Office of Drug Control (ODC)| Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

Office of Drug Control

We regulate and monitor the cultivation, import, export and manufacture of controlled substances to comply with Australia's obligations under International Drug Conventions. This includes the cultivation of cannabis for medicinal purposes.

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Regulation

We regulate access to controlled drugs for medical and scientific purposes. Other authorities also regulate specific controlled drugs like medicinal cannabis.

International Conventions

Three key international conventions inform how controlled substances are regulated by the Office of Drug Control.
Medicinal cannabis

Manufacturing, cultivating, importing and/or exporting medicinal cannabis in Australia.
Related authorities

Other state and federal government authorities have their own legislation to manage controlled substances.

Industry and travellers

We have information for people who want to import, export or work with controlled drugs.

Cultivators & producers

You must get licences and permits to cultivate, produce, harvest or handle medicinal cannabis in Australia.
Importers

You must get a licence and permit to import commercial quantities of controlled substances into Australia. This includes medicinal cannabis.
Exporters

Drug control information for exporters, including but not limited to medicinal cannabis, narcotic and psychotropic drugs and precursor chemicals from Australia.
Manufacturers

Drug control information for manufacturers, including the manufacture of narcotic and psychotropic drugs in Australia.
Travellers

About travel into or out of Australia with prescription medicines, cannabis products, kava or other controlled substances for yourself or in medical kits for sports teams, military exercises or aid missions.
Health professionals

Information for health professionals who import unapproved drugs which are not listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, into Australia for a single patient (Special Access Scheme) or a class of patients (Authorised prescribers).
Medical aid missions

Drug control information for medical and special aid missions.
Sporting teams

Drug control information for sporting teams travelling into or out of Australia with medicines, medical devices or medical kits.
Military personnel

Drug control information for military personnel travelling into or out of Australia with medicines, medical devices and medication kits.

Search controlled substances

ODC permission is required to import, export, cultivate, manufacture or produce substances in this database.

Browse drug control information by topic

Narcotic and psychotropic drugs

The import, export and manufacture of narcotic and psychotropic substances are tightly controlled.
Kava

Kava brought into Australia has set amounts for personal use or for commercial food use.
Medicinal cannabis

Manufacturing, cultivating, importing and/or exporting medicinal cannabis in Australia.
Khat

Khat (Catha edulis) is a prohibited substance cannot be imported into Australia.
Precursor substances

The import and export of precursor substances into or out of Australia are controlled.
Monitoring and compliance

Find out how we monitor the legal cultivation, production and manufacture of controlled drugs and our compliance activities like inspections and fines.
Hemp products

Importing hemp products into Australia
Anabolic, androgenic, hormones and other controlled substances

Anabolic or androgenic steroids, including hormones require a permit to import into Australia.
Importing vaping goods into Australia

Information for people importing vaping goods into Australia.

News

Read our news and media releases.

Cannatrek Technologies Pty Ltd fined $19,800 for alleged breaches of the Narcotic Drugs Act

23 July 2025

We have issued an infringement notice totalling $19,800 to Queensland-based company Cannatrek Technologies Pty Ltd (Cannatrek) for alleged breaches of its medicinal cannabis licence.
Office of Drug Control newsletter

16 June 2025

We have begun issuing a periodic newsletter designed to keep you informed about the latest developments, key topics, and important issues related to our work and engagement with the industry.
New substances controlled under the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 and Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 1958

5 March 2025

From 1 March 2025, new substances included under Schedule 4 of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 will require a licence and permit for import and/or export issued by us.

Have your say

You can comment on Office of Drug Control reviews and reforms when we run public consultations on the Consultation hub. You'll find information about previous consultations on our consultation page.

Consultation hub - external site