On 15 December 2020, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announced that certain low dose cannabidiol (CBD) preparations would be down-scheduled from Schedule 4 (Prescription Medicine) to Schedule 3 (Pharmacist Only Medicine) of the Poisons Standard.1 This means that low-dose CBD products, containing up to a maximum of 150 mg/day, for use in adults will be permitted to be supplied over-the-counter by pharmacists without a prescription. CBD products will only be permitted to be supplied over-the-counter if they are approved by the TGA, are included on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) and comply with specific packaging and dosage requirements under the Poisons Standard.
This decision follows a public review conducted by the TGA in early 2020 which indicated that the use of CBD in low doses would be unlikely to result in serious adverse health consequences. This decision also increases the previously proposed maximum daily dose limit from 60 mg/day to 150 mg/day. For more information on the public review or the interim decision regarding the scheduling of CBD products, see our previous Insights of 4 May 2020 and 14 September 2020.
Companies who wish to sponsor the registration of low-dose CBD may now apply to the TGA for inclusion of Schedule 3 CBD products on the ARTG. For more information relating to this decision or the regulation of CBD in Australia, please contact us.
1. See Therapeutic Goods Administration, ‘Notice of final decision to amend (or not amend) the current Poisons Standard – cannabidiol’ (15 December 2020).
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