Australia Imposes Measures on Brominated Flame Retardants

The Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) proposed to add several brominated flame retardants to the IChEMS Register and public comments can be submitted on proposed scheduling decisions.

IChEMS is a national approach to managing chemical use, storage, handling and disposal. Chemicals will be listed on the IChEMS Register in one of seven schedules, as shown in the following table.

Substances proposed to include to Schedule 6 (Relevant industrial chemicals that are likely to cause serious or irreversible harm to the environment with essential uses):

CAS No.	Substance Name
1163-19-5	decaBDE
63936-56-1	nonaBDE-unspecified congener(s)
63387-28-0	2,2',3,3',4,4',5,5',6-nonabromodiphenyl ether
437701-79-6
437701-78-5

Risk management measures including prohibitions and restrictions:

From July 1, 2025, the import, manufacture and use of the class of chemicals (whether on its own or in mixtures) are prohibited except:

in circumstances where the class of chemicals is present as unintentional trace contamination at the following levels (to be reviewed by the department by 1 July 2027): sum of all nonaBDE congeners: equal to or below 10 mg/kg; and decaBDE: equal to or below 10 mg/kg;
for research or laboratory purposes; or
if a hazardous waste import permit authorizes the import of the class of chemicals; or
for the purpose of the following essential end uses, when used in accordance with relevant risk management measures:

1. spare parts for aircraft that were manufactured prior to 1 January 2027 (until the end of the service life of the aircraft); or
2. aircraft (until 1 January 2027); or
3. polyurethane foam for building insulation (until 1 January 2027); or
4. electric and electronic equipment (until 1 January 2027); or
5. spare parts for motor vehicles that were manufactured prior to 2019 (until 1 January 2036); or
6. textile products (other than clothing and toys) that require anti-flammable characteristics (until 1 January 2027).

From July 1, 2025, the import, manufacture and use of an article containing the class of chemicals are prohibited except:

1. in circumstances where polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are present in the article as an unintentional trace contaminant at a level equal to or below 500 mg/kg as the sum of all tetra-, penta-, hexa-, hepta-, octa-, nona- and decaBDE congeners (to be reviewed by the department by 1 July 2027); or
2. for research or laboratory purposes; or
3. if a hazardous waste import permit authorises the import of the article; or
4. in circumstances in which the article is already in use on or before 1 July 2025; or
5. Essential end uses mentioned in (d) when used in accordance with relevant risk management measures.

Substances proposed to include to Schedule 7 (Relevant industrial chemicals that are likely to cause serious or irreversible harm to the environment with no essential uses):

I. Pentabromodiphenyl Ether (PBDEs)

CAS No	Substance Name	Remarks
40088-47-9	Tetrabromodiphenyl ether -unspecified congeners	Including all 42 tetrabrominated congeners
32534-81-9	Pentabromodiphenyl ether -unspecified congeners	Including 46 pentabrominated congeners
32536-52-0	Octabromodiphenyl ether	Including 12 octabrominated congeners
36483-60-0	Hexabromodiphenyl ether	Including 42 hexabrominated congeners
68928-80-3	Heptabromodiphenyl ether	Including 24 heptabrominated congeners

Risk management measures including prohibitions and restrictions:

From July 1, 2024, the import, manufacture and use of the class of chemicals (whether on its own or in mixtures) are prohibited except:

1. in circumstances where the class of chemicals is present as unintentional trace contamination at the following levels (to be reviewed by the department by 1 July 2027): sum of all tetraBDE congeners: equal to or below 10 mg/kg; and sum of all pentaBDE congeners: equal to or below 10 mg/kg; or
2. for research or laboratory purposes; or
3. if a hazardous waste import permit authorises the import of the class of chemicals.

From July 1, 2024, the import, manufacture and use of an article containing the class of chemicals are prohibited except:

1. in circumstances where polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are present in the article as an unintentional trace contaminant at a level equal to or below 500 mg/kg as the sum of all tetra-, penta-, hexa-, hepta-, octa-, nona- and decaBDE congeners (to be reviewed by the department by 1 July 2027); or
2. for research or laboratory purposes; or
3. if a hazardous waste import permit authorises the import of the article; or
4. in circumstances in which the article is already in use on or before 1 July 2024.

II. Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)

CAS No	Substance Name
25637-99-4	Hexabromocyclododecane
3194-55-6
134237-50-6
134237-51-7
134237-52-8

Risk management measures including prohibitions and restrictions:

From July 1, 2024, the import, manufacture and use of the chemical (whether on its own or in mixtures) are prohibited except:

1. in circumstances where the chemical is present as unintentional trace contamination at a level equal to or below 100 mg/kg (to be reviewed by the department by 1 July 2027); or
2. for research or laboratory purposes; or
3. if a hazardous waste import permit authorises the import of the chemical.

From July 1, 2024, the import, manufacture and use of an article containing the chemical are prohibited except:

1. in circumstances where the chemical is present in the article as unintentional trace contamination at a level equal to or below 100 mg/kg (to be reviewed by the department by 1 July 2027); or
2. for research or laboratory purposes; or
3. if a hazardous waste import permit authorises the import of the article; or
4. in circumstances in which the article is already in use on or before 1 July 2024.

Further Information:

Australian government