Your regular update for technical and industry information
Your regular update for technical and industry information
AUGUST 2024 - ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS, HARDLINES, SOFTLINES, TOYS AND CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS
In June 2024, Australia took steps to safeguard the environment by adding five substances to its Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard (IChEMS) Online Registry1.
Two of these, Dechlorane Plus® and UV-328, are particularly concerning due to their inclusion in the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). These chemicals pose significant risks to the environment.
The remaining substances—melamine, boric acid and its precursors, and β-Alanine—while newly added to the registry, are considered to present a lower environmental risk. Table A shows the details of requirements and effective dates.
Dechlorane Plus® is primarily used as a flame retardant in a variety of products, including cables, automobiles, electronics, textiles, and plastics. As an additive, it is not chemically bound to the base material. UV-328 is a light stabilizer which is commonly found in plastics, coatings, printing inks, adhesives, photographic paper, and fabrics.
Both Dechlorane Plus® and UV-328 are listed in Annex A of the Stockholm Convention. Australia’s decision to include them in the IChEMS registry aligns with international standards for controlling hazardous chemicals.
Table A. Updates of IChEMS for the newly added 5 substances
|
Newly added substances |
Listed schedule | Highlight of requirement | Date of application |
|
Boric acid and precursors |
Schedule 2 |
The following uses must be managed according to IChEMS Minimum standards2: (a) additives for the manufacture of:
(b) flame retardants; (e) tanning agents; |
1 January 2025 |
|
1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine |
Schedule 2 |
The following uses must be managed according to IChEMS Minimum standards: (a) melamine resins; (b) adhesives; (c) construction materials; (d) flame-retardant additive; (e) paints, coatings and inks. |
1 January 2025 |
| β-Alanine, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-[2-[(1-oxooctyl)amino]ethyl]- | Schedule 3 |
The following uses must be managed according to IChEMS Minimum standards: Firefighting foam products. |
1 January 2025 |
|
Dechlorane Plus® and its two constituent isomers, syn-Dechlorane Plus and anti-Dechlorane Plus (DP, synDP and anti-DP) |
Schedule 6 |
The manufacture, import, export of this chemical (whether on its own, or in mixtures, or in articles) are prohibited except specific uses e.g., motor vehicles, industrial coating applications. |
1 July 2026 |
| Phenol, 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-bis(1,1-dimethylpropyl) - (UV-328) | Schedule 6 | The manufacture, import, export of this chemical (whether on its own, or in mixtures, or in articles) are prohibited except specific uses e.g., motor vehicles, photographic paper, industrial coating applications. | 1 July 2026 |
[1] IChEMS Online Register
[2] IChEMS Minimum standards
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