What is Schedule 9?
Schedule 9 is the most restrictive category in Australia’s Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons, administered by the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration). Substances in Schedule 9 are classified as “Prohibited Substances”, their manufacture, possession, sale, and use are illegal except for approved medical or scientific research.
Kratom’s primary alkaloid, mitragynine, is classified as Schedule 9 in Australia. This effectively bans kratom across all Australian states and territories. It is illegal to import, possess, sell, or use kratom in Australia, and violations can carry significant criminal penalties. Unlike the UK, where the PSA 2016 prohibits sale but permits personal possession, Australia criminalizes all aspects, including possession for personal use.
This classification places mitragynine alongside substances like heroin and MDMA in terms of regulatory severity, which kratom advocates have criticized as disproportionate to kratom’s actual risk profile. That said, efforts to reclassify kratom in Australia have not gained significant traction, and the Schedule 9 designation remains firmly in place.
For anyone considering importing kratom into Australia, the risk is real. Packages are likely to be intercepted by customs, and legal consequences can follow.
How It’s Used
Schedule 9 is referenced in discussions about kratom legality in Australia and in broader comparisons of international regulatory approaches. Australia represents one end of the global spectrum, complete prohibition, contrasted with regulated-access models like the KCPA in the United States or the Novel Food framework in the EU.
For consumers outside Australia, understanding Schedule 9 provides important context about how differently kratom is treated around the world and why checking local laws before purchasing is essential.
Related Terms
See Also
- Legal Status, Kratom legality in Australia
- Guides, International regulatory comparison
