Australia clarifies chemical registration obligations for organizations

The new clarification from the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) explains registration obligations under various circumstances to organizations that import or manufacture industrial chemicals or products. This includes universities, colleges, research institutes, charities, and non-profit organizations.

Being the regulatory body in Australia, AICIS on May 31 stipulated the mandatory registrations expected of relevant organizations, including organizations that import or manufacture small amount. It also does not matter if another university/organization already imports the same or similar chemicals from overseas, the process of registration will be the same, as it is for others.

The qualification process for registration applies to any organization involved in any of these activities:

• Buy chemicals from overseas for teaching or research,
• Manufacture industrial chemicals in a lab or classroom for teaching or research,
• Import or manufacture a low volume of chemicals with no threshold limit cast on the volume,
• Import or manufacture chemicals solely for non-profit research, or  
• Import or manufacture chemicals solely for a charitable purpose.  

The AICIS notice had clarified that organizations are not obliged to register blending or mixing ingredients purchased in Australia, goods and products not designed to intentionally release chemicals, or non-industrial chemicals. The AICIS has also provided information and guidance for registration regarding businesses and chemicals as well as those to-do-list after the organizations have completed the process.