G/TBT/N/AUS/164  
13 October 2023  
(23-6907) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  AUSTRALIA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indic ated if different from above:   
Australian WTO TBT Enquiry Point  
Office of Global Trade Negotiations  
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade  
Canberra ACT 0221  
AUSTRALIA  
tbt.enquiry@dfat.gov.au  
+61 2 6261 1111  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], 3.2 [  ], 7.2 [  ], 
other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  The 
following group of chemicals, and chemical mixtures or articles (finished goods) 
containing the following group of chemicals, when used for an industrial purpose 
(excluding agricultur al, veterinary or therapeutic purposes):  
• Short -chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Proposed 
chemical management standards for Persistent Organic Pollutants; (5 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  The Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard 
(IChEMS) has been developed by all Australian governments to efficiently and effectively 
manage the risks of industrial chemicals to the environment, while prov iding consistent 
requirements for businesses across Australia. The IChEMS Register records standards for 
the environmental management of chemicals, including risk management measures for 
specific industrial uses. In turn, the Australian federal government and each state and 
territory government will enact legislation to implement the standards in their 
jurisdictions.  
The proposed decision will assign the following group of chemicals, and mixtures and 
articles containing the group of chemicals, to Schedule 7  of the IChEMS Register. This will 
prohibit their import, manufacture, use and export in Australia, with exceptions for 
unintentional trace contamination, research, environmentally sound disposal, and for 
articles in use prior to the date of effect of the decision.  G/TBT/N/AUS/164  
 
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  • Short -chain chlorinated paraffins  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  The proposed scheduling decisions aim to:  
• Enact standards for Stockholm Convention listed persistent organic pollutants 
(POPs) that have industrial uses and which Australia has not yet ratified.  
• Facilitate ratification of the Stockholm Convention listings of the chemicals, 
allowing Australia to fulfil its obligations under the Convention.  
• Achieve better protectio n of the environment through improved management of 
the environmental risks posed by industrial chemicals.  
• Provide a nationally consistent, transparent, predictable and streamlined 
approach to environmental risk management of industrial chemicals for 
gover nments, industry and the community.  
8. Relevant documents:   
• Decision for consultation – SCCPs [DOCX 45KB]  [PDF 236KB]  
• Further supporting documents are available at: Consultation hub | Public 
comments on IChEMS proposed decisions - Climate Change (dcceew.gov.au)  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  31 December 2023  
Prop osed date of entry into force:  1 July 2023  
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
Consultation hub | Public comments on IChEMS proposed decisions - Climate Change: 
https://consult.dcceew.gov.au/ichems -s17-proposed -decisions  
Further information on IChEMS is available at: Industrial Chemicals Environmental 
Management Standard - IChEMS: 
https: //www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/chemicals -management/national -
standard