Committees

ndp-committees Web Page
Printed 11/25/2009 08:29:55 AM Back Print

Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs (EACD)

The Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act 2000 (the Act) established the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs (EACD) to provide expert advice to the Minister of Health regarding drug classification issues. The EACD:

conducts reviews of controlled drugs and other narcotic or psychotropic substances
recommends to the Minister of Health whether and how such substances should be classified
increases public awareness of its work by (for instance) releasing papers, reports and recommendations.

Drug classification process

The Act now requires the classification of illicit drugs to be based on the risk of harm to individuals or society. The Act requires the EACD to advise the Minister of Health on a range of specific criteria for each substance (see Section 4B(2)), and each paper generally follows a consistent format containing a range of information and evidence.
More about the classification process

Papers on drugs and related substances

Final reports of the EACD, including its recommendations to the Minister, are posted on this website when they are finalised and approved by the Minister of Health.
Browse final reports

Public input to the drug classification process

Interested parties are welcome to lodge written submissions with the Secretariat about any particular drug the EACD will be considering. The EACD Secretariat will publish on this website, as soon as practicable, a list of drugs to be considered by the EACD at future meetings.
More about making a written submission

Committee information