On March 12, 2025, the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) launched a public consultation on a proposal to directly link approximately 700 chemicals listed in its inventory to their corresponding historical assessment reports from the former National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS). If approved, the public will gain one-click access to these reports via the chemical inventory, eliminating the need for separate searches. Submissions close on April 23, 2025.
Proposal Highlights: Balancing Accessibility and Data Protection
Under the plan, AICIS will embed hyperlinks to NICNAS assessment reports in the online records of around 700 chemicals. These chemicals must meet the criterion that their chemical names or CAS numbers are already publicly disclosed in NICNAS reports. The measure aims to streamline access to assessment data tied to Specific Information Requirements (SIR).
AICIS emphasized that links will strictly exclude protected information (e.g., confidential chemical names or CAS numbers) and only reference publicly available content. Additionally, while most polymers of low concern (PLC) assessment reports will not be linked, approximately 15 specific polymers will receive direct links.
Background and Goals: Enhancing Compliance Support
NICNAS, replaced by AICIS in July 2020, currently requires users to retrieve historical reports through a separate database. AICIS stated that direct linking will help chemical introducers and suppliers meet compliance obligations more efficiently, particularly when inventory listings include SIR. This initiative is part of AICIS’ broader efforts to simplify regulatory processes.
Next Steps and Public Engagement
AICIS will review feedback after the consultation period. If adopted, the linking feature is expected to go live by mid-2025, alongside other inventory enhancements. Public may submit comments via the AICIS website to advance transparency and operational efficiency in chemical management.
Further Information
