Australia Seeks Input on Including Short Chain Chlorinated Paraffins in Schedule 7 of the IChEMS Register

On 9 October 2023, the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) opened consultations on the proposed scheduling decisions for short chain chlorinated paraffins under the Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard (IChEMS).  

The substances in question are all classified as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) under the Stockholm Convention. These substances have the potential to inflict significant or irreversible damage to the environment unless they are appropriately controlled. The consultations are open for feedback until 8 November 2023 and submissions can be made here. Providing feedback on the proposed decisions will help the Australian governments and businesses manage the environmental risks associated with these chemicals. 

Short chain chlorinated paraffins 

Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) refer to a category of chlorinated paraffin chemicals composed of straight-chain alkanes. It is important to note that SCCPs have never been manufactured in Australia, but have been used in a variety of  industries. They have been used as a dual-purpose flame retardant and plasticizer in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products, as lubricants in metalworking, and in the leather treatment process. 

The DCCEEW is seeking feedback on short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). The scheduling decision is for Schedule 7 of the IChEMS Register. If adopted, the import, manufacture, use and export in Australia will be prohibited from 1 July 2024.  

The Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard 

IChEMS is a national approach in Australia that aims to efficiently manage the use, storage, handling and disposal of chemicals. By establishing standardised environmental protocols for the handling of industrial chemicals, IChEMS streamlines the process for industry to choose less hazardous alternatives. Under IChEMS, chemicals will be listed on the IChEMS Register in one of seven schedules based on their risk characteristics to provide information on their relative environmental risk. The IChEMS Register will also include risk-based controls that should be applied to protect the environment. Industrial chemical uses that pose a greater risk to human health and the environment will be subject to more stringent controls. 

IChEMS Register Schedules 

In the IChEMS Register, Schedules 6 and 7 list the industrial chemicals of greatest environmental concern, e.g. chemicals that are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic, such as POPs. All uses of chemicals in Schedules 6 and 7 are being phased out, except for essential uses. Schedules 2 to 5 list industrial chemicals of medium environmental concern. They are subject to controls that are proportionate to the nature and level of risk. Schedule 1 lists the industrial chemicals of lowest concern. 

Previous consultations 

In July 2023 the DCCEEW held consultations on the proposed scheduling decisions for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and pentachlorobenzene (PeCB). Those consultations closed on 1 September 2023. Furthermore, in September 2023, the DCCEEW  also held consultations on the proposed scheduling decisions for brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and these consultations are still open till 25 October 2023.