On October 12, 2026, the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) opened a public consultation on its official website on the revisions to the Industrial Chemicals Categorisation Guidelines for 2027, with comments due by November 23, 2026. The revision proposes to update the lists of available test methods and to add the endocrine disruptor assessment list of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) as a hazard information source. The final revisions will be published before March 1, 2027 and take effect from September 1, 2027.
Background of the Revision
The Categorisation Guidelines are the core supporting document of AICIS's categorisation system. Based on the Guidelines, enterprises (introducers) categorise the industrial chemicals they introduce (import or manufacture) in Australia into introduction categories such as exempted, reported, assessed, and listed, with different reporting obligations corresponding to different categories. Substances listed on the Australian List of Chemicals with High Hazards for Categorisation attached to the Guidelines cannot, in principle, be introduced under the exempted or reported categories. Under the current arrangement, the Guidelines are revised annually, and the revisions apply from September 1 each year. This consultation mainly covers three areas: the lists of test methods, hazard information sources, and the list of chemicals with high hazards for categorisation.
List of Test Methods: 57 Additions and 3 Deletions Proposed
Regarding test methods, the revision proposes the following adjustments:
- 57 test methods added: for demonstrating whether a chemical has, or does not have, specific human health or environmental hazard characteristics, distributed across Appendix 8.4.1 (human health hazard characteristics), Appendix 8.4.2 (environmental hazard characteristics), and the water solubility testing section. They cover endpoints such as mutagenicity, developmental and reproductive toxicity, eye damage and irritation, skin corrosion and irritation, skin sensitisation, acute and chronic aquatic toxicity, bioaccumulation and bioconcentration, partition coefficient, ready biodegradability, transformation in water-sediment systems, and water solubility, and introduce defined approaches as test pathways for endpoints such as eye damage and irritation and skin corrosion and irritation;
- 3 test methods deleted: including EU Annex V B.43 in Appendix 8.4.1 (which AICIS explains was listed in error), and ISO 10229 and OCSPP 850.1710 in Appendix 8.4.2. AICIS states that these deletions are not expected to have an impact on introducers.
Hazard Information Sources: ECHA Endocrine Disruptor Assessment List to Be Added
Regarding information sources, the revision proposes to add the ECHA endocrine disruptor assessment list as a hazard information source recognised under the Guidelines: substances given the conclusion of "endocrine disruptor for human health" or "endocrine disruptor for the environment" on that list will be regarded as having the corresponding hazard characteristics. Accordingly, the 2027 version of the list of chemicals with high hazards for categorisation will add 10 substances, and these substances will, in principle, no longer be able to be categorised for introduction under the exempted or reported categories.
At the same time, the revision proposes to delete the current information source "European Commission Endocrine Disruptors Strategy" (Category 1: evidence of endocrine activity in at least one animal study). Accordingly, 24 substances will be removed from the 2027 version of the list. Since most of them remain listed through other information sources or are categorised as having medium to high risk, most of the substances are expected to still fall into the assessed introduction category.
Other Updates to the List of Chemicals with High Hazards for Categorisation
In addition to the above adjustments, AICIS has also announced in advance the routine updates to the 2027 version of the list of chemicals with high hazards for categorisation (for information only):
- 286 new entries will be added, and 548 existing entries will be updated;
- The CAS numbers of 4 entries will be corrected, concerning citric acid ammonium nickel salt (CAS 18283-82-4), citric acid nickel salt (CAS 22605-92-1), doxorubicin hydrochloride (CAS 25316-40-9), and tellurium dioxide (CAS 7446-07-3), and one duplicate entry for bisphenol A (CAS 80-05-7) will be deleted;
- Editorial revisions will be made, including standardising the wording of substance names, simplifying table structures, and clarifying some expressions.
ChemRadar Insights
In view of this consultation, enterprises that export to Australia or carry out industrial chemicals introduction activities in Australia may pay attention to the following:
- Submit comments before the deadline: enterprises that have objections to or supplementary suggestions on the proposed revisions may submit their comments through the consultation page on the AICIS website before November 23, 2026;
- Screen affected substances: enterprises are advised to check, against the ECHA endocrine disruptor assessment list and the additions to and removals from the 2027 version of the list, whether the substances they introduce (or intend to introduce) are among the 10 added or the 24 removed substances. Substances on the list of chemicals with high hazards for categorisation cannot in principle be introduced under the exempted or reported categories and are subject to higher reporting obligations;
- Adjust testing and categorisation strategies: the newly added test methods provide more optional pathways for demonstrating whether a chemical has, or does not have, the relevant hazard characteristics. The enterprises concerned may plan testing arrangements and introduction categorisation in view of the entry into force on September 1, 2027;
- Follow the publication of the final revisions: the final revisions will be published before March 1, 2027. Enterprises are advised to follow the 2027 version of the Guidelines as published at that time and adjust their introduction categorisation decisions and compliance arrangements promptly.
