Chemical information Find information about industrial chemicals including our definition of what they are, how to search the Inventory or chemicals assessments, the progress of our rolling action plan and more.
Business Find information about how to register your business with us, categorise your industrial chemicals, and meet your obligations for importing and manufacturing them in Australia.
Cosmetics and soap Find out everything you need to know about importing or manufacturing cosmetics and soaps in Australia. Cosmetics include personal care, skincare, bath and shower products including soaps, as well as make-up.
Consumers and community See our information for members of the public about our evaluations and some everyday chemicals they may come into contact with.
Help and guides Browse our online guides and tools for information about registering your business, how to categorise your introduction, and other help to meet your obligations.
You are here Home Print Decision tool - Complete your categorisation This decision tool is related to step 6 of the process to categorise your chemical introduction. What is your chemical's name or CAS number? (optional) This step is optional. If you’d like to save or print your completed decision tool for your own records, enter your chemical’s name or CAS number. To save as a PDF, select the print option in your browser and choose ‘Save as PDF’ or ‘Microsoft Print to PDF’. For Safari users, click 'File' and 'Export to PDF'. Note: A copy of a completed decision tool is not sufficient to meet your record-keeping obligations. Once you’ve finished categorising your chemical, see our page on reporting and record-keeping obligations for details of the records you must keep. Start the decision tool Indicative risk to human health Based on your outcome from answering the questions at Step 4 of the guide to categorising your chemical importation and manufacture or the Step 4 decision tools, what is your introduction’s indicative risk to human health? Very low risk Low risk Medium to high risk Indicative risk to the environment Based on your outcome from answering the questions at Step 5 of the guide to categorising your chemical importation and manufacture or the Step 5 decision tools, what is your introduction’s indicative risk to the environment? Very low risk Low risk Medium to high risk Indicative risk to the environment Based on your outcome from answering the questions at Step 5 of the guide to categorising your chemical importation and manufacture or the Step 5 decision tools, what is your introduction’s indicative risk to the environment? Very low risk Low risk Medium to high risk Indicative risk to the environment Based on your outcome from answering the questions at Step 5 of the guide to categorising your chemical importation and manufacture or the Step 5 decision tools, what is your introduction’s indicative risk to the environment? Very low risk Low risk Medium to high risk Outcome: Your introduction is categorised as exempted. What you need to do next If you are already registered with us, you can introduce your chemical without telling us first. You need to keep records about the chemical and submit an annual declaration at the end of the registration year (from August). You must also submit a once-off exempted introduction declaration if you are introducing any of the following for the first time: polymers of low concern low-concern biopolymers chemicals that you have categorised as very low risk for human health and the environment. You don’t need to apply for an assessment certificate. But if you wish to get your chemical added to the Inventory, you can apply for an assessment certificate with a ‘very low to low risk’ type. Outcome: Your introduction is categorised as reported. What you need to do next You must be registered with us and submit a pre-introduction report before you can introduce the chemical. You will need to keep records about the chemical and submit an annual declaration at the end of the registration year (from August). You don’t need to apply for an assessment certificate. But if you wish to get your chemical added to the Inventory, you can apply for an assessment certificate with a ‘very low to low risk’ type. Outcome: Your introduction is categorised as reported. What you need to do next You must be registered with us and submit a pre-introduction report before you can introduce the chemical. You will need to keep records about the chemical and submit an annual declaration at the end of the registration year (from August). You don’t need to apply for an assessment certificate. But if you wish to get your chemical added to the Inventory, you can apply for an assessment certificate with a ‘very low to low risk’ type. Outcome: Your introduction is categorised as reported. What you need to do next You must be registered with us and submit a pre-introduction report before you can introduce the chemical. You will need to keep records about the chemical and submit an annual declaration at the end of the registration year (from August). You don’t need to apply for an assessment certificate. But if you wish to get your chemical added to the Inventory, you can apply for an assessment certificate with a ‘very low to low risk’ type. Outcome: Your introduction is in the assessed category. What you need to do next If your chemical is not on the Inventory – you must be registered with us and apply for an assessment certificate with an 'environment focus'. We will assess your chemical introduction. You can start introducing after we issue an assessment certificate. Note: If a trusted overseas or Australian assessment body has assessed your introduction and you meet the criteria, you may be able to apply for a type of certificate called ‘comparable hazard assessment’. If your chemical is on the Inventory – and your introduction is outside the parameters of the 'defined scope of assessment' in the Inventory terms of listing for the chemical – you must be registered with us and apply to vary the terms of an Inventory listing. Outcome: Your introduction is in the assessed category. What you need to do next If your chemical is not on the Inventory – you must be registered with us and apply for an assessment certificate with an 'environment focus'. We will assess your chemical introduction. You can start introducing after we issue an assessment certificate. Note: If a trusted overseas or Australian assessment body has assessed your introduction and you meet the criteria, you may be able to apply for a type of certificate called ‘comparable hazard assessment’. If your chemical is on the Inventory – and your introduction is outside the parameters of the 'defined scope of assessment' in the Inventory terms of listing for the chemical – you must be registered with us and apply to vary the terms of an Inventory listing. Outcome: Your introduction is in the assessed category. What you need to do next If your chemical is not on the Inventory – you must be registered with us and apply for an assessment certificate with a 'human health focus'. We will assess your chemical introduction. You can start introducing after we issue an assessment certificate. Note: If a trusted overseas or Australian assessment body has assessed your introduction and you meet the criteria, you may be able to apply for a type of certificate called ‘comparable hazard assessment’. If your chemical is on the Inventory – and your introduction is outside the parameters of the 'defined scope of assessment' in the Inventory terms of listing for the chemical – you must be registered with us and apply to vary the terms of an Inventory listing. Outcome: Your introduction is in the assessed category. What you need to do next If your chemical is not on the Inventory – you must be registered with us and apply for an assessment certificate with a 'human health focus'. We will assess your chemical introduction. You can start introducing after we issue an assessment certificate. Note: If a trusted overseas or Australian assessment body has assessed your introduction and you meet the criteria, you may be able to apply for a type of certificate called ‘comparable hazard assessment’. If your chemical is on the Inventory – and your introduction is outside the parameters of the 'defined scope of assessment' in the Inventory terms of listing for the chemical – you must be registered with us and apply to vary the terms of an Inventory listing. Outcome: Your introduction is in the assessed category. What you need to do next If your chemical is not on the Inventory – you must be registered with us and apply for an assessment certificate with a 'human health and environment focus'. We will assess your chemical introduction. You can start introducing after we issue an assessment certificate. Note: If a trusted overseas or Australian assessment body has assessed your introduction and you meet the criteria, you may be able to apply for a type of certificate called ‘comparable hazard assessment’. If your chemical is on the Inventory – and your introduction is outside the parameters of the 'defined scope of assessment' in the Inventory terms of listing for the chemical – you must be registered with us and apply to vary the terms of an Inventory listing. Leave this field blank Last updated 27 February 2023 Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
