Updates (Dec 16, 2022):
On December 16, 2022, the proposed decisions (as the table below shows) of listing 8 chemicals in different schedules of the IChEMS Register were adopted. 3 POPs are listed in Schedule 7 as they are of the highest concern and pose the greatest risk to the environment. They are prohibited from import, manufacture and use in Australia.
The latest scheduling decisions can be searched here. The search results provide control measures to manage the environmental risks of listed chemicals as well.
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Updates (Nov 9, 2022):
On November 9, 2022, the Australian Government opened a public consultation on the first proposed decisions of listing chemicals in different schedules of the IChEMS Register. Comments are welcome before December 7, 2022. The proposed decisions cover 8 chemicals. Below are details of them.
Chemical name | CAS No. | Proposed decision |
Hexabromobiphenyl (HBB) | 36355-01-8 (and others) | Schedule 7 |
Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) | 87-68-3 | |
Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCN) | 70776-03-3 (and others) | |
Note1: A public invitation was issued in August 2022 to call for information on the avovemetioned 3 POPs listed in the Stockholm Convention, aiming to help develop draft scheduling decisions for them under the IChEMS (see the previous article below). *Once the decisions adopted, they shall be prohibited from import, manufacture and use in Australia. | ||
Chemical name | CAS No. | Proposed decision |
13-Oxabicyclo[10.1.0]trideca-4,8-diene, (1R,4E,8Z,12R)-rel- | 55722-64-0 | Schedule 3 |
4-Pentenal, 5-cyclohexyl-2,4-dimethyl-, (4E)- | 1449104-34-0 | |
2-Oxazolidinone, 3-ethenyl-5-methyl- | 3395-98-0 | Schedule 2 |
Siloxanes and Silicones, di-Me, hydroxy-terminated, polymers with 3-(trimethoxysilyl)-N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]-1-propanamine | 189959-16-8 | |
2-Propenoic acid, 2-methyl-, butyl ester, polymers with alkyl methacrylate, substituted-methylethyl-terminated hydrogenated polyalkene methacrylate, Me methacrylate and styrene | Protected information | Schedule 1 |
Note2: The 5 chemicals above are of lower environmental concern, and they were recently granted an assessment certificate by the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS). For the controls of them, see the figure below. | ||
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Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) issued a public invitation on August 19, 2022, calling for up-to-date information on the introduction, use or disposal of 4 chemicals listed in the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), i.e.,
pentachlorobenzene (PeCB);
hexabromobiphenyl (HBB);
hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD); and
polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCN).
The 4 POPs above are thought to be obsolete in Australia. The DCCEEW intends to verify whether they are still entering the Australian market and how they are currently used and disposed of according to the information provided. Such information will also help the authority develop draft scheduling decisions and risk management approaches for the 4 POPs under the Industrial Chemicals Environment Management Standard - IChEMS1. Any related information is welcome before September 19, 2022.
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 20212, which is the supporting regulation for the IChEMS to manage the ongoing use, handling and disposal of industrial chemicals in the country, industrial chemicals circulated in Australia will be listed on the IChEMS Register in 7 schedules based on their environmental risks.
In March 2022, a roadmap to deliver the IChEMS was released (CL news). Chemicals that are listed in international conventions and are not consistently controlled in Australia will be given priority for categorization and scheduling. The international conventions of most interest are:
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants;
Minamata Convention on Mercury; and
Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade.
Things planned to be done under the IChEMS from October 2022 to December 2022:
Calling for information on other POPs listed in Stockholm Convention;
Consulting on the draft IChEMS scheduling decisions for pentachlorobenzene (PeCB), hexabromobiphenyl (HBB), hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCN);
Consulting on draft IChEMS scheduling decisions for chemicals with an AICIS assessment certificate;
Consulting on draft IChEMS scheduling decisions for low-risk chemicals assessed under the AICIS3 and the Evaluation Rolling Action Plan4; and
Establishing the public IChEMS Register.
