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 15 April 2024. Your input will inform consistent national standards for managing five chemical substances that have a wide range of uses including in flame retardant additives, surface coatings, construction materials, and synthetic resins:
Two of these chemicals, Dechlorane Plus® and UV-328 are included in the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).These are chemicals internationally agreed to be of the highest concern. They can cause serious harm to the environment if not managed properly.
Three groups of chemicals, melamine, boric acid and its precursors, and β-Alanine, present a lower risk to the environment.
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 Monday 13 May 2024.