Pill testing will be trialled in Australia for the first time after the green light was given for this weekend's Groovin the Moo festival in Canberra.

Festival promoter Cattleyard gave the pill-testing trial the final tick of approval after weeks of stalemate with the ACT Government, police and health officials.

Cattleyard initially made a series of demands that could not be agreed to under ACT law, causing Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris to urge the promoter to "reconsider the potential impact of drug taking on a young life … and the role pill-testing at this event could play to protect young people from such harm".

Under the trial, festival-goers will be able to have their illegal drugs tested for chemicals by independent group STA-SAFE.

According to health experts, young people were less likely to consume drugs once they knew what was in them.

In confirming pill testing at the festival, the ACT Government said the trial "[did] not condone illicit drug use".

"However, [it] will provide an opportunity to encourage people who are considering using illicit drugs to modify their behaviour in ways that reduce risks of harm to their health," Ms Fitzharris said.

The University of Canberra (UC) — where the music festival is being held — confirmed its support last month but the final approval comes just days out from the festival on Sunday.

Last November an ACT Government-approved trial was scuttled in the weeks leading up to the Spilt Milk festival, resulting in revellers turning to do-it-yourself kits.

That festival was held on Commonwealth land and required a event licence from the National Capital Authority.

Festival organisers blamed issues with documentation as reasons to pull out of the trial, but there were also allegations of pressure being applied to the promotor.

Prior to the festival ACT shadow attorney-general Jeremy Hanson wrote to the then-minister for local government Fiona Nash and Health Minister Greg Hunt expressing his concern about a pill-testing trial taking place on Commonwealth land.

There is no evidence that letter had any influence on the outcome of the trial.

The Groovin the Moo trial comes after years of lobbying by pill-testing advocates and months of negotiations with officials.

Festival-goers will remain anonymous

Festival-goers who utilise pill testing will be informed which chemicals are in the drugs and given any information on known side-effects of taking them.

Party-goers will remain anonymous but consortium STA-SAFE will collect information about their drug habits to feed to authorities to help formulate policy.

No law changes are required to carry out the trial.

ACT Health describes pill testing as a harm-reduction measure, that helps takers avoid taking unknown and potentially dangerous substances often found in illicit drugs.

Pill testing is already undertaken in about 20 countries in Europe, the Americas and New Zealand.