Overview

The Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard (IChEMS) is a national approach to managing chemical use, storage, handling and disposal. It delivers nationally consistent environmental standards for managing industrial chemicals and makes it easier for industry to choose less harmful chemicals.

As part of the process of making standards under the IChEMS we seek your input on proposed standards. The information that you provide during public consultation will inform the final standards which are listed in the IChEMS Register.

Where necessary, supporting documents will include indicative lists of chemicals covered by the proposed standards. The lists provide chemical names and Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Numbers (CAS RNs) to help chemical users to search chemical inventories. The lists are not comprehensive and should not be relied on to identify all chemicals that may be subject to the proposed standards.

Proposed IChEMS standards for 10 classes of industrial chemicals

The Minister for the Environment and Water invites you to make a submission on the 10 proposed scheduling decisions below.

A submission must be made using the survey on this page and must be submitted by 5pm (AEDT) on Friday 23 October 2026.

The proposed standards relate to industrial uses of the chemicals/chemical groups, and to their impacts on the environment. The IChEMS does not manage risks to human health, nor does it regulate medical or agricultural uses. Further information on the IChEMS is available on our website.

Your feedback on the attached proposed decisions will help ensure that Australian governments and businesses manage the environmental risks of these chemicals.

Proposed scheduling decisions for public comment

List of survey questions and indicative CAS number list

Proposed Schedule 7 chemicals

  • Nil

Proposed Schedule 6 chemicals

Long chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (LC PFCAs)

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

Proposed Schedule 5 chemicals

Nonylphenols and nonylphenol ethoxylates

Proposed Schedule 4 chemicals

Hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) and hydrochlorofluoroolefins (HCFOs)

Proposed Schedule 3 chemicals

Pentane, isopentane and cyclopentane

Dehydroacetic acid

Fluorescent Brightener 71 and related chemicals

Hexamine and related chemicals

Proposed Schedule 2 chemicals

Ethane, propane and butanes

Salicylic acid and its salts

Proposed Schedule 1 chemicals

  • Nil

Have your say

Before you have your say:

  • please read the proposed decisions and any supporting information

  • review the list of survey questions to help you prepare your submission

  • make a submission using the survey linked below. This survey includes the option to upload attachments.

Timeline

  • Statutory consultation on proposed standards opened
    current

    21 September 2026

  • Statutory consultation closes
    open

    23 October 2026

  • Making standards and listing new standards on the ICHEMS Register
    pending

    TBA

Contact
Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Section (IChEM Section)