The Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) has finalized amendments to the “AICIS Industrial Chemicals Categorisation Guidelines 2026.” These changes are scheduled to officially take effect in September 2026. The following sections outline the specific revisions to the guidelines, AICIS’s responses to seven public submissions, and the subsequent implementation arrangements.
I. Core Changes to the Guidelines
(A) Update to the List of High-Hazard Chemicals
- New Entries: Added 293 new items based on external source updates and recent AICIS evaluations.
- Revisions: Updated 122 existing entries to supplement data sources or refine chemical hazard details.
- Corrections: Corrected the CAS number for bis(pentachlorophenyl) carbonate to 7497-08-7.
- Removals: Removed 1,1,1-trichloroethane (CAS 71-55-6) 그리고 fluorotriphenyltin (CAS 379-52-5), as they are no longer present in the original source documents.
(B) Regulatory Adjustments for High-Hazard Salts and Esters
- Specific Additions: In Section 6.5.2 (Information required to demonstrate absence of developmental toxicity), five 1H-benzotriazole derivatives (including chemical names and CAS numbers) have been added. Introducers must now confirm that the introduced substance is not a salt of these specific chemicals to prove there is no developmental toxicity hazard.
- Exemption Criteria: Clarified that exceptions for such salts include high-molecular-weight polymers with low levels of low-molecular-weight substances, or substances with a molecular weight $\ge$ 1,000 g/mol.
(C) Unified Definition of “Chemical Identity Holder”
- Based on stakeholder feedback, a single new definition has been introduced to replace two existing definitions in Section 2.2.1 of the current guidelines to improve clarity.
- New Definition: Regarding industrial chemicals, a Chemical Identity Holder refers to a person who knows the specific chemical identity information of that chemical. This entity is required to fulfill the reporting obligations under Chapter 3 of the Industrial Chemicals (General) Rules.
(D) Other Minor Revisions
- Updated relevant links within the guidelines and made minor editorial adjustments based on suggestions from the public consultation.
II. Response to Public Feedback
AICIS received a total of seven public submissions. While some comments fell outside the scope of the consultation, the core feedback and AICIS’s responses focused on three key areas:
(A) Regarding the List of High-Hazard Chemicals
- Feedback on International Alignment: In response to concerns that adding chemicals based on AICIS evaluations might create a “uniquely Australian” framework, AICIS clarified that the list is not a classification framework. Evaluations consider all available data, including overseas information. The list serves to ensure that introducers do not need to generate extra toxicity data, while high-hazard chemicals must undergo AICIS risk assessment before introduction.
- Feedback on Viruses: Regarding concerns that including viruses exceeds AICIS’s scope and increases regulatory burden, AICIS replied that biological entities not defined as “chemicals” are excluded. However, viruses can be classified as UVCB substances (Unknown or Variable composition, Complex reaction products or Biological materials). Including viruses with industrial uses ensures they are categorized appropriately.
- Feedback on CAS Numbers: Regarding the lack of CAS numbers for some entries, AICIS noted this is due to original source documents not providing them. They will explore optimizing list retrieval methods (e.g., searching via full names or fragments).
(B) Regarding High-Hazard Salts and Esters
- Feedback on Scientific Basis: Some stakeholders argued that including salts and esters of 1H-benzotriazoles lacked scientific evidence or would impact current introductions.
- Clarifications: AICIS confirmed that only salts are included in Section 6.5.2; the inclusion of “esters” was a clerical error and has been corrected.
- Rationale: Assessments indicate that the parent chemicals possess developmental toxicity; their salts dissociate into the parent chemicals, making their inclusion scientifically sound.
- Impact: This change is not expected to affect existing introductions in Australia, as these salts are primarily used commercially overseas and are currently not in use within Australia.
(C) Regarding the “Chemical Identity Holder” Definition
- Of the six submissions received, two supported the proposal while others suggested optimizations for clarity.
- Outcome: AICIS revised the definition to clarify that it applies to the reporting provisions of the Industrial Chemicals (General) Rules 2019. If an introducer does not know the chemical identity information, the Chemical Identity Holder must provide it.
III. Subsequent Arrangements
The Executive Director of AICIS will officially release the new version of the Industrial Chemicals Categorisation Guidelines in September 2026.
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