Chemicals management

National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme

NICNAS (the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme) operates under the Commonwealth Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Act 1989. It was established in 1990 to provide for the notification and assessment of chemicals which are not covered by other assessment schemes. As such, the definition of an industrial chemical is a 'catch-all' phrase, defined by the exclusion of other types of regulated chemicals. Therefore, this definition of industrial chemicals includes substances such as dyes, solvents, plastics and photographic chemicals as well as some chemicals used in the home, for example, paints, cleaning agents and cosmetics, but not pharmaceutical substances, agricultural and veterinary chemicals, food or food additives and radioactive substances.

Under NICNAS, all new industrial chemicals must be notified and assessed for their potential effects on occupational health and safety, public (human health) safety and environmental impact before their importation into, or manufacture within, Australia. NICNAS sets out the obligations for importers and manufacturers and ensures that they provide information about a chemical's properties and potential health and environmental effects before introducing it into Australia.

Excisting chemicals are also reviewed on a priority basis, and again require an environmental assessment.

For further information on the notification and assessment process of industrial chemicals in Australia, please contact the:

National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme
334-336 Illawarra Road
MARRICKVILLE NSW 2204
Postal Address
GPO Box 58
SYDNEY NSW 2001
AUSTRALIA

Telephone: Within Australia (02) 8577 8800 International 61-2 8577 8800
Facsimile: Within Australia (02) 8577 8888 International 61-2 8577 8888
Email: info@nicnas.gov.au
Website: www.nicnas.gov.au