Australian Government is currently consulting on the proposed scheduling decisions - listing three types of PFAS groups (i.e., PFOA, PFOS and PFHxS) and pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) in IChEMS Register Schedule 7. Generally, Schedule 7 chemicals cannot be imported, exported, manufactured or used within Australia, with limited exceptions for unintentional trace contamination, research, disposal, and for articles (products) in use prior to the date of effect of the decision. Comments are welcome before September 1, 2023.
These chemicals are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) included in the Stockholm Convention, which are likely to cause serious or irreversible harm to the environment if not properly managed. As a party to this international treaty, Australia invites the public to make a submission on these proposed scheduling decisions and risk management measures. If adopted, the proposed Schedule 7 decisions for PFOA, PFOS and PFHxS will apply from July 1 of 2025, providing stakeholders time to prepare for the prohibitions on these chemicals before they begin. For PeCB, the proposed scheduling decision will apply from July 1 of 2024.
The proposed decisions and supporting documents can be accessed here.
IChEMS and IChEMS Register IChEMS is a national approach to managing chemical use, storage, handling and disposal in Australia, which will provide more consistent regulation and make it easier for the industry to choose less harmful chemicals. As per the Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Act, industrial chemicals circulated in Australia will be listed on the IChEMS Register in 7 schedules based on their environmental risks. |