A department's reading of the legislation

Cosmetic use substances

NSW Health, Pharmaceutical Services. Published page, New South Wales.

Version
Current as at 6 July 2026
Last read
7 October 2026

Recorded as the department's reading of the new framework, not as law. The page outlines the requirements that apply from 5 November 2026 to prescribers, nurses and cosmetic businesses: the list of cosmetic use substances, directions, administration, storage, record keeping and penalties. Read it beside Part 9 of the Regulation rather than in place of it.

What changed

  • 5 November 2026Requirements apply from 5 November 2026The page states that from 5 November 2026 the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act and Regulation are replaced by the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2022 and Regulation 2026, and that the page outlines the requirements that apply from then.
    • Lists cosmetic use substances as Schedule 4 medicines: botulinum toxins, dermal fillers and similar products (calcium hydroxylapatite, collagen, hyaluronic acid and its polymers, polyacrylamide, polycaprolactone, polylactic acid) and deoxycholic acid
    • Says a prescriber must personally review the patient in person or by video consultation before prescribing or giving a written direction, and that a verbal direction is only allowed if the prescriber is physically present at administration
    • Says written directions are valid for 6 months and must be signed
    • Says a nurse may administer under a direction, or administer a substance lawfully prescribed and dispensed for the patient
    • Says storage must be in a non-public area, apart from food, in a way that prevents contamination and in line with the label
    • Says responsible providers keep copies of directions and administration records, and that directions and records are made and kept for 2 years
    • Says penalties come in 5 tiers, from 20 to 400 penalty units for individuals and 100 to 2000 for corporations
  • 6 July 2026Current as at 6 July 2026The page's own currency date.
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