The hazard classifications in the Australian List of chemicals with high hazards for categorisation are based on recommendations from other countries and international bodies. Under AICIS requirements for the introduction of industrial chemicals, introducers must classify their industrial chemicals in accordance with the categorisation procedures set out in the Chemical Categorisation Guide prior to introduction. Different introduction categories correspond to different compliance requirements and obligations. The List serves as a screening tool to assist introducers in classifying introduced chemicals based on available information, while preventing known high-concern chemicals from being categorised as very low risk (exempted introduction) or low risk (reported introduction). Specifically, when determining whether a chemical should be categorised as exempt or reported, introducers must use the List in Steps 4-6 of the categorisation procedure (i.e., assessing human health risks, assessing environmental risks, and finalising the introduction category) to demonstrate that the chemical does not possess certain hazardous properties, as required by the Guide.

The latest version of Australian List of chemicals with high hazards for categorisation is available !

Recently, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan announced that, as per the provisions of the Industrial Safety and Health Act (ISHA), 171 chemical substances published on March 27, 2026, have been added to the Japan ISHA-Newly Announced Chemical Substances. These newly added chemicals primarily include substances known to be used in the workplace and potentially impacting worker health.
The update from the Ministry provides detailed information including the names of the chemicals, official gazette numbers, CAS numbers, chemical structural formulas, and classification codes, enabling businesses and research institutions to more accurately identify and manage these substances.

171 substances were added to the Japan ISHA-Newly Announced Chemical Substances-April 9, 2024

On March 27, 2026, the Korea Chemicals Management Association (KCMA) issued Public Notice No. 2026-5, announcing partial amendments to the "Designation Notice on Acutely Toxic Substances to Humans, Chronically Toxic Substances to Humans, and Ecologically Hazardous Substances" under the Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals (K-REACH) and its Enforcement Decree. These revisions primarily involve changes to substance names and the addition of multiple unique identification numbers, aiming to further strengthen the safety management of chemical substances.

According to the revised content, in the attached table of "Acutely Toxic Substances to Humans, Chronically Toxic Substances to Humans, and Ecologically Hazardous Substances," the names of three substances with unique identification numbers "97-1-119," "97-1-379," and "97-1-417" will be modified. Additionally, 74 new hazardous substances have been added after unique identification number "2025-1-1280," with numbers ranging from "2026-1-1281" to "2026-1-1354."

This public notice shall take effect on July 1, 2026; however, for sodium hypochlorite (unique identification number 2026-1-1354), the effective date of its designation is deferred to January 1, 2028.

Updating the Korea List of Toxic Chemical Substances (CCA)-NICS Notice No. 2026-5

On April 10, 2026, the Australian Government issued a notice under section 94 of the Industrial Chemicals Act 2019, amending the inventory listing terms for one chemical following the revocation of the approval to use the correct industrial chemical names as Confidential Business Information (CBI).

A substance was added to the Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals (AIIC)

On March 23, 2026, the Australian Government issued a notification to include a chemical substance in the Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals, in compliance with Section 82 of the Industrial Chemicals Act 2019.

The Technical Committee on Chemical Physical Hazard Identification and Classification officially released the "Catalogue of Chemicals Exempted from Physical Hazard Identification and Classification (First Batch)" on December 27, 2016. This catalogue serves as an important supporting document for the implementation of the "Measures for the Administration of Chemical Physical Hazard Identification and Classification." The first batch includes a total of 100 chemicals, of which 50 are substances explicitly determined to have no physical hazards, and 50 are chemicals known to possess physical hazards. Chemicals listed in this catalogue may be exempted from physical hazard identification and classification.

It is noteworthy that exemption from identification and classification does not mean exemption from all compliance obligations. For chemicals in the catalogue known to have physical hazards, enterprises are still required to complete hazardous chemical registration in accordance with the law and prepare Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and safety labels as required. For chemicals without physical hazards, if assessment reveals that they possess health or environmental hazards, they are likewise required to fulfill hazardous chemical registration obligations. The release of this catalogue clarifies the scope of exemptions for enterprises, avoids redundant identification, and promotes the standardization of chemical classification management.

China Inventory of Chemicals Exempted from Physical Hazard Identification and Classification is available

On September 8, 2025 (the 114th year of the Republic of China), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the Ministry of Labor in the Taiwan Region of China issued an announcement stating that, in accordance with the 'Operational Guidelines for the Submission and Supplemental Submission of Existing Chemical Substances under the Pre-reorganization Council of Labor Affairs, Ministry of Labor' and the 'Regulations on the Registration of New and Existing Chemical Substances by the Ministry of Environment,' the data protection period for existing chemical substances classified as data-protected substances (identified by serial numbers beginning with P and C) expired on September 7, 2025 (the 114th year of the Republic of China). Effective September 8, information on these substances has been officially disclosed to the public, with a total of 628 substances being released.

TCSI is the core inventory for chemical substance management in the Taiwan Region of China, encompassing approximately 10w substances. The disclosure of these 628 substances provides critical compliance references for industries, enabling enterprises to access reviewed registration data to optimize their own declaration processes. With the continued implementation of the periodic review mechanism for data confidentiality, it is anticipated that more substances whose protection periods have expired will gradually be disclosed in the future. This will further advance the region's chemical management system toward a risk-based approach aligned with international standards.

628 substances were added to the Taiwan Chemical Substance Inventory (TCSI)

The Existing and New Chemical Substances Inventory (ENCS) of Japan has been updated to the latest version, incorporating updates from the official announcements made on February 17, 2026.

Substances were added to the Japan Existing and New Chemical Substances Inventory (ENCS)-(as of Feb 17,2026)

Recently, Japan issued an updated announcement, classifying the following 1 substance as Priority Assessment Chemicals.

The details of the new substances are as follows:
Dimethyl sulfate quaternized reaction product of fatty acids(C=10-20 and C=16-18 unsaturated) and 2,2',2''-nitrilotriethanol（CAS: 91995-81-2)

Updated Japan CSCL-Priority Assessment Chemicals as of February 17, 2026

Recently, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan has released an update notice that includes 4 substances to the list of newly announced chemical substances prior to March 31, 2011, with the number of substance groups remaining unchanged (7,413).

Update History