Australia has launched a consultation on scheduling decisions for 14 chemicals to IChEMS
On 23 March 2026, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) launched a public consultation on proposed scheduling decisions for 14 industrial chemicals, including several PFAS substances, under the Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard (IChEMS). Stakeholders are invited to submit comments by 24 April 2026.
Background on IChEMS
IChEMS is Australia’s national framework for managing the environmental risks of industrial chemicals across their entire lifecycle. It aims to ensure a consistent regulatory approach nationwide while promoting the adoption of safer and less hazardous chemical alternatives. The framework applies to industrial uses, while other uses such as agricultural, veterinary, therapeutic and food-related applications are managed under separate regulatory regimes.
The IChEMS Register sets out these controls and groups chemicals into different schedules based on their level of environmental risk and required management measures. Schedule 7 represents the strictest category and applies to substances considered likely to cause serious or irreversible harm to the environment and for which no essential uses have been identified.
As part of the framework, proposed scheduling decisions are subject to public consultations, with stakeholder input used to inform the final standards included in the IChEMS Register.
Proposed Substances and Measures
The consultation covers the following substances and their proposed IChEMS schedules:
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Substance / Group
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Proposed IChEMS Schedule
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Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS) and related substances
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Schedule 7
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Perfluorononanesulfonic acid (PFNS), perfluorodecanesulfonic acid (PFDS) and related substances
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Schedule 7
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2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenol (TTBP)
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Schedule 7
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Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) and related substances
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Schedule 5
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Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) and related substances
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Schedule 5
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Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS) and related substances
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Schedule 5
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6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamides
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Schedule 5
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Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
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Schedule 5
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Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and related antioxidants
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Schedule 5
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Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA)
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Schedule 5
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Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and related substances
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Schedule 4
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Limonene
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Schedule 4
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Fatty acids
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Schedule 3
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Glycerides
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Schedule 2
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The consultation also includes a proposed update to the existing standard for UV-328 (phenol, 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-bis(1,1-dimethylpropyl)-; CAS number: 25973-55-1). The proposed variation would maintain UV-328 under Schedule 6, which applies to substances likely to cause serious or irreversible harm to the environment but for which certain essential uses are permitted. These include applications such as motor vehicles, industrial coatings, and specific uses in aviation and electronic equipment, subject to time-limited exemptions. The variation aims to align the existing standard with the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
In addition, a proposal seeks to revise the indicative list for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and related compounds by adding further CAS numbers. The accompanying list is not exhaustive and is intended to help identify substances covered by the existing proposed decision.
Stakeholders can submit comments through the consultation page available on the DCCEEW website here.
