Everything you need to know about the NSW Controlled Drug legislation changes for Vets

Written by Alice Barker BVSc MRCVS, Chief Veterinarian

We’ve done the digging so you don’t have to! These will come into effect from 5th November 2026 so make sure you’re up to speed beforehand.

1 - Unexplained Losses

Only unexplained losses now need to be reported to Pharmaceutical Services. All other explained losses simply need to be recorded in the drugs register - this includes injection hub loss and a witnessed, unrecoverable spill etc.

2 - Pentobarbital

Pentobarbital can now be stored with your other S8’s, but a separate drug register must be used to record pentobarbital usage.

Pentobarbital may also be obtained by animal welfare organisations and local councils for the use for the humane destruction of animals (more details here).

3 - Stock Take Frequency

Stock Takes must now be done for S8s at least every 3 months. Previously, this was only required in March and September.

4 - Supply between Veterinary Hospitals

Wholesale supply of Schedule 2, 3, 4 or 8 substances between superintendents of licensed veterinary hospitals is now permitted. The supply must be:

on a written order by the person requesting it
for the treatment of a single animal
for a minimum quantity that is necessary for that treated animal

A record of this supply must be kept by both parties.

5 - Urgent Use Medicines from Pharmacies Restricted

Any medications obtained from a pharmacy for urgent clinical needs are now limited to items:

registered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), or
registered with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), or
manufactured under an APVMA permit.

You must supply a written and signed order for the pharmacist to supply the medicine. A record of the supply must be made and kept for two years.

6 - Prescriptions for Unowned Animals

Prescriptions issued by a veterinary practitioner for an animal without an owner may now include a unique identifier assigned to the animal instead of the animal owner's name and address.

7 - New Standards for Drug Storage and e-CDRs

There will be new:

Medicines Storage Standards
Electronic Drug Register Standards

It will be mandatory for all health practitioners to comply with them. These 2 sets of standards will be distributed soon

8 - Sample Restriction

Medicine samples of Schedule 4D and Schedule 8 medicines are no longer permitted.

9 - Terminology Changes

There will be some terminology changes:

Schedule 8 substance or medicine replaces Drug of addiction
Schedule 4 substance or medicine replaces Restricted substance
Schedule 4D substance or medicine replaces Prescribed restricted substance, Schedule 4 Appendix D
Nominated Schedule 4 substance or medicine replaces Certain restricted substance
Schedule 4D substance that is an anabolic-androgenic steroidal substance replaces Special restricted substance, Schedule 4 Appendix B

Vet S8 can help you handle these changes with ease

Pentobarbital is automatically logged on a separate register to your other controlled drugs on Vet S8, so you don’t have to think about it.
Stock Check Frequencies - set up stock check email reminders to make sure you never miss one,
Log transfer of stock between different veterinary hospitals by using our Stock Transfer feature.

If you’d like to read more about the legislation changes on the NSW Government website, you can find it here.