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).
Proposed decisions open for public consultation:
- Hexachlorobenzene (HCB)
- Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
- Polychlorinated terphenyls (PCTs)
- Lauryl (dodecyl) sulfates
- Linear alkylbenzene sulfonates
Proposed variations open for public consultation:
- Pentachlorobenzene (PeCB)
- Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and related substances
- Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and related substances
- Short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs)
The proposed standards relate to industrial uses of the chemicals/chemical groups, and to their impacts on the environment. They aim to establish nationally consistent standards for managing the import, manufacture, export, use and disposal of industrial chemicals. The IChEMS does not manage risks to human health, nor does it regulate medical or agricultural uses.
While open to the public, this Have Your Say process is most relevant to chemical importers, manufacturers, users, and the hazardous waste industry. To support the consultation, DCCEEW is hosting a public webinar on Tuesday 8 October from 1pm-3pm AEDT. Register for the IChEMS public webinar now.
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 consultation webpage before submissions close on 5pm Friday, 25 October 2024.