AICIS Compliance: Chemical Regulations in Australia

AICIS Compliance Summary for Chemical Manufacturers & Importers

1. Business Registration

• Mandatory: Register your business with AICIS before introducing any industrial chemicals.

• One registration per company, not per product.

• Renew annually (AICIS registration year: 1 Sept – 31 Aug).

2. Categorize Each Chemical Introduction

Use AICIS’s Categorisation Guide to assess each chemical and assign it to one of six categories:

Category	Risk Level	Description
Listed	Varies	Already on the Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances (AICS) and used within terms.
Exempted	Very Low	Minimal risk to health/environment. Least paperwork.
Reported	Low	Simple notification required.
Assessed	Moderate–High	Requires safety data and pre-introduction assessment.
Commercial Evaluation	Special	For testing in Australia only.
Exceptional Circumstances	Special	Emergency or special imports only.

Most common introductions fall into listed, exempted, or reported categories.

3. Annual Declaration

• Due by 30 November each year.

• Mandatory online submission confirming that all introductions were authorized.

• Failure to comply = penalties.

4. Record-Keeping Requirements

Maintain accurate records for every chemical introduced:

• Safety data sheets (SDS)

• Volume and usage data

• Test results

• Import/manufacture logs

Checklist requirements vary by category. Keep records ready for audits.

5. Stay Compliant

• Subscribe to AICIS updates – regulations and categories may change.

• Consider professional assistance for:

  • Registration

  • Categorization

  • Internal audits

  • Documentation review

Consequences of Non-Compliance

• Financial penalties

• Loss of registration

• Legal action

Freyr Compliance Support Services

Freyr offers services for:

• AICIS registration paperwork

• Product classification

• Compliance audits

• Documentation support

Outsourcing to experts like Freyr helps businesses stay compliant while focusing on operations.

Summary: Key Steps for AICIS Compliance

1. Register your business with AICIS.

2. Categorize every chemical introduction using the AICIS guide.

3. Submit your annual declaration by 30 November.

4. Maintain category-specific records.

5. Monitor AICIS updates and get expert support if needed.