Hazardous goods
Products containing ingredients with the potential to harm people or the environment because of their chemical properties are subject to strict legislative control in Australia. This includes household cleaning products and medicines containing poisonous substances. A range of legislation imposes restrictions on the storage, handling, transportation, packaging, labelling and advertising of these goods.
Many of the labelling and packaging requirements for poisons are set out in the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons and are adopted in various degrees by legislation. They require the inclusion of information such as usage instructions, cautions and safety directions. Special packaging is sometimes required, as in the case of child-resistant safety closures.
Dangerous goods legislation also contains requirements for the transportation, labelling and construction of packaging of goods that are explosive, poisonous, flammable or corrosive.