To initiate an application for a new licence or permit to possess (and possibly supply) scheduled substances, or to change an existing licence or permit, the relevant online form must be completed (available from this webpage).
If the applicant has indicated on the application form that they are ready immediately, then normally, within five working days after the application form is successfully submitted, the applicant should expect to be contacted by an officer to arrange a mutually convenient time to conduct an inspection.
If the applicant has indicated on the application form that they are not ready for an inspection immediately, but will be ready at a specific later date, the Department will wait until that specific later date to contact the applicant to arrange a time to conduct an inspection.
In conducting an inspection, an officer may identify matters that require action from the applicant to achieve compliance before the application can proceed. The length of time it takes to act on such matters is entirely dependent on the applicant (and the Department has no control over this).
(For example, if a storage facility intended to be used as part of a proposed permit did not use a locking device, an officer will likely request that the applicant install a locking device onto the facility. In such a case, the Department will then want confirmation that a locking device has been installed. The length of time it takes to install the locking device, and provide confirmation of its installation will be dependent on the applicant, and the Department has no control over how long that will take the applicant to complete).
After any such matters that require action from the applicant to achieve compliance have been acted upon, the length of time it takes the Department for final processing of the application can vary.
Normally, this final processing is carried out within two to three weeks after receiving confirmation from the applicant that any matters that required action to achieve compliance have been acted upon. However, this final processing time can sometimes be extended out to additional weeks during periods when the Department receives a very large number of applications around the same time.
Also bear in mind that, under Sections 19(3)(b) and 19(5) of the Victorian Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act, the Department must be satisfied that an applicant is fit and proper, and that an applicant’s premises is suitable, sanitary and adequately equipped to conduct its proposed activities before the Department can issue a licence or permit.
The Department may be unable to issue a licence or a permit if an applicant is unable to adequately demonstrate this.
The Department is also unable to issue such licences/permits unless the relevant fee has been paid by the applicant.
Reviewed 13 May 2020