The Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) has announced a new national information collection on the introduction and use of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Australia. The action follows the initiation of a formal evaluation under section 74 of the Industrial Chemicals Act 2019 by the AICIS Executive Director.
The evaluation will review 522 PFAS chemicals currently listed on the Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals. It aims to confirm whether these substances have been introduced into Australia, in what volumes, and for what end uses. The review will also identify any PFAS requiring further regulatory evaluation due to environmental or health concerns.
All businesses registered with AICIS between 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2025 will receive a notice via email under section 76 of the Industrial Chemicals Act 2019. The notice will require registrants to provide detailed information on any listed PFAS imported or manufactured during the 2023–24 and 2024–25 registration years.
Each registrant must report whether they have introduced any of the listed PFAS, the chemical name and CAS number, mode of introduction (import or manufacture), total volume introduced, and its end use. If information cannot be provided, the reason must be stated. Registrants are not required to report PFAS that qualify as excluded introductions under section 11 of the Act.
Submissions must be provided within 40 working days of receiving the notice, using a unique web form supplied by AICIS. Businesses are also encouraged to provide additional relevant information voluntarily under section 75 of the Act.
The information gathered will inform AICIS’s ongoing Rolling Action Plan and support national efforts to manage the risks associated with PFAS.
Further information, including the full list of 522 listed PFAS and details on submission requirements, is available on the AICIS website.
