5Interpretation

5  Interpretation

References to substances

 (1) In this instrument, unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to a substance includes the following:

 (a) that substance prepared from natural sources or artificially;

 (b) if the substance is a plant (other than a plant included in Schedule 8 or 9 to the current Poisons Standard)—that plant or any part of that plant when packed or prepared for therapeutic use;

 (c) every salt, active principle or derivative of the substance, including esters and ethers, and every salt of such an active principle or derivative;

 (d) every alkaloid of the substance and every salt of such an alkaloid;

 (e) every stereoisomer of the substance and every salt of such a stereoisomer, other than where the stereoisomer is defined in the substance name (for example, dextromethorphan);

 (f) a preparation or admixture containing any proportion of the substance;

  but does not include:

 (g) a preparation or product included in Appendix A of the current Poisons Standard; or

 (h) a substance included in Appendix G of the current Poisons Standard at a concentration not exceeding the concentration specified in that Appendix in relation to the substance; or

 (i) any other substance included in Schedules 1 to 6 to the current Poisons Standard, at a concentration not exceeding 10 mg per litre or 10 mg per kilogram, unless that substance is also included in Schedule 7 or 8 to the current Poisons Standard.

References to concentration, strength or quantity of substances

 (2) In this instrument, unless the contrary intention appears, for a reference to a concentration, strength or quantity of a substance:

 (a) if the substance is present as a salt, active principle or derivative (including an ester or ether), the concentration, strength or quantity is calculated as the equivalent amount of the substance; and

 (b) the expression “1%” means:

 (i) in the case of a liquid preparation, 1 gram of the substance per 100 mL of the preparation; or

 (ii) in the case of a solid or semi-solid preparation, 1 gram of the substance per 100 grams of the preparation; and

 (iii) any expression of greater or lesser percentages shall have a corresponding meaning.

References to symbols

(3) A reference in column 4 of the table in Schedule 1, to a symbol in column 2 of an item in the following table, has the meaning set out in column 3 of that item.

• Meaning of symbols
• Column 1 Column 2 Column 3
• Item Symbol Meaning