G/TBT/N/AUS/163  
28 September 2023  
(23-6473) 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:   
Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care  
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 indicated if  different from above:   
Australian WTO TBT Enquiry Point  
Office of Global Trade Negotiations  
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade  
Canberra ACT 0221  
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):  All 
industrial chemicals used in Australia.  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Proposed 
changes to the Indus trial Chemicals (General) Rules and Categorisation Guidelines; (60 
page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  The consultation paper invites public comments on a suite of 
proposals relating to categorisation, reporting and record -keeping obligations - through 
proposed amendments to the Industrial Chemicals (General) Rules 2019 and the 
Industrial Chemicals Categorisation Guidelines administered by the Australian Industrial 
Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS).  
Key proposals in this consultation include:  
• Replacing written undertakings with records that will make compliance easier.  
• Greater acceptance of International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) 
names for reporting and record keeping.  
• Changes to the categorisatio n criteria to benefit:  
o small -scale soap makers  
o introducers of chemicals in flavour and fragrance blends  
o introducers of hazardous chemicals where introduction and use are 
controlled.  G/TBT/N/AUS/163  
 
- 2 - 
 
  • Strengthening criteria and/or reporting requirements for health and 
environmental protection, for example, to prevent persistent organic pollutants 
(POPs) from being categorised as exempted or reported Introductions.  
None of the proposals involve changes to the Industrial Chemicals Act 2019 . 
7. Objective and rationale, in cluding the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  The Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) helps 
protect the health of Australians and our environment by finding out the risks of industrial 
chemicals and recommending ways to pr omote their safer use.  
The Industrial Chemicals Act 2019  is the legal framework for the regulation of the 
importation and manufacture (introduction) of industrial chemicals in Australia. The 
Industrial Chemicals (General) Rules 2019 (General Rules) form pa rt of the legislative 
framework and contain the technical and operational details of AICIS under the functions 
of the Executive Director. The Industrial Chemicals Categorisation Guidelines are issued 
by the Executive Director of AICIS and set out technical  details and requirements for 
categorising chemical introductions in Australia.  
These proposed amendments to the General Rules and the Industrial Chemicals 
Categorisation Guidelines were developed using an evidence - and risk -based approach to 
regulation th at is appropriate to each circumstance. Proposals that would benefit 
introducers are based on mechanisms that may lower regulatory burden while maintaining 
regulatory intent.; Protection of human health or safety; Protection of the environment  
8. Relevant documents:   
Industrial Chemicals (General) Rules 2019: 
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/F2019L01543   
Industrial Chemicals Categorisation Guidelines: 
https://ww w.industrialchemicals.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020 -
06/Industrial%20Chemicals%20Categorisation%20Guidelines%20%5BPDF%20756%20
KB%5D.pdf  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  Expected timeframe is April 2024.  
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: https://www.industrialchemicals.gov.au/news -and-notices/have -your-
say-changes -categorisati on-reporting -and-record -keeping  
https://www.industrialchemicals.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023 -
09/Explanation%20of%20all%20proposed%20changes%20to%20categorisation%2C%2
0reporting%20and%20record -keeping%20obligations.pdf