Chemical products in Australia: how to maintain compliance

For organisations placing products on the market in Australia, it is essential to be aware of the national requirements and specific variations in regulations. Ricardo’s chemical risk experts have provided the following overview of how Australia’s national laws impose regulatory obligations on your Safety Data Sheets (SDS), Poison Centre Notifications, substance registrations, and Emergency Response provisions.

Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

In Australia, the SDS and labelling requirements fall under the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations. SDSs for products on the market must be reviewed at least every 5 years.

Australian requirements align with the 7th revised edition of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS); however, there are notable differences in hazard classes and classifications. In addition, Australia has 12 non-GHS hazard statements and specific variations in Sections 1, 3, and 8 of the SDS.

Poison Centre Notifications

Australia does not currently have a legislated poison centre notification system as comprehensive as the EU’s Article 45 of the Classification, Labelling and Packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP) Regulation. Instead, there are four Poison Information Centres (PICs) providing a 24-hour service to the public.

Alongside the PICs, the National Poisons Register (NPR) maintains the information required by the PICs. Before a PIC number can be used on the product or listed on the SDS, the product details must be registered with the NPR.

Emergency Response

An emergency response telephone number is required in Section 1 of the SDS for Australia. This must be an Australian phone number, with support available outside standard working hours.

There is also a requirement for an emergency contact number for the transportation of placarded loads. This telephone number must be available 24/7 and answered by an advisory service capable of providing support for all types of emergencies (spillages, exposures, reactions, etc.). Where receptacles greater than 500 litres or kilograms are being transported, this emergency number must be provided on the dangerous goods transport documentation.

Substance Regulations

Australia has implemented its own framework for regulating industrial chemicals: the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS). Introduced in July 2020, AICIS regulates the import and manufacture of industrial chemicals to protect human health and the environment through a risk-based categorisation system.

Unlike the EU REACH regulations, AICIS categorises chemical introductions into five types:

• Listed Introduction
• Exempted Introduction
• Reported Introduction
• Assessed Introduction
• Commercial Evaluation

These categories are based on the volume and hazard level of the substance. All businesses introducing chemicals into Australia must register with AICIS annually, regardless of the volume introduced, and must maintain ongoing compliance with recordkeeping, labelling and SDS obligations.

AICIS does not offer an “Only Representative” model, meaning foreign entities must rely on their Australian importer for compliance and cannot appoint a third party to act on their behalf, unlike under EU REACH. Additionally, while international data (such as REACH dossiers) can support Australian risk assessments, local compliance remains mandatory.

For companies entering the Australian market, understanding AICIS is critical. Correct categorisation, thorough documentation, and staying updated on regulatory changes are essential steps for maintaining compliance and ensuring smooth market access.

Support for your business

At Ricardo, our teams of experts specialise in poison centre requirements, SDS authoring, REACH, and emergency response.

Ricardo can assist businesses with navigating Australian regulations and with completing submission requirements. Our SDS authors support organisations in navigating and complying with Australian-specific requirements, minimise fines, penalties, and loss of access to markets.

With bespoke services tailored to your specific regulatory needs, Ricardo can help you place your products on the Australian market confidently.

Contact us today – we’re here to help.