AICIS Compliance Guide for Chemical Manufacturers & Importers (Australia)
1. Business Registration
- Mandatory: Register your business with AICIS before introducing any industrial chemicals.
- Per company, not per product.
- Renew annually.
- Registration enables regulators to track and enforce chemical regulations.
2. Categorize Each Chemical Introduction
Each chemical introduced must fall under one of the six AICIS categories:
Category | Risk Level | Details |
Listed | N/A | Already on the Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances (AICS); used as listed. |
Exempted | Very Low Risk | Minimal health/environmental risk. Minimal paperwork. |
Reported | Low Risk | Requires a simple notification. |
Assessed | Moderate to High | Requires a risk assessment; may need detailed safety data. |
Commercial Evaluation | Special Case | Chemicals introduced for evaluation only. |
Exceptional Circumstances | Emergency Use | For rare or emergency imports. |
- Use the AICIS Categorisation Guide to determine the correct category based on volume and use.
- Some products (e.g., soaps, research chemicals, in-transit products) may be exempt or categorized differently.
3. Annual Declaration
- Deadline: Submit online by 30 November each year (covers activity from 1 Sept to 31 Aug).
- Confirms all introductions were compliant.
- Lists applicable introduction categories.
- Penalties apply for late or missing declarations.
4. Record-Keeping Obligations
- Keep detailed records for every chemical introduced.
- Records may include:
- Safety data sheets (SDS)
- Test results
- Import/manufacture volumes
- Usage details
- Category-specific checklists apply (listed, exempted, reported, assessed).
- Records are essential for AICIS audits and compliance checks.
5. Ongoing Compliance & Support
- Stay up to date with AICIS rule changes – subscribe to updates and review guidance regularly.
- Non-compliance can result in:
- Fines
- Deregistration
- Legal action
Professional Support
- Freyr offers:
- AICIS registration support
- Product categorization assistance
- Internal compliance process setup
- Voluntary compliance audits
Key Takeaways
- Register before introducing any industrial chemicals.
- Categorize each chemical correctly under AICIS.
- Report annually by 30 November.
- Keep records organized and category-specific.
Consult experts if needed—especially for complex portfolios.
