Codeine-based products, such as Panadeine and Nurofen Plus, will become prescription only after the Therapeutic Goods Administration found restricted access would reduce addiction and deadly overdoses.

With the ability to supply the world’s medicinal poppy needs due to high productivity and ideal growing conditions, Tasmania produces high quality poppies but growers are looking at the bigger picture.

Poppy Growers Tasmania chief executive Keith Rice said codeine was not a large market for Australia, as most of the product was processed overseas and brought back to the country in medicinal form, but any decrease would be felt.

“We support the growers and it’s highly likely there will be some decrease in demand, but that must be measured against any abuse,” Mr Rice said.

“Our industry has always supported a strong management case. It must be at the highest standard and have safeguards,” he said.

Growers support controlled management of medicine produced using their poppies, but there has been criticism against the government’s decision to restrict over-the-counter sales.

“People will feel disadvantaged by having to go to the doctor when they have their own pain management system that works for them,” Mr Rice said.

Health minister Greg Hunt said moving codeine to prescription only was recommended by the Advisory Committee on Medicines Scheduling.

“Over-the-counter codeine products have been estimated to be a factor in nearly 100 deaths each year, with evidence that three in four pain-killer misusers had misused an over-the-counter codeine product in the last 12 months,” Mr Hunt said.