The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is seeking feedback on proposed regulatory scheduling decisions for managing four chemicals under the Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard (IChEMS).
Consultation on the proposed decisions opened on 25 September 2023. Your input will inform consistent national standards for chemicals for four brominated flame-retardant chemicals:
decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE)
octabromodiphenyl ether (octaBDE)
pentabromodiphenyl ether (pentaBDE)
hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)
These chemicals are flame retardants used in textiles, electronics, and in spare parts used in aircraft and motor vehicles.
These chemicals are included in the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and are agreed internationally to be of the highest concern as they can cause serious harm to the environment if not managed properly.
While open to the public, this Have Your Say process is most relevant to chemical importers, manufacturers, users, and the hazardous waste industry.
In Tasmania, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania is developing state legislation to incorporate regulating key chemicals of concern into the state's regulatory framework, for parliament's consideration, with the Environment Protection Authority to be the regulator. In the meantime, the EPA will continue to support, monitor and enforce compliance with existing requirements for management of industrial chemicals according to risk.
To find out more about the consultation process, visit the DCCEEW's IChEMS webpage before submissions close on 25 October 2023.