On November 13, 2025, Australia announced its annual update plan for the Industrial Chemicals Categorisation Guidelines and is seeking public comment on two related proposals. The consultation period will close on January 28, 2026, with the plan scheduled to take effect formally in September 2026.
The main contents of this update include:
Revisions to the List of Chemicals with High Hazards for Categorisation
The List of Chemicals with High Hazards for Categorisation is a reference resource that importers and manufacturers must use when determining the introduction category of a chemical. It includes chemicals identified by domestic and international authorities as posing high hazards to human health or the environment.
- Addition of 249 new chemicals
- 81 of these are chemicals that AICIS has assessed or evaluated since the last update to the list.
- 215 of these are chemicals from other list sources.
- 2 of these chemicals are being added as a result of both an AICIS evaluation and their addition to another list source.
These chemicals all meet at least one of the following high hazard criteria:
- Human Health Hazard Band C; OR
- Environmental Hazard Band C or D.
Consequently, the introduction of most of these chemicals will no longer qualify for the exempted or reported categories.
- Update of information for 121 existing chemical entries, including additions to other source lists or changes to hazard details.
- Removal of 2 chemicals: 1,1,1-Trichloroethane (CAS 71-55-6) and Fluoro(triphenyl)stannane (CAS 379-52-5). However, these remain subject to other regulatory controls, and their import will continue to be restricted.
- Correction of the CAS number for one chemical: The CAS number for Bis(pentachlorophenyl) carbonate will be corrected to 7497-08-7.
List of added and updated chemicals:
Two Proposals for Revising the Industrial Chemicals Categorisation Guidelines
- Proposal 1: Addition of 5 high-hazard salts and esters
Due to findings that their salts or esters may exhibit developmental toxicity, it is proposed to list the following 5 chemicals in Schedule 6.5.2 of the Guidelines. Introducers would need to confirm that the chemical they are introducing is not a salt or ester of these specific chemicals. Furthermore, consultation is sought on whether salts or esters of other chemicals, due to their high hazard properties, should also be added to Schedule 6.
|
Chemical name |
CAS registry number |
|
1H-Benzotriazole, 6-chloro- |
94-97-3 |
|
1H-Benzotriazole |
95-14-7 |
|
1H-Benzotriazole, 6-methyl- |
136-85-6 |
|
1H-Benzotriazole, 6(or 7)-methyl- |
29385-43-1 |
|
1H-Benzotriazole, 7-methyl- |
29878-31-7 |
- Proposal 2: Single definition for chemical identity holder
Current dual definition:
Chemical identity holder, in relation to an industrial chemical, means a person who knows the chemical identity of the industrial chemical, including its proper name and Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number (CAS number), if assigned.
Chemical identity holder, in relation to a flavour or fragrance blend introduction, means a person who knows the chemical identity of the industrial chemicals in the flavour or fragrance blend, including the proper names and Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Numbers (CAS numbers), if assigned.
Proposed single definition:
Chemical identity holder, in relation to an industrial chemical, means a person who has provided the Executive Director with information relating to the chemical identity of the industrial chemical, in accordance with the relevant sections of Chapter 3 of the IC General Rules.
Further Information
