'Introductions of 10 kg or Less Rules 2022' amended in Australia after consultation

On 15 November 2022 the Australian Industrial Chemicals Rules 2019 has been amended regarding introductions of 10 kg or less. The amended rules, Industrial Chemicals (General) Amendment (Introductions of 10 kg or Less) Rules 2022, is a result of a consultation held by the Australian Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) in October 2022.

For listed introductions (import or manufacture) it is now possible to choose to keep a simple set of records, if the introduced chemical is listed in the Australian Inventory for Industrial Chemicals (AIIC) and the combined volume of the chemical that is introduced in an AICIS registration year (from 1 September to 31 August) is 10 kg or less. This means that if the introducer of the chemical knows the CAS number to the chemical, they must keep a record of the CAS number and the CAS name (or INCI) name. If the introducer does not know the CAS number, they must keep a record of the CAS name, IUPAC name, or INCI name as well as records to indicate that the chemical is listed on the inventory. This information could be obtained for the chemical supplier.  

Reported introductions of 10 kg or less now have reduced reporting and record-keeping obligations compared to other reported introduction types. A pre-introduction report (PIR) must be submitted if the chemical to be introduced is in the reported category and is not on the AIIC or if it is on the AIIC, but the introduction is outside the parameters of the defined scope of assessment. Introducers must keep records for 5 years including written or electronic record of the chemical names provided in the PIR, the names of any products containing the chemical that has been imported into Australia, and records showing that the criteria for reported introduction 10 kg or less are met.

Other changes made as a result of the feedback the AICIS received during the consultation:

• The definition of GHS has been changed so that it now refers to the GHS edition in use by SafeWork Australia. This signifies that the Industrial Rules 2019 will not need to be amended when SafeWork Australia updates its GHS edition.
• Introductions can be classified as reported as long as the introducer does not hold information to suggest that the chemical does not satisfy the criteria for germ cell mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, or reproductive toxicity hazards classes in the GHS.