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What your Inventory search results will show

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The Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals (Inventory) is a database of chemicals available for industrial use in Australia. The Inventory has a legal purpose. It only contains information about the chemical identity and regulatory obligations relating to importing and manufacturing industrial chemicals in Australia.

View our quick explainer – What is the Inventory? [PDF 1.2 MB]

Inventory terms of listing

Chemical identity information

  • CAS name - the proper chemical name using the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) nomenclature
  • CAS number - the chemical's unique numerical identifier
  • Molecular formula (if available) - identifies each type of element by its chemical symbol; identifies the number of atoms of each element found in 1 discrete molecule
  • Associated chemical names (if available) - common or other names that the chemical is known by; or
  • AICIS approved chemical name (AACN)

Regulatory obligations and restrictions

If the Inventory terms of listing for a chemical only contains chemical identity information, you are authorised to import or manufacture (introduce) the chemical as a 'listed introduction' provided that you're registered with us before you introduce the chemical.

You also need to:

If the Inventory terms of listing for a chemical also contains a defined scope of assessment, conditions of introduction or use, specific information requirements or any other legal obligations, you must check each one and comply.

Learn more about each regulatory term

What is an AICIS approved chemical name?

Some chemicals on the Inventory will have an AICIS Approved Chemical Name (AACN), rather than a CAS name. An AACN is a generic or masked chemical name that we publish if we’ve approved an application to protect a chemical’s identity as confidential business information (CBI).
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What is a defined scope of assessment?

A description of any previous assessment of a chemical. You must check and compare with your introduction to make sure you are authorised under the terms. There's also information on what to do if you do not meet the defined scope of assessment.
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What is a condition of introduction or use?

Restrictions we've put on a chemical introduction. You must read the restrictions and compare this with your introduction to make sure you are authorised. There's also information on what to do if you do not meet the restrictions we've imposed.
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What is a specific information requirement?

An Inventory listing for a chemical may include a ‘specific information requirement’, which means we have assessed this chemical and you are obligated to tell us about your introduction in certain situations.
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Assessment and evaluation statement

If AICIS has assessed or evaluated the chemical, you will see links to the published statement.

What the Inventory won't tell you about your chemical

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