1 September 2025
Home News AICIS’ Updated Industrial Chemicals Categorisation Guidelines

 

  1. Background and Context

The Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS)—administered by the Department of Health and Aged Care—has released its revamped Industrial Chemicals Categorisation Guidelines, effective from 1 September 2025

These guidelines serve as a critical regulatory tool, outlining how importers and manufacturers (referred to as “introducers”) must categorise chemicals not listed on the Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals (AIIC), shaping their obligations under AICIS.

  1. Consultation and Feedback

A public consultation was held between 24 October and 5 December 2024, gathering input on proposed changes to the Guidelines. Only five submissions were received, with most stakeholders supporting the proposed updates. AICIS has moved ahead to implement all proposed changes without modification

  1. What’s New in the 2025 Guidelines

Key updates in the 2025 Guidelines include:

  1. a) Expansion of the High-Hazard Chemicals List
  • 116 new entries from external hazard sources have been added to the “List of chemicals with high hazards for categorisation”
  • Additionally, 4 chemicals assessed directly by AICIS have also been added
  • Notably, these chemicals have hazard characteristics in human health hazard band C or environment hazard bands C or D—the highest AICIS hazard bands—meaning their introduction likely cannot be categorised as low‑risk and thus may require stricter regulatory steps
  1. b) Institutionalisation of Annual Updates

AICIS will now issue updated Guidelines every year in September, aligned with the AICIS registration cycle (1 September to 31 August)

The schedule is structured as follows:

  • Public consultation on proposed changes: September–October of the preceding year.
  • Finalised updates announced in February–March, allowing a six-month transition for compliance
  1. Why This Matters

The updated Guidelines are significant because they:

  • Elevate chemical safety by ensuring newly identified high‑hazard substances are regulated with due caution.
  • Provide certainty for the regulated community via a transparent, annual update cycle and defined transition periods.
  • Improve accessibility and clarity in the documentation, making it easier for introducers to navigate the categorisation process.
  1. What Introducers Should Do Next

Importers and manufacturers should:

  • Download the 1 September 2025 version of the Guidelines from the AICIS website
  • Review the expanded high-hazard list, focusing particularly on the 120 new chemicals (116 external entries + 4 AICIS-assessed ones).
  • Assess whether their chemical introductions are impacted—especially those previously eligible for exemption may now fall into higher categorisation steps.
  • Plan ahead for future updates, noting the September annual release and six-month implementation buffer.