Consumer products and retail

July 2025 - Electrical and electronics, hardlines, softlines, toys and children's products

The Australian Government has introduced new regulatory controls on six chemicals via the Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Amendment (2025 Measures No. 1) Instrument 2025¹. It aims to manage these industrial chemicals and make it easier for industry to choose less harmful chemicals. As per the public consultation held this year, the six substances are added to the IChEMS online Register² (details can be found in Table A):

The two new additions are included in Schedule 6 which lists industrial chemicals of high environmental concern, especially those likely to cause serious or irreversible harm but essential uses are permitted:

• mercury and its compounds: These are recognized global environmental pollutants, listed under the Minamata Convention to reduce their production and use;
• decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE): a common fire retardant, DBDPE has been identified as a persistent organic pollutant (POP) by the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS).

Additionally, four other chemical groups, considered as lower risk, have been added to other Schedules:

• methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT);
• ethane, 1,2-dibromo- (also named as 1,2-dibromoethane);
• ethane, 1,2-dichloro- (also named as 1,2-dichloroethane);
• alkyl sulfonate hydrotropes.

The Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard (IChEMS) establishes nationally consistent standards for managing chemicals usage including the production, import, export, use and disposal of industrial chemicals. The detailed requirements can be found in Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Instrument 2022³, while the IChEMS online register is a portal summarising all the listed industrial chemicals. 

Table A. Brief summary of the six newly added substances to the IChEMS online Register

Substance	Requirement	Potential uses4	Effective date
Aryl sulfonate hydrotropes	The following uses must be managed according to IChEMS Minimum standards5: (a) paint and coating products; (b) personal care products; (c) plastic and polymer products; (d) automotive care products; (e) cleaning and furniture care products; (f) laundry and dishwashing products; (g) fabric, textile and leather products.	Stabilisers in personal care products and household and professional cleaning products.	1 January 2026
Ethane, 1,2-dichloro-	The following uses must be managed according to IChEMS Minimum standards: (a) solvent; (b) manufacture of other chemicals and products.	As a chemical feedstock for the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics. It has minor uses as a solvent and processing aid.	1 January 2026
Ethane, 1,2-dibromo-	The following uses must be managed according to IChEMS Minimum standards: (a) fuel additive in leaded Aviation Gasoline (Avgas); (b) solvent; (c) manufacture of other chemicals and products.	As a lead scavenger in leaded aviation fuel (Avgas).	1 January 2026
Manganese, tricarbonyl[(1,2,3,4,5-.eta.)-1-methyl-2,4- cyclopentadien-1-yl]- (MMT)	The following use must be managed according to IChEMS Minimum standards: Fuel additive (anti-valve seat recession and octane booster).	As a multifunctional anti-valve seat recession and octane enhancer fuel additive.	1 January 2026
Mercury and mercury compounds	Substance, mixtures, articles: banned. The chemical (whether on its own or in mixtures or articles) must be managed according to the IChEMS Minimum Standards. Note: Only specific uses are allowed.	Mercury: used in electrical switches, thermometers and lamps; Mercury compounds: used in batteries, pigments, cosmetics, laboratory reagents and X-ray and gamma ray detection.	1 July 2026
Benzene, 1,1'-(1,2- ethanediyl)bis[2,3,4,5,6-pentabromo- (Decabromodiphenyl ethane, DBDPE)	Substance, mixtures: ≤ 10 mg/kg; Articles: ≤ 500 mg/kg; The chemical (whether on its own or in mixtures or articles) must be managed according to the IChEMS Minimum Standards. Note: specific finished articles (e.g. aerospace , automotive, defence applications, etc.) that are required to comply with fire retardancy standards and where there is no alternative available can be exempted.	As an additive flame retardant in a wide range of plastic and rubber products.	1 January 2027

References:

[1] Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Amendment (2025 Measures No. 1) Instrument 2025

[2] IChEMS online Register

[3] Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Instrument 2022

[4] Potential uses of the newly added substances

[5] IChEMS Minimum standards

 

 

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