Poisons Standard in Australia

The Schedule a substance is in sets the signal word that goes on the first line of the label, and the rest of the mandatory label is built under it. The current Poisons Standard (October 2026 instrument, SUSMP No. 51) provides that "a poison must not be supplied unless it is labelled in accordance with" its labelling Division (s 13(1)). The Schedule also decides some of the cautionary statements, whether first aid instructions are required, and what kind of container must be used (F2026L01327). These are model provisions: the States and Territories give them legal force by adopting them into their own laws ^[1].

All section numbers below are from the October 2026 instrument unless marked as 2012 text.

1. Signal word by Schedule (s 16)

Schedule	Purpose	Signal word(s)
2	any	PHARMACY MEDICINE
3	any	PHARMACIST ONLY MEDICINE
4	human use	PRESCRIPTION ONLY MEDICINE
4	animal use	PRESCRIPTION ANIMAL REMEDY
5	any	CAUTION
6	any	POISON
7	any	DANGEROUS POISON
8	any	CONTROLLED DRUG

The table has no entry for Schedules 9 or 10. How the signal word must appear:

• It goes on the first line or lines of the main label, in bold sans-serif capitals of uniform thickness.
• Letters must be at least half the height of the largest letter or numeral on the label. They need not be larger than 6 mm on packs of 2 L or less, or 15 mm on packs over 2 L.
• Nothing else may share the line except an Australian Dangerous Goods (ADG) Code class label. For Schedule 5 only, a statement of the principal hazard is also allowed.

2. Cautionary statements, in order below the signal word

• Schedule 8: POSSESSION WITHOUT AUTHORITY ILLEGAL (s 17).
• Every poison: KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN (s 18), in letters at least four-tenths the height of the signal word.
• Specific products:
  • FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARD for dry chlorinating compounds with more than 10% available chlorine (s 19)
  • BURNS SKIN AND THROAT for alkaline salts in dishwasher products (s 20)
  • three extra statements for aqueous paraquat (s 21)
• Where safety directions are required: READ SAFETY DIRECTIONS (s 22).
• Flammable liquids under the ADG Code: FLAMMABLE (s 23).
• Animal-only poisons: FOR ANIMAL TREATMENT ONLY (s 24).
• Schedule 5 poisons for any use other than internal or pesticidal: DO NOT SWALLOW (s 25).

3. Other label content

• Name and strength: the approved name and strength in bold sans-serif capitals (ss 26, 34). Schedule 5 products may use group names such as "Liquid hydrocarbons".
• Anticholinesterase statement: AN ANTICHOLINESTERASE COMPOUND for organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides, with listed exceptions (s 27).
• Directions for use (s 28): required, but not for Schedule 4 or 8 poisons, agvet products labelled under the Agvet Code, or medicines labelled under TGO 115/116.
• Safety directions and warning statements: required where the poison is listed in Appendix F, clause 4 (ss 29-30).
• First aid: required where the poison is listed in Appendix E, clause 3 (s 31). This does not apply to poisons for human internal use in Schedules 3, 4 or 8. Registered agvet products are exempt from ss 29-31.
• Supplier details: the manufacturer's or distributor's name and a physical address in Australia (s 32).
• Prohibited claims: a label must not imply the product is "safe, harmless, non-toxic", must not imply government approval, and must not refer to the Standard (s 44).

4. Containers by Schedule

• Packs of 2 L or less (any Schedule except 5): must comply with AS 2216-1997 (s 46(1)).
• Packs over 2 L (any Schedule except 5): "POISON" must be embossed or indelibly written on the side or shoulder of the container, at least one thirty-second of its largest dimension (s 46(3)).
• Schedule 5: may instead use a container that cannot be confused with a food container and is marked "POISON", "NOT TO BE TAKEN" or "NOT TO BE USED AS A FOOD CONTAINER" (s 47).
• Child-resistant closures: required for listed Schedule 5 and 6 poisons up to set pack sizes (s 49). For example, sodium hydroxide as such needs one at 2.5 L or less.
• Schedule 8: packs must be tamper-evident (s 50).

5. Mixtures and products outside the labelling rules

• Mixtures (s 12): a mixture must meet the rules for every Schedule its poisons fall in. Where two rules conflict, the more restrictive Schedule wins, in the order 9, 10, 8, 4, 7, 3, 2, 6, 5.
• Out of scope entirely (s 11): products in Appendix A, Appendix B uses, Appendix G dilute preparations, and Schedule 1-6 substances at concentrations not exceeding 10 mg/L or 10 mg/kg, unless the substance is also in Schedule 7 or 8.
• Labelling exemptions:
  • Industrial use (s 38): poisons packed and sold solely for dispensary, industrial, laboratory or manufacturing purposes are exempt if they are labelled under the applicable work health and safety (WHS) laws.
  • Transport packaging (s 37): outer packaging used only for transport or delivery is exempt.
  • Paints (s 42): paints containing only Schedule 5 poisons are exempt; certain other paints may use a "WARNING" format instead.
  • Authority exemptions (s 39): generally limited to 12 months.

The 2012 text tied the industrial exemption to the old NOHSC labelling code instead of WHS laws ^[1].

6. How it fits with GHS workplace labelling

Safe Work Australia's model Code of Practice on labelling workplace hazardous chemicals covers how the two systems meet:

• Consumer products: a product labelled under the Poisons Standard does not also need a WHS label if its workplace use is in household quantities, in a household way, and incidental to the work ^[2].
• Size and foreseeable use: a 20 L pack of a household cleaner must carry a workplace label, because workplace use is reasonably foreseeable.
• Dual-use products: where a poison is intended "predominantly but not solely" for workplace use, "both labelling requirements apply" ^[3].
• Combined example: the Code's sample label stacks POISON / KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN / READ SAFETY DIRECTIONS above the GHS signal word DANGER, the hazard statements and an ADG class label ^[4].
• Agvet chemicals: under WHS Schedule 9 they need GHS hazard and precautionary statements, but may leave out the GHS pictogram and signal word ^[3].

Approach: I read the current Poisons Standard (October 2026) on the Federal Register of Legislation, the earlier 2012 Poisons Standard (now repealed), and Safe Work Australia's model Codes of Practice. I did not check how each State or Territory has adopted these provisions in its own poisons law.

Sources:

• Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—October 2026) Instrument 2026, F2026L01327, full text
• F2026L01327 on the Federal Register of Legislation

Appendix E sets the first aid instructions and Appendix F sets the warning statements and safety directions that must go on the label of each poison listed in their tables. Each appendix works as a code book. Clauses 1 and 2 define standard statements by code or number, and the final clause lists the poisons and the codes each one needs. Sections 29 to 31 of the current Poisons Standard (October 2026 instrument, F2026L01327) are what make these statements mandatory (F2026L01327 text).

How the label sections are triggered (ss 29-31)

Section	Trigger	What the label must carry
s 29 Safety directions	Poison is in the Appendix F, clause 4 table	Each required safety direction, "grouped together as a distinct section of the label", headed SAFETY DIRECTIONS in bold capitals
s 30 Warning statements	Poison is in the Appendix F, clause 4 table	Each required warning statement, grouped right after the words "SAFETY DIRECTIONS". If there are no safety directions, they go immediately before the directions for use
s 31 First aid	Poison is in the Appendix E, clause 3 table	Each required statement, grouped under FIRST AID in bold capitals. If a primary pack holds two or more inner containers needing different first aid, the instructions go on each inner container and the outer pack says "FIRST AID: See inner packs."

Exemptions:

• All three sections do not apply to medicines for human use labelled with the required advisory statements for medicine labels. They also do not apply to agvet chemicals that are registered chemical products under the Agvet Code.
• Section 31 also does not apply to poisons for human internal use in Schedules 3, 4 or 8.

Other uses of Appendix F:

• Dispensed medicines (s 33(2)): where the medicine contains an Appendix K poison, the label must carry sedation warning 39, 40 or 90 from the Appendix F clause 1 table.
• Paints (s 42): paints labelled in the "WARNING" format must carry the warnings that clause 4 of Appendix F requires for the paint.

Appendix E: First aid instructions

Clause 1: standard statements. A code stands for the listed statement "or a different statement that has the same intent". The codes are:

Code	Statement (abridged)
A	For advice, contact a Poisons Information Centre (e.g. phone Australia 13 11 26; New Zealand 0800 764 766) or a doctor (at once)
Z	First aid is not generally required; if in doubt, contact a Poisons Information Centre or a doctor
G1	Urgent hospital treatment is likely to be needed (add "at once" to A)
G2	If swallowed, give activated charcoal if instructed (add "at once" to A)
G3	If swallowed, do NOT induce vomiting
G4 / G5 / G6	Give a glass of water / Avoid giving milk or oils / If sprayed in mouth, rinse with water
E1	If in eyes wash out immediately with water
E2	Hold eyelids apart and flush continuously until advised to stop by a Poisons Information Centre or doctor, or for at least 15 minutes
R1 / R2	Inhalation: remove from contaminated area, artificial respiration. R2 adds "do not give direct mouth-to-mouth resuscitation" and rescuer protection
S1 to S5	Skin: flush with running water (S1, S2); soap, water and methylated spirit (S3); methylated spirit or PEG 300/400 (S4); flush 15 minutes and then calcium gluconate gel (S5)
SP1	Special purpose: covers all exposure routes and ends "Give atropine if instructed"

Clause 2: Poisons Information Centre number. Any statement that refers to a Poisons Information Centre must include the phone number for the country of supply. Immediately after the reference it must give either:

• the Australian national number, 13 11 26; or
• another centre's number, if that centre has adequately trained staff for 24-hour emergency poisons information and its calls are logged into the official poisoning data collection.

Clause 3: the poison table. It has 346 items. Each required statement must be modified as appropriate to the poison, for example when it is mixed with other substances or comes in a particular physical form. Examples:

• Acetic acid: A, G3, E2, S1
• Acetone: A, G3
• Acrolein: A, G1, G2, G3, E2, R2, S2
• Xylene: depends on concentration and form (above 75%: A, G3, E1, R1, S1; 75% and below: A, G3; pressurised spray packs: A, G6, E1, S1)

Appendix F: Warning statements and general safety directions

Clause 1: warning statements. 114 numbered statements (items 81 and 82 are blank). They cover:

• Chemical hazards: e.g. 1 "Highly corrosive.", 4 "Strongly alkaline.", 6 "May cause cancer.", 20 "May give off dangerous gas if mixed with other products."
• Reproductive warnings: e.g. 7 "WARNING – Causes birth defects.", 46-48 on birth defects in laboratory animals
• Medicines: e.g. drowsiness (39, 40, 90), and the paracetamol and NSAID statements (97-104)
• Paints and tinters: lead and industrial-use statements (83-86)

Some statements have blanks to fill in, such as "(name of substance)".

Clause 2: safety directions. 40 numbered directions (item 30 is blank). Examples:

• 1 "Avoid contact with eyes."
• 4 "Avoid contact with skin."
• 5 "Wear protective gloves when mixing or using."
• 8 "Avoid breathing dust (or) vapour (or) spray mist."
• 21 "Do not add water to product ‑ add product to water…"
• 27 positive-pressure air-supplied full-face respirator
• 29 "Obtain a supply of calcium gluconate gel."

Clause 3: Poisons Information Centre number. Same rule as Appendix E, clause 2.

Clause 4: the poison table. Column 2 gives the warning statement numbers and column 3 the safety direction numbers; the items run past 370. Under clause 4:

• Statements "must" be completed or modified where the text calls for it, e.g. by inserting the poison's name or choosing between bracketed options.
• Where several statements or directions are required, they "may be combined to form simple sentences (if appropriate)".

Examples:

• Aniline: warning 13; directions 1, 4, 8
• Ammonia above 20% (except smelling salts): warning 4; directions 1, 4, 8
• Trichloroethylene (non-therapeutic): warning 12; directions 1, 4, 5, 8, 9

Worked example: alkaline salts

Alkaline salts appear in both tables, so the label carries all of the following:

• SAFETY DIRECTIONS: "Avoid contact with eyes." and "Avoid contact with skin." (F directions 1, 4)
• Warning, grouped after the SAFETY DIRECTIONS heading: "Strongly alkaline." (F warning 4)
• FIRST AID: E codes A, G3, E2, S1 (Poisons Information Centre contact; do not induce vomiting; prolonged eye flushing; flush skin and hair)

Approach: I read Appendices E and F and sections 29 to 31, 33 and 42 in the current October 2026 Poisons Standard on the Federal Register of Legislation. The datasets I can search hold only the repealed 2012 Poisons Standard series, so I did not use them for the current rules.

Sources:

• Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—October 2026) Instrument 2026, F2026L01327, full text