Australia plans to improve access to assessment information for some 700 chemicals in its inventory

The Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction System (AICIS) launched a consultation this April on the possibility of linking some 700 chemical records from the Australian Industrial Chemicals Inventory (AIIC) with their assessment reports from Australia's previously implemented system known as NICNAS (National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment System) with the aim of streamlining access to assessment data linked to Specific Information Requirements (SIRs).

Approximately 10% of the chemical registrations available in IARC contain a Specific Information Requirement and have completed risk assessments under NICNAS or AICIS. Before any of these substances are produced or imported, the relevant assessment report should be consulted as there is an obligation to provide any information that may indicate a new or increased risk.

Due to regulatory changes, assessment reports under NICNAS have not been linked to the IARC; in order to avoid a separate assessment search, this new proposal would add a link to the NICNAS report in each of these almost 700 chemical registrations, including 15 polymers of low concern (PLCs).

This is a further step in Australia's intended improvements to the chemical register. If successful, it is envisaged that the above-mentioned links can be published by mid-2025.