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Decision tool – work out the introduction category for a research and development introduction

Use this interactive questionnaire to check whether your introduction (chemical importation or manufacture) meets the AICIS criteria for research and development (R&D) in the exempted category at Step 2 or the reported category at Step 3 of the Categorisation Guide.

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 before Question 1. 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'.

Who should use this?

This questionnaire is designed for chemical importers and manufacturers or their suppliers who are interested in introducing industrial chemicals that meet AICIS's R&D criteria.

What you need to know before you start

  • Whether the chemical, or product containing the chemical will be; distributed to potential customers or made available to the public.
  • Whether control measures will be in place to eliminate or minimise risk to workers and the environment.
  • The volume range you plan to introduce each registration year:
    • 10 kgs or less
    • 100 kgs or less
    • 250 kgs or less
    • more than 250 kgs

You may be asked about the physical state of the chemical when it is introduced and whether it consists of certain particles in the nanoscale size range.

Our page 'Categorisation of chemicals introduced for research and development' summarises the exempted and reported category requirements. 

 Important

This decision tool is general guidance only.

You cannot use a completed decision tool as an evidence or record that you have correctly categorised your introduction. You also cannot use a completed decision tool to meet your record-keeping requirements.

Start the decision tool
 

Disclaimer: This decision tool is for information only. Filling out this decision tool alone does not meet your record-keeping requirements.

Have you already completed steps 0 - 1 of the categorisation process?

Start at step 0 of our Guide to categorising your chemical importation and manufacture (Categorisation Guide) to check if the introduction could be in the listed category. If it is not a listed introduction, then continue to step 1 to determine if your introduction is of a chemical that cannot be exempted or reported. If it's not, return to this questionnaire to see if you can make an exempted or reported introduction for research and development purposes.

Start at step 0 of the Categorisation Guide
 

Is the introduction of the chemical only for the purposes of systematic investigation or research, by means of experimentation or analysis, including for the analysis of other chemicals?

Answer yes if this is how you, or another person or business that you are making the chemical available to, will use the chemical.
Will the chemical, or a product containing the chemical, be distributed to potential customers to explore market capability in a competitive situation?

For example, you would answer yes if the chemical will be used in research trials on people, such as consumer research of cosmetics.
Will the chemical be made available to the general public either on its own, in combination with other industrial chemicals or as part of an article (including where it undergoes physical or chemical change to produce that article)?

More information - What is an article?
Will control measures be in place to eliminate or minimise the risks from the introduction and use of the chemical to those persons involved in the research and development and to the environment?

Examples of procedures and controls include: engineering controls, personal protective equipment, safe collection and disposal of your chemical.

Outcome

Your introduction does not meet the AICIS criteria for research and development.

Go back to the online categorisation guide to continue working out your introduction category. First, return to step 2 and check if your introduction meets the criteria for any of the non-R&D types that are eligible for the exempted category at this step.

If your introduction is not described in step 2, proceed to step 3 and work out if it meets the criteria for any of the non-R&D types that are eligible for the reported category at this step. 

The guide also outlines reporting and record-keeping obligations based on your categorisation outcome. 

 

Are you introducing more than 10 kg of the chemical in a registration year?

A registration year is 1 September to 31 August.

Outcome - exempted category

Your introduction is eligible for the exempted category for research and development. You can introduce your chemical without telling us first, if you are already registered with us. 

You must keep records for the introduction type: exempted - research and development and submit an annual declaration at the end of the registration year (from August). 

Note:

Post-introduction declarations are not required for these types of introductions.

Disclaimer: This decision tool is for information only. Filling out this decision tool alone does not meet your record-keeping requirements.

Are you introducing more than 100 kg of the chemical in a registration year?

A registration year is 1 September to 31 August.

You have 2 options when the introduction is 100 kg or less:

  1. Stop here which means your introduction will be in the reported category or
  2. Continue to answer questions to see if your introduction can be in the exempted category. 
Select your preferred option

Will any quantity of the chemical introduced be solid (including powders), or in a dispersion?

To prove this, you might have an SDS or product information sheet that indicates the appearance (for example, in liquid form).

Can you demonstrate that all quantities of the chemical do not consist of solid particles in an unbound state or as an aggregate or agglomerate, where at least 50% (by number size distribution) of the particles have at least one external dimension in the particle size range of 1 to 100 nm? 

To prove this, you might have a study report on the particle size distribution of your chemical.

Can you demonstrate that all quantities of the chemical do not consist of solid particles in an unbound state or as an aggregate or agglomerate, where at least 50% (by number size distribution) of the particles have at least one external dimension in the particle size range of 1 to 100 nm? 

To prove this, you might have a study report on the particle size distribution of your chemical.

Outcome - exempted category

Your introduction is in the exempted category for research and development. Therefore you can introduce your chemical without telling us first, if you are already registered with us.

You must keep records for the introduction type: exempted - research and development and submit an annual declaration at the end of the registration year (from August). 

Note: Post-introduction declarations are not required for these types of introductions.

Disclaimer: This decision tool is for information only. Filling out this decision tool alone does not meet your record-keeping requirements.

 

Outcome - reported category

Your introduction is in the reported category for research and development.

You must be registered with us and submit a once-off pre-introduction report - research and development before you introduce the chemical.

You must also keep records about the introduction and submit an annual declaration at the end of the registration year (from August).

Disclaimer: This decision tool is for information only. Filling out this decision tool alone does not meet your record-keeping requirements.

Outcome - reported category

Your introduction is not eligible for the exempted category but it can be introduced under the reported category for research and development.

You must be registered with us and submit a once-off pre-introduction report - research and development before you introduce the chemical.

You must also keep records about the introduction and submit an annual declaration at the end of the registration year (from August).

Disclaimer: This decision tool is for information only. Filling out this decision tool alone does not meet your record-keeping requirements.

Outcome - reported category

Your introduction is not eligible for the exempted category but it can be introduced under the reported category for research and development.

You must be registered with us and submit a once-off pre-introduction report - research and development before you introduce the chemical.

You must also keep records about the introduction and submit an annual declaration at the end of the registration year (from August).

Disclaimer: This decision tool is for information only. Filling out this decision tool alone does not meet your record-keeping requirements.

Are you introducing more than 250 kg of the chemical in a registration year?

A registration year is 1 September to 31 August.

Will any quantity of the chemical introduced be solid (including powders), or in a dispersion?

For example, you might have an SDS or product information sheet that indicates the appearance (for example, in liquid form).

Your introduction is in the exempted category for research and development. Therefore you can introduce your chemical without telling us first, if you are already registered with us.

You must keep records for the introduction type: exempted - research and development and submit an annual declaration at the end of the registration year (from August). 

Note: Post-introduction declarations are not required for these types of introductions.

Disclaimer: This decision tool is for information only. Filling out this decision tool alone does not meet your record-keeping requirements.

Can you demonstrate that all quantities of the chemical do not consist of solid particles in an unbound state or as an aggregate or agglomerate, where at least 50% (by number size distribution) of the particles have at least one external dimension in the particle size range of 1 to 100 nm? 

To demonstrate this, you might have a study report about the particle size distribution of your chemical.

 

Outcome - exempted category

Your introduction is in the exempted category for research and development. Therefore you can introduce your chemical without telling us first, if you are already registered with us.

You must keep records for the introduction type: exempted - research and development and submit an annual declaration at the end of the registration year (from August). 

Note: Post-introduction declarations are not required for these types of introductions.

Disclaimer: This decision tool is for information only. Filling out this decision tool alone does not meet your record-keeping requirements.

 

Outcome - exempted category

Your introduction is in the exempted category for research and development. Therefore you can introduce your chemical without telling us first, if you are already registered with us.

You must keep records for the introduction type: exempted - research and development and submit an annual declaration at the end of the registration year (from August). 

Note: Post-introduction declarations are not required for these types of introductions.

Disclaimer: This decision tool is for information only. Filling out this decision tool alone does not meet your record-keeping requirements.

 

Outcome - not an eligible introduction for research and development

Based on your answers, your introduction does not meet the criteria for either a reported or exempted introduction for research or development.

To be able to finish your categorisation, go to Step 4 of the categorisation guide to work out the risks of your introduction to human health and the environment.”

Go to Step 4 of the categorisation guide.

 



 

 

Outcome - exempted category

Your introduction is in the exempted category for research and development. Therefore you can introduce your chemical without telling us first, if you are already registered with us.

You must keep records for the introduction type: exempted - research and development and submit an annual declaration at the end of the registration year (from August). 

Note: Post-introduction declarations are not required for these types of introductions.

Disclaimer: This decision tool is for information only. Filling out this decision tool alone does not meet your record-keeping requirements.

Outcome - not an eligible introduction for research and development

Based on your answers, your introduction does not meet the criteria for either a reported or exempted introduction for research or development.

To be able to finish your categorisation, go to Step 4 of the categorisation guide to work out the risks of your introduction to human health and the environment.”

Go to Step 4 of the categorisation guide.

 



 

 

Will use of the chemical be subject to your (the introducer’s) control/oversight at all times?

You can collaborate with other users, but use of your chemical must remain subject to the control of the person who introduces the chemical.

Will any quantity of the chemical be introduced as a solid (including powders), or in a dispersion?

To prove this, you might have an SDS or product information sheet that indicates the appearance (for example, in liquid form).

Outcome - reported category

Your introduction is eligible for the reported category for research and development.

You must be registered with us and submit a once-off pre-introduction report - research and development before you introduce the chemical.

You must also keep records about the introduction and submit an annual declaration at the end of the registration year (from August).

Disclaimer: This decision tool is for information only. Filling out this decision tool alone does not meet your record-keeping requirements.

Can you demonstrate that all quantities of the chemical do not consist of solid particles in an unbound state or as an aggregate or agglomerate, where at least 50% (by number size distribution) of the particles have at least one external dimension in the particle size range of 1 to 100 nm? 

To prove this, you might have a study report on the particle size distribution of your chemical.

Outcome - not an eligible introduction for research and development


Go to Step 2 of the categorisation guide.

Your introduction cannot be categorised as a chemical that is only used for research and development.

Go back to the online categorisation guide to continue working out your introduction category.

First, return to step 2 and check if your introduction meets the criteria for any of the non-R&D types that are eligible for the exempted category at this step.

If your introduction is not described in step 2, proceed to step 3 and work out if it meets the criteria for any of the non-R&D types that are eligible for the reported category at this step.

The guide also outlines reporting and record-keeping obligations based on your categorisation outcome.
 

 



 

 

Outcome - not an eligible introduction for research and development


Go to Step 2 of the categorisation guide.

Your introduction cannot be categorised as a chemical that is only used for research and development.

Go back to the online categorisation guide to continue working out your introduction category.

First, return to step 2 and check if your introduction meets the criteria for any of the non-R&D types that are eligible for the exempted category at this step.

If your introduction is not described in step 2, proceed to step 3 and work out if it meets the criteria for any of the non-R&D types that are eligible for the reported category at this step.

The guide also outlines reporting and record-keeping obligations based on your categorisation outcome.
 

 



 

 

Outcome - not an eligible introduction for research and development

Based on your answers, your introduction does not meet the criteria for either a reported or exempted introduction for research and development.

To be able to finish your categorisation, go to Step 2 of the categorisation guide to work out the risks of your introduction to human health and the environment.”

Go to Step 2 of the categorisation guide.

 

 

Outcome - not an eligible introduction for research and development

Based on your answers, your introduction does not meet the criteria for either a reported or exempted introduction for research and development.

To be able to finish your categorisation, go to Step 2 of the categorisation guide to work out the risks of your introduction to human health and the environment.”

Go to Step 2 of the categorisation guide. 
 



 

 

Outcome - not an eligible introduction for research and development

Based on your answers, your introduction does not meet the criteria for either a reported or exempted introduction for research or development.

To be able to finish your categorisation, go to Step 4 of the categorisation guide to work out the risks of your introduction to human health and the environment.”

Go to Step 4 of the categorisation guide.

 



 

 

Outcome - not an eligible introduction for research and development

Based on your answers, your introduction does not meet the criteria for either a reported or exempted introduction for research or development.

To be able to finish your categorisation, go to Step 4 of the categorisation guide to work out the risks of your introduction to human health and the environment.”

Go to Step 4 of the categorisation guide.

 



 

 

Outcome - not an eligible introduction for research and development

Based on your answers, your introduction does not meet the criteria for either a reported or exempted introduction for research or development.

To be able to finish your categorisation, go to Step 4 of the categorisation guide to work out the risks of your introduction to human health and the environment.”

Go to Step 4 of the categorisation guide.

 



 

 

Outcome - reported category

Your introduction is in the reported category for research and development.

You must be registered with us and submit a once-off pre-introduction report - research and development before you introduce the chemical.

You must also keep records about the introduction and submit an annual declaration at the end of the registration year (from August).

Disclaimer: This decision tool is for information only. Filling out this decision tool alone does not meet your record-keeping requirements.

Outcome - reported category

Your introduction is in the reported category for research and development.

You must be registered with us and submit a once-off pre-introduction report - research and development before you introduce the chemical.

You must also keep records about the introduction and submit an annual declaration at the end of the registration year (from August).

Disclaimer: This decision tool is for information only. Filling out this decision tool alone does not meet your record-keeping requirements.

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