New import/export authorisation rules for decaBDE and PFOA-related compounds coming in Australia

On 20 June 2023, the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) posted information on their website that the rules for importation and exportation of decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts, and PFOA-related compounds in Australia will be amended in the near future. The changes will be made because these chemicals were added to Annex II of the Rotterdam Convention in October 2022. The amendments will affect Division 1, Part 2 of Chapter 6 of the Industrial Chemicals (General) Rules 2019.

The AICIS has furthermore published a Call for Information asking current and previous importers and exporters of the above-mentioned chemicals to submit information about their import or manufacture. The call is open until 15 September 2023 and the information can be submitted here.

For current importers of decaBDE, PFOA, its salts and related compounds the new rules will mean that they must cease any new import or export of the chemicals. All current and new importers must apply to the AICIS for import or export authorisation and can only resume import or export once the authorisation has been received. It will be and offence to import or export these chemicals without authorisation and penalties apply.

The full list of chemicals that will be subject to the new import/export authorisation rules can be found here.