precursor chemical or a category 3 precursor apparatus, as the case requires, leaves the premises of the person who supplied it;
S. 4(1) def. of declared testing facility inserted by No. 9/2014 s. 4.
declared testing facility means a facility declared by the Chief Commissioner of Police under section 97;
S. 4(1) def. of delegated police officer inserted by No. 52/2006 s. 4.
delegated police officer means—
(a) a person to whom a function under section 91 has been delegated under section 92; or
(b) a person who is a member of a class to which a function under section 91 has been delegated under section 92;
S. 4(1) def. of dentist substituted by No. 26/1999 s. 107(Sch. item 2), repealed by No. 97/2005 s. 178(1),
new def. of dentist inserted by No. 97/2005 s. 178(2), substituted by No. 13/2010 s. 35(1)(b).
dentist means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law—
(a) to practise in the dental profession as a dentist (other than as a student); and
(b) in the dentists division of that profession;
S. 4(1) def. of designated place inserted by No. 45/2017 s. 16.
designated place has the same meaning as in the Victoria Police Act 2013;
S. 4(1) def. of director inserted by No. 66/2017 s. 4.
director, in relation to the licensed medically supervised injecting centre, has the meaning given in section 55B;
S. 4(1) def. of drug-checking director inserted by No. 41/2024 s. 4.
drug‑checking director means a general drug**‑checking worker or special drug‑**checking worker who—
(a) is engaged by the holder of a drug**‑**checking permit to do the things set out in section 20AA(6); and
(b) meets the prescribed requirements (if any);
S. 4(1) def. of drug-checking permit inserted by No. 41/2024 s. 4.
drug‑checking permit means a permit issued under Division 4 of Part II in respect of the provision of a drug**‑**checking service;
S. 4(1) def. of drug-checking place inserted by No. 41/2024 s. 4.
drug‑checking place has the meaning given by section 4B;
S. 4(1) def. of drug-checking service inserted by No. 41/2024 s. 4.
drug‑checking service has the meaning given by section 4C;
S. 4(1) def. of drug of addiction repealed by No. 42/1993 s. 35(a).
S. 4(1) def. of drug of dependence substituted by No. 10002 s. 2(a), amended by No. 101/1986 s. 58(1)(a), substituted by No. 48/1997 s. 36(1)(a), amended by Nos 9/1998 s. 10(a)(ii), 74/2004 s. 6(1)(a)–(c), 41/2011 s. 4, 9/2014 s. 3(1).
drug of dependence means a substance that is—
(a) a drug—
(i) specified in column 1 of Part 1 of Schedule Eleven; or
(ii) included in a class of drug specified in column 1 of Part 1 of Schedule Eleven; or
(b) any fresh or dried parts of any plant specified in column 1 of Part 2 of Schedule Eleven; or
(ba) prescribed as a drug of dependence in accordance with section 132AA whether specified as included in Part 1, Part 2 or Part 3 of Schedule Eleven; or
(c) a drug—
(i) specified in column 1 of Part 3 of Schedule Eleven; or
(ii) included in a class of drug specified in column 1 of Part 3 of Schedule Eleven—
and includes—
(d) any form of a drug specified in column 1 of Part 1 or column 1 of Part 3 of Schedule Eleven, whether natural or synthetic, and the salts, analogues, derivatives and isomers of that drug and any salt of those analogues, derivatives and isomers; and
(e) any—
(i) drug specified in, or drug included in a class of drug specified in column 1 of Part 1 or column 1 of Part 3 of Schedule Eleven, whether natural or synthetic; or
(ii) salts, analogues, derivatives or isomers of a drug specified in column 1 of Part 1 or column 1 of Part 3 of Schedule Eleven; or
(iii) salt of any analogue, derivative
or isomer mentioned in subparagraph (ii)—
contained in or mixed with another substance;
S. 4(1) def. of end user declaration inserted by No. 55/2009 s. 7.
end user declaration means a declaration required for the purposes of section 80J, 80L or 80M, as the case requires;
S. 4(1) def. of enforceable undertaking inserted by No. 39/2024 s. 85(1).
enforceable undertaking means an undertaking given by a regulated person under section 55AAM;
S. 4(1) def. of enforceable undertaking order inserted by No. 39/2024 s. 85(1).
enforceable undertaking order means an order made by the Magistrates' Court under section 55AAR;
S. 4(1) def. of entity inserted by No. 6/2024 s. 11.
entity, in relation to a class approval, means an entity belonging to a class that carries out an activity involving the manufacture, sale, supply, administration or use of a Schedule 2 poison, Schedule 3 poison, Schedule 4 poison, Schedule 7 poison, Schedule 8 poison or a controlled substance;
S. 4(1) def. of fixed site drug-checking permit inserted by No. 41/2024 s. 4.
fixed site drug‑checking permit means a drug**‑**checking permit issued in accordance with section 19(4A)(a);
S. 4(1) def. of functional group inserted by No. 9/2014 s. 3(2).
functional group, of a drug, means any of the following where attached to an oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorous or carbon atom of the drug—
(a) an aryl, alkoxy, cyclic diether, carbonyl, acyl, carboxylic acid, acyloxy, alkylamino or dialkylamino group with up to 6 carbon atoms in any alkyl residue;
(b) an alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group with up to 6 carbon atoms in the group;
(c) a hydroxy, nitro or amino group;
(d) a hydrogen atom;
(e) a halogen;
S. 4(1) def. of general drug-checking worker inserted by No. 41/2024 s. 4.
general drug‑checking worker means a person who—
(a) is engaged by the holder of a drug**‑**checking permit to carry out activities under the permit that do not include anything set out in section 20AA(1) or (2) (whether the engagement is under a contract of employment, or as a volunteer, or otherwise); and
(b) meets the prescribed requirements (if any);
S. 4(1) def. of harm reduction information inserted by No. 41/2024 s. 4.
harm reduction information means—
(a) information about the composition of a substance, including information about the presence of poisons, controlled substances and drugs of dependence in it; or
(b) information about the use of a substance, including—
(i) information about the possible consequences of using the substance; and
(ii) information and advice about how to reduce the harm that use of the substance may cause; or
(c) information and advice about access to health services, welfare services and similar assistance;
S. 4(1) def. of hazardous substance repealed by No. 42/1993 s. 35(a).
heroin means diacetyl morphine (also known as diamorphine) and its salts;
S. 4(1) def. of improvement notice inserted by No. 39/2024 s. 85(1).
improvement notice means a notice given under section 55AA;
S. 4(1) def. of information or document production notice inserted by No. 39/2024 s. 85(1).
information or document production notice means a notice given under section 55AAT;
S. 4(1) def. of industrial and agricultural poison repealed by No. 42/1993 s. 35(a).
S. 4(1) def. of injecting centre drug inserted by No. 66/2017 s. 4.
injecting centre drug means a drug of dependence, or a class of drug of dependence, prescribed as an injecting centre drug;
S. 4(1) def. of internal management protocols inserted by No. 66/2017 s. 4.
internal management protocols, in Part IIA, means the protocols approved under section 55E by the Secretary, as in force from time to time;
S. 4(1) def. of label amended by No. 42/1993 s. 35(d).
label—
(a) in section 27A, means a statement in writing on a container of a poison or controlled substance; and
(b) in any other case—
includes any tag brand mark or statement in writing on or attached to or used in connexion with any container or package containing any poison or controlled substance; and labelled has a corresponding interpretation;
S. 4(1) def. of licence amended by No. 10002 s. 5(2)(b).
licence means a valid and unexpired licence under any Part of this Act or under the regulations;
S. 4(1) def. of licensed medically supervised injecting centre inserted by No. 66/2017 s. 4, amended by No. 7/2023 s. 19(1).
licensed medically supervised injecting centre means the facility for which a medically supervised injecting centre licence is issued;
licensee means the person named in a licence;
manufacture includes the process of refining, manipulating and mixing any poison or controlled substance (including a poison or controlled substance in the raw state); and "manufacturer" has a corresponding interpretation;
S. 4(1) def. of medical practitioner repealed by No. 23/1994 s. 118(Sch. 1 item 17.1(a)).
S. 4(1) def. of medically supervised injecting centre licence inserted by No. 66/2017 s. 4.
medically supervised injecting centre licence means the licence issued under section 55C;
S. 4(1) def. of medicinal cannabis inserted by No. 20/2016 s. 101(1), repealed by No. 34/2019 s. 4(1).
S. 4(1) def. of medicinal cannabis cultivation licence inserted by No. 20/2016 s. 101(1), repealed by No. 34/2019 s. 4(1).
S. 4(1) def. of medicinal cannabis manufac-turing licence inserted by No. 20/2016 s. 101(1), repealed by No. 34/2019 s. 4(1).
S. 4(1) def. of medicinal cannabis product inserted by No. 20/2016 s. 101(1), repealed by No. 34/2019 s. 4(1).
S. 4(1) def. of medicinal poison repealed by No. 42/1993 s. 35(a).
S. 4(1) def. of mobile bait facility inserted by No. 41/2024 s. 12(1)(a).
mobile bait facility means a trailer or vehicle suitably fitted out or containing equipment and apparatus for the manufacture, sale and supply of a perishable pest animal bait that is a Schedule 7 poison to which a mobile bait facility licence relates;
S. 4(1) def. of mobile bait facility licence inserted by No. 41/2024 s. 12(1)(a).
mobile bait facility licence means a licence issued under section 19(6);
S. 4(1) def. of mobile bait facility location inserted by No. 41/2024 s. 12(1)(a).
mobile bait facility location means a location where the manufacture, sale or supply of a perishable pest animal bait that is a Schedule 7 poison authorised under a mobile bait facility licence is carried out;
S. 4(1) def. of mobile drug-checking facility inserted by No. 41/2024 s. 4.
mobile drug‑checking facility means a trailer or vehicle suitably fitted out or containing equipment and apparatus for—
(a) the provision of a drug**‑**checking service; and
(b) the carrying out of other activities under a drug**‑**checking permit—
whether those things are to be provided and carried out from the facility itself or from a structure temporarily used for that purpose;
S. 4(1) def. of mobile drug-checking permit inserted by No. 41/2024 s. 4.
mobile drug‑checking permit means a drug**‑checking permit issued in respect of a mobile drug‑**checking facility in accordance with section 19(4A)(b);
S. 4(1) def. of mobile facility inserted by No. 75/2014 s. 4, substituted by No. 41/2024 s. 12(1)(b).
mobile facility means—
(a) a mobile bait facility; or
(b) a mobile drug**‑**checking facility;
S. 4(1) def. of mobile facility licence inserted by No. 75/2014 s. 4, repealed by No. 41/2024 s. 12(1)(c).
S. 4(1) def. of mobile facility location inserted by No. 75/2014 s. 4, repealed by No. 41/2024 s. 12(1)(c).
S. 4(1) def. of monitored poison inserted by No. 50/2017 s. 4.
monitored poison means—
(a) a Schedule 8 poison; or
(b) a monitored supply poison; or
(c) a poison that is prescribed to be a monitored poison; or
(d) a poison that belongs to a class of poisons that are prescribed to be monitored poisons;
S. 4(1) def. of monitored poisons database inserted by No. 50/2017 s. 4.
monitored poisons database means the database established under Division 9 of Part II;
S. 4(1) def. of monitored supply poison inserted by No. 50/2017 s. 4.
monitored supply poison means a poison that—
(a) is prescribed to be a monitored supply poison; or
(b) belongs to a class of poisons that are prescribed to be monitored supply poisons;
S. 4(1) def. of narcotic plant repealed by No. 10002 s. 2(b).
S. 4(1) def. of nurse practitioner inserted by No. 94/2000 s. 48, repealed by No. 97/2005 s. 178(1),
new def. of nurse practitioner inserted by No. 97/2005 s. 178(2), substituted by No. 13/2010 s. 35(1)(c).
nurse practitioner means a nurse whose registration is endorsed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia under section 95 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law;
Order in Council means an Order made by the Governor in Council published in the Government Gazette;
S. 4(1) def. of paramedic practitioner inserted by No. 1/2025 s. 4.
paramedic practitioner means a registered paramedic who—
(a) has completed a prescribed postgraduate qualification; and
(b) satisfies the prescribed experience requirements (if any);
S. 4(1) def. of patient medicinal cannabis access authorisation inserted by No. 20/2016 s. 101(1), repealed by No. 34/2019 s. 4(1).
S. 4(1) def. of permitted quantity of injecting centre drug inserted by No. 66/2017 s. 4.
permitted quantity of injecting centre drug means a prescribed amount of an injecting centre drug;
S. 4(1) def. of permitted site inserted by No. 66/2017 s. 4.
permitted site means the land described in Vol. 09195 Fol. 045;
S. 4(1) def. of pharmacist substituted by No. 80/2004 s. 150(Sch. 2 item 2.1(b)), repealed by No. 97/2005 s. 178(1),
new def. of pharmacist inserted by No. 97/2005 s. 178(2), substituted by No. 13/2010 s. 35(1)(d).
pharmacist means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the pharmacy profession (other than as a student);
S. 4(1) def. of poison or controlled substance substituted by No. 42/1993 s. 35(e), amended by Nos 20/2016 s. 101(2)(a)(b), 34/2019 s. 4(2)(a).
poison or controlled substance means—
(a) a Schedule 1 poison; or
(b) a Schedule 2 poison; or
(c) a Schedule 3 poison; or
(d) a Schedule 4 poison; or
(e) a Schedule 5 poison; or
(f) a Schedule 6 poison; or
(g) a Schedule 7 poison; or
(h) a Schedule 8 poison; or
(i) a Schedule 9 poison; or
(j) a regulated poison other than a Schedule 7 poison;
S. 4(1) def. of Poisons Code inserted by No. 42/1993 s. 35(f), amended by No. 68/1996 s. 9.
Poisons Code means the Poisons Code prepared under section 12 as amended or substituted and in force from time to time;
S. 4(1) def. of Poisons List inserted by No. 42/1993 s. 35(f).
Poisons List means the Poisons List in the Poisons Code;
S. 4(1) def. of Poisons Standard inserted by No. 75/2014 s. 10(1).
Poisons Standard means the current Poisons Standard within the meaning of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 of the Commonwealth;
S. 4(1) def. of police officer inserted by No. 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 47.1(a)).
police officer has the same meaning as in the Victoria Police Act 2013;
S. 4(1) def. of potent substance repealed by No. 42/1993 s. 35(a).
S. 4(1) def. of practitioner medicinal cannabis authorisation inserted by No. 20/2016 s. 101(1), repealed by No. 34/2019 s. 4(1).
prescribed means prescribed by this Act or the regulations;
proclamation means proclamation of the Governor in Council;
S. 4(1) def. of prohibition notice inserted by No. 39/2024 s. 85(1).
prohibition notice means a notice given under section 55AAG;
S. 4(1) def. of protective services officer inserted by No. 43/2011 s. 18, substituted by No. 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 47.1(d)).
protective services officer has the same meaning as in the Victoria Police Act 2013;
S. 4(1) def. of psychoactive effect inserted by No. 40/2017 s. 4.
psychoactive effect, in relation to a person, means—
(a) stimulation or depression of the person's central nervous system, resulting in hallucinations or in a significant disturbance in, or significant change to, motor function, thinking, behaviour, perception, awareness or mood; or
(b) causing a state of dependence, including physical or psychological addiction;
S. 4(1) def. of psychoactive substance inserted by No. 40/2017 s. 4, amended by No. 34/2019 s. 4(2)(b).
psychoactive substance means—
(a) a substance that, when consumed by a person, has a psychoactive effect; or
(b) a substance that is represented as, or in any other way held out to be, a substance that, when consumed by a person, has a psychoactive effect; or
(c) a substance referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) that is contained in or mixed with another substance—
but does not include any of the following—
(d) a drug of dependence;
(e) a poison or controlled substance;
(f) a volatile substance within the meaning of Part IV;
(h) a therapeutic good—
(i) included in the Register within the meaning of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 of the Commonwealth; or
(ii) exempted from the operation of Part 3-2 of that Act by regulations made under section 18 of that Act; or
(iii) exempted from Division 2 of Part 3-2 of that Act under section 18A of that Act; or
(iv) that is the subject of an approval or authority under section 19 of that Act, if used in accordance with that approval or authority; or
(v) that is the subject of an approval under section 19A of that Act, if used in accordance with that approval;
(i) food within the meaning of the Food Act 1984 that complies with the Food Standards Code within the meaning of that Act;
(j) liquor within the meaning of the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998;
(k) a tobacco product within the meaning of the Tobacco Act 1987;
(l) a chemical product within the meaning of the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992;
(m) a plant or fungus or an extract of a plant or fungus;
(n) a prescribed substance or a substance that is in a prescribed class of substances;
S. 4(1) def. of public health emergency order inserted by No. 17/2008 s. 4.
public health emergency order means an order made under section 22D and includes an order extended, amended or varied under section 22G;
S. 4(1) def. of public place inserted by No. 40/2017 s. 4.
public place has the same meaning as it has in the Summary Offences Act 1966;
S. 4(1) def. of registered Chinese herbal dispenser inserted by No. 18/2000 s. 96(1), repealed by No. 97/2005 s. 178(1),
new def. of registered Chinese herbal dispenser inserted by No. 97/2005 s. 178(2), substituted by No. 27/2012 s. 9(a).
registered Chinese herbal dispenser means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the Chinese medicine profession in the division of Chinese herbal dispenser;
S. 4(1) def. of registered Chinese medicine practitioner inserted by No. 18/2000 s. 96(1), repealed by No. 97/2005 s. 178(1),
new def. of registered Chinese medicine practitioner inserted by No. 97/2005 s. 178(2), substituted by No. 27/2012 s. 9(b).
registered Chinese medicine practitioner means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the Chinese medicine profession in the division of Chinese herbal medicine practitioner;
S. 4(1) def. of registered health practitioner inserted by No. 50/2017 s. 4.
registered health practitioner means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in a health profession within the meaning of that Law (other than as a student);
S. 4(1) def. of registered medical practitioner inserted by No. 23/1994 s. 118(Sch. 1 item 17.1(b)), repealed by No. 97/2005 s. 178(1),
new def. of registered medical practitioner inserted by No. 97/2005 s. 178(2), substituted by No. 13/2010 s. 35(1)(e).
registered medical practitioner means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the medical profession (other than as a student);
S. 4(1) def. of registered midwife inserted by No. 14/2012 s. 4.
registered midwife means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law—
(a) to practise in the nursing and midwifery profession as a midwife (other than as a nurse or student); and
(b) in the register of midwives kept for that profession;
S. 4(1) def. of registered nurse inserted by No. 13/2010 s. 35(2).
registered nurse means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law—
(a) to practise in the nursing and midwifery profession as a nurse (other than as a midwife or as a student); and
(b) in the registered nurses division of that profession;
S. 4(1) def. of registered optometrist inserted by No. 56/1996 s. 100(1), repealed by No. 97/2005 s. 178(1),
new def. of registered optometrist inserted by No. 97/2005 s. 178(2), substituted by No. 13/2010 s. 35(1)(e), amended by No. 29/2011 s. 3(Sch. 1 item 30).
registered optometrist means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the optometry profession (other than as a student);
S. 4(1) def. of registered paramedic inserted by No. 1/2025 s. 4.
registered paramedic means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the paramedicine profession (other than as a student);
S. 4(1) def. of registered podiatrist inserted by No. 97/2005 s. 178(2), substituted by No. 13/2010 s. 35(1)(e).
registered podiatrist means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the podiatry profession (other than as a student);
S. 4(1) def. of regulated person inserted by No. 39/2024 s. 85(1).
regulated person means—
(a) a person to whom obligations or offences under Part II or the regulations apply in relation to the person obtaining, possessing, using, administering, prescribing, selling, supplying or manufacturing a poison or controlled substance and includes—
(i) a person authorised by section 13 to obtain, possess, use, sell or supply a poison or controlled substance; and
(ii) a person who is the holder of a licence, permit or warrant issued under section 19; and
(iii) a person or a person who belongs to a class of person authorised by the regulations to obtain or possess a Schedule 4 Poison, Schedule 8 Poison or Schedule 9 Poison; or
(b) an entity that belongs to a class of entity for which an approval under section 20A is granted—
but does not include—
(c) a person for whom a poison or controlled substance is supplied in accordance with this Act or the regulations, if the person is using the poison or controlled substance to the extent and for the purpose for which it is supplied; or
(d) a person who, in the person's personal capacity, has the care of, or who is assisting in the care of, a person referred to in paragraph (c), if the person referred to in paragraph (c) is using the poison or the controlled substance to the extent and for the purpose for which it is supplied; or
(e) a person who, in the person's personal capacity, has the care or custody of an animal for which a poison or controlled substance is supplied in accordance with this Act or the regulations;
S. 4(1) def. of regulated poison inserted by No. 42/1993 s. 35(g).
regulated poison means—
(a) a Schedule 7 poison; or
(b) a substance included in the Poisons Code in the list of substances that are not for general sale by retail;
Regulations means Regulations made under this Act or any corresponding previous enactment;
S. 4(1) def. of restricted substance repealed by No. 42/1993 s. 35(a).
S. 4(1) def. of Schedule 1 Poison inserted by No. 42/1993 s. 35(h).
Schedule 1 Poison means a substance in Schedule 1 in the Poisons List;
S. 4(1) def. of Schedule 2 Poison inserted by No. 42/1993 s. 35(h), amended by Nos 74/2004 s. 6(2)(a), 75/2014 s. 10(2)(b).
Schedule 2 Poison means a substance in Schedule 2 of the Poisons Standard;
S. 4(1) def. of Schedule 3 Poison inserted by No. 42/1993 s. 35(h), amended by Nos 74/2004 s. 6(2)(b), 75/2014 s. 10(2)(c).
Schedule 3 Poison means a substance in Schedule 3 of the Poisons Standard;
S. 4(1) def. of Schedule 4 Poison inserted by No. 42/1993 s. 35(h), amended by Nos 74/2004 s. 6(2)(c), 75/2014 s. 10(2)(d).
Schedule 4 Poison means a substance in Schedule 4 of the Poisons Standard;
S. 4(1) def. of Schedule 5 Poison inserted by No. 42/1993 s. 35(h), amended by Nos 74/2004 s. 6(2)(d), 75/2014 s. 10(2)(e).
Schedule 5 Poison means a substance in Schedule 5 of the Poisons Standard;
S. 4(1) def. of Schedule 6 Poison inserted by No. 42/1993 s. 35(h), amended by Nos 74/2004 s. 6(2)(e), 75/2014 s. 10(2)(f).
Schedule 6 Poison means a substance in Schedule 6 of the Poisons Standard;
S. 4(1) def. of Schedule 7 Poison inserted by No. 42/1993 s. 35(h), amended by Nos 74/2004 s. 6(2)(f), 75/2014 s. 10(2)(g).
Schedule 7 Poison means a substance in Schedule 7 of the Poisons Standard;
S. 4(1) def. of Schedule 8 Poison inserted by No. 42/1993 s. 35(h), amended by Nos 74/2004 s. 6(2)(g), 75/2014 s. 10(2)(h), 20/2016 s. 101(2)(c), substituted by No. 34/2019 s. 4(2)(c).
Schedule 8 Poison means a substance in Schedule 8 of the Poisons Standard;
S. 4(1) def. of Schedule 9 Poison inserted by No. 42/1993 s. 35(h), amended by Nos 74/2004 s. 6(2)(h), 75/2014 s. 10(2)(i), 20/2016 s. 101(2)(d), substituted by No. 34/2019 s. 4(2)(c).
Schedule 9 Poison means a substance in Schedule 9 of the Poisons Standard;
S. 4(1) def. of Secretary inserted by No. 46/1998 s. 7(Sch. 1), amended by No. 46/2008 s. 275(1).
Secretary has the same meaning as in section 3(1) of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008;
sell means sell, whether by—
(a) wholesale or retail or otherwise, barter, exchange, deal in, agree to sell, offer or expose for sale, keep or have in possession for sale, send forward, deliver or receive for or for the purpose of sale or in the course of sale; and
(b) authorize, direct, allow, cause, suffer, permit or attempt any of the acts or things mentioned in paragraph (a)—
and sale and each of the other derivatives of sell have corresponding meanings;
S. 4(1) def of serious risk to public health inserted by No. 17/2008 s. 4.
serious risk to public health means a material risk that substantial injury or prejudice to the health of human beings has occurred or may occur having regard to—
(a) the number of persons likely to be affected;
(b) the location, immediacy and seriousness of the threat to the health of persons;
(c) the nature, scale and effects of the harm, illness or injury that may develop;
S. 4(1) def. of special drug-checking worker inserted by No. 41/2024 s. 4.
special drug‑checking worker means a person who—
(a) is engaged by the holder of a drug‑checking permit to do a thing set out in section 20AA(1) or (2)—
(i) whether the engagement is under a contract of employment, or as a volunteer, or otherwise; and
(ii) whether or not the worker's engagement involves them carrying out another activity under the permit; and
(b) holds the prescribed qualifications; and
(c) meets the prescribed other requirements (if any);
S. 4(1) def. of special poison repealed by No. 42/1993 s. 35(a).
S. 4(1) def. of staff inserted by No. 66/2017 s. 4, amended by No. 7/2023 s. 34.
staff means—
(a) in relation to the licensed medically supervised injecting centre, the persons engaged (whether under contracts of employment, or as volunteers, or otherwise) to provide services for the centre; and
(b) in relation to the permitted site, the persons engaged (whether under contracts of employment, or as volunteers, or otherwise), to provide services for any facility that is located at the permitted site, including at the licensed medically supervised injecting centre;
Under section 55B(4), the director and each supervisor of a licensed medically supervised injecting centre are taken to be members of the staff of that facility.
S. 4(1) def. of standard sentence inserted by No. 34/2017 s. 36.
standard sentence, in relation to an offence, has the same meaning as in the Sentencing Act 1991;
S. 4(1) def. of substance amended by No. 48/1997 s. 36(1)(b).
substance includes material, preparation, extract and admixture;
S. 4(1) def. of sufficient proof of identity of receiver inserted by No. 55/2009 s. 7.
sufficient proof of identity of receiver, for the purposes of Part VB, means proof of identity provided by one of the following—
(a) a driver licence issued under the Road Safety Act 1986, or a licence issued in another State or a Territory that is the equivalent of a driver licence, that displays a photograph of the person; or
(b) an Australian passport or a foreign passport; or
(c) a proof of age card issued under the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 or a card issued in another State or a Territory that is the equivalent of a proof of age card;
S. 4(1) def. of supervisor inserted by No. 66/2017 s. 4.
supervisor, in relation to the licensed medically supervised injecting centre, has the meaning given in section 55B;
supply means—
(a) supply, provide, give or deliver, whether or not for fee, reward or consideration or in expectation of fee, reward or consideration;
(b) agree or offer for the purpose of supply as defined in paragraph (a), expose for the purpose of supply as so defined, keep or have in possession for the purpose of supply as so defined, send forward or receive for the purpose of supply as so defined; and
(c) authorize, direct, cause, allow, suffer, permit or attempt to do any of the acts or things mentioned in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b)—
and the derivatives of supply shall have corresponding meanings;
S. 4(1) def. of therapeutic use
inserted by No. 42/1993 s. 35(i).
therapeutic use means use in or in connection with—
(a) the preventing, diagnosing, curing or alleviating of a disease, ailment, defect or injury in human beings or animals; or
(b) influencing, inhibiting, or modifying of a physiological process in human beings or animals; or
(c) the testing of the susceptibility of human beings or animals to a disease or ailment;
S. 4(1) def. of veterinary practitioner inserted by No. 58/1997 s. 96(Sch. item 3.1).
veterinary practitioner means a veterinary practitioner registered under the Veterinary Practice Act 1997;
S. 4(1) def. of veterinary surgeon repealed by No. 58/1997 s. 96(Sch. item 3.1).
S. 4(1) def. of Victoria Police employee inserted by No. 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 47.1(a)).
Victoria Police employee has the same meaning as in the Victoria Police Act 2013;
S. 4(1) def. of voluntary assisted dying permit inserted by No. 61/2017 s. 122.
voluntary assisted dying permit has the same meaning as it has in the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017;
S. 4(1) def. of voluntary assisted dying substance inserted by No. 61/2017 s. 122.
voluntary assisted dying substance has the same meaning as it has in the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017;
wholesale means—
(a) sale or supply for the purposes of resale;
(b) sale or supply to a person for the purposes of supply by that person to another person; and
(c) sale or supply for the purposes of use in connexion with a trade, business, profession or industry;
wholesale dealer means a person who sells or supplies by wholesale.
(2) A reference in this Act to manufacture does not include a reference to the process of refining, manipulating and mixing a poison or controlled substance, where the process is carried out by a pharmacist in the lawful practise of his profession in—
S. 4(2)(a) substituted by No. 80/2004 s. 150(Sch. 2 item 2.2), amended by Nos 97/2005 s. 182(Sch. 4 item 16.1(a)), 39/2010 s. 119(a).
(a) premises used for sale by retail and registered under Part 3 of the Pharmacy Regulation Act 2010; or
S. 4(2)(b) substituted by No. 80/2004 s. 150(Sch. 2 item 2.2), amended by Nos 97/2005 s. 182(Sch. 4 item 16.1(b)), 39/2010 s. 119(b).
(b) premises used for sale by retail in circumstances approved under Part 3 of the Pharmacy Regulation Act 2010; or
S. 4(2)(c) inserted by No. 80/2004 s. 150(Sch. 2 item 2.2), amended by Nos 97/2005 s. 182(Sch. 4 item 16.1(c)), 39/2010 s. 119(c).
(c) a pharmacy department approved under Part 3 of that Act—
in which the pharmacist manufactures preparations of poisons or controlled substances for sale or distribution only from those premises or from such other premises as may be owned and operated by that pharmacist selling by retail.
S. 4(3) inserted by No. 10002 s. 8(2), repealed by No. 48/1997 s. 36(2),
new s. 4(3) inserted by No. 18/2000 s. 96(2).
(3) A reference in this Act to manufacture does not include a reference to the process of refining, manipulating and mixing a Schedule 1 poison, where the process is carried out by a registered Chinese medicine practitioner, a registered Chinese herbal dispenser or an authorised practitioner in the lawful practice of his or her profession for the purposes of use, sale or supply by that practitioner or dispenser.
S. 4A inserted by No. 54/1997 s. 4.