The Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) has recently issued a reminder that introducers who have introduced industrial chemicals for commercial purposes during the 2025–26 registration year (1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026) must submit the annual declaration for that registration year by 30 November 2026.
Declaration Obligation and Submission Method
Under the Industrial Chemicals Act 2019, the annual declaration is a statutory obligation for introducers. The 2025–26 registration year runs from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026, and the declaration for the applicable year must be completed by 30 November 2026. Businesses can submit it by logging in to AICIS Business Services, the online platform of AICIS.
Introduction Categories to Be Declared
When submitting the annual declaration, introducers must select the applicable introduction categories in light of their actual introduction activities during the registration year, which mainly include the following six categories:
- Listed introduction: the chemical substance introduced is listed on the Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals (AIIC), and the introduction complies with the Inventory terms of listing;
- Exempted introduction: the introduction meets the criteria for the exempted category under the legislation, such as introductions where the highest indicative risk is very low risk, polymers of low concern, low-concern biological polymers, industrial chemicals solely for use in research and development, manufactured soap, industrial chemicals imported and subsequently exported, industrial chemicals comparable to listed industrial chemicals, polymers comparable to listed polymers, and industrial chemicals resulting from non-functionalised surface treatment of listed industrial chemicals; some exempted introductions also require a post-introduction declaration to be submitted at the same time;
- Reported introduction: the introduction meets the criteria for the reported category, and a pre-introduction report has been submitted as required;
- Assessed introduction: the declaring business is the holder of an assessment certificate, or its introduction is covered by an assessment certificate in force;
- Commercial evaluation introduction: the declaring business holds a commercial evaluation authorisation;
- Exceptional circumstance introduction: the introduction has been authorised by the Minister through an exceptional circumstances authorisation.
ChemRadar Insights
The annual declaration covers introduction activities throughout the entire registration year, regardless of when or how much a business introduced during the year. Any business that has carried out introductions for commercial purposes (including importation and domestic manufacture) between 1 September 2025 and 31 August 2026 must submit the declaration. Businesses exporting to Australia are advised to review all introduction records for this period in advance and make truthful declarations according to the actual introduction categories. In addition, the determination of introduction categories is interlinked with obligations such as the post-introduction declaration; businesses with questions are advised to confirm them before submission, so as to avoid compliance risks arising from omissions or misreporting.
CIRS Services
CIRS Group can provide businesses exporting to Australia with compliance support services covering the entire AICIS process. For more information, please contact CIRS Group:
- AIIC Listing Verification
- GLP Laboratory
- Business Registration
- Introduction Categorisation
- Annual Declaration Preparation
