Australia Rolls out Guidance for Categorization of Chemical Introduction

Recently, the Australian government published a step-by-step guide ^[1] on how to categorize chemical introduction under its new chemical regulatory framework, Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS).

Later starting from July 1 this year, the AICIS will replace the existing National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS). Focusing on the likely risk of any industrial chemical, the AICIS requires businesses to categorize each chemical importation or manufacture (introduction) into one of the following 5 categories:

• Listed introduction: introduction of a chemical which is on the Inventory and already available for industrial use in Australia

• Exempted introduction: introduction of a chemical with very low risk

• Reported introduction: introduction of a chemical with low risk

• Assessed introduction: introduction of a chemical with medium to high risk

• Commercial evaluation authorization: time limited authorization granted to help an introducer determine a chemical's commercial potential

The Minister for Health can also authorize chemical introductions under exceptional circumstances.

To further facilitate businesses’ understanding and practices, a set of decision tools ^[2] were also released to help them work through the steps towards the categorization of chemical introductions.