On 9 June 2026 Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) made the Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Instrument 2026 under subsection 22(1) of the Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Act 2021. The instrument amends the Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Instrument 2022 to align key hazard terminology with the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). New definitions are introduced for terms such as harmful, very toxic, harmful to aquatic life, toxic to aquatic life, and very toxic to aquatic life, including both acute and long-lasting environmental effects, ensuring that these expressions are interpreted consistently with the GHS. The amendment also establishes new rules for organizing industrial chemicals within each schedule of the Register. Chemicals added before 1 January 2026 will continue to be listed alphabetically, while chemicals added from 1 January 2026 onward will be inserted as new entries at the end of the relevant schedule unless otherwise specified. The instrument commences the day after its registration, supporting a more consistent and transparent approach to chemical hazard classification and Register administration
Consult
