Categorisation of fluorinated chemicals

Who should read this?

Importers and manufacturers of industrial chemicals (and products that are designed to release industrial chemicals) who are working out whether their importation/manufacture (introduction) of a fluorinated chemical will be an exempted, reported or assessed introduction. This information should be read before the chemical is introduced in Australia. You must read this in conjunction with our categorisation guide.

What is a fluorinated chemical?

A fluorinated chemical is a chemical that contains one or more fluorine atoms.

Fluorinated chemicals, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are commonly used in products to add resistance to heat, resistance to other chemicals, and resistance to abrasion, and also act as dispersion, wetting or surface treatment agents.

They may have long-term effects on human health and the environment.

Your introduction of a fluorinated chemical is a ‘specified class of introduction’ if it:

• meets the definition of a designated fluorinated chemical, or
• meets the definition of a polyhalogenated organic chemical. 

To categorise introductions of other fluorinated chemicals that do not meet either of the above definitions, read our categorisation guide.

We have an increased level of concern for specified classes of introductions, due to a greater potential for particular hazards or high levels of human or environmental exposure. For this reason, there may be additional or different requirements when working out your category of introduction as well as additional record keeping obligations.

Our increased level of concern for introductions of chemicals that meet the definition of a designated chemical (including PFAS) is because these chemicals, or their degradation products, may be persistent in the environment, bioaccumulate and be highly toxic. The additional or different requirements arising from these concerns are outlined below.

Is this introduction exempted, reported or assessed?

You must work out if your introduction meets the criteria for the exempted or reported category by going through steps 1-6 of the categorisation guide. If your introduction does not meet the criteria for the exempted or reported category, it will be an assessed introduction (unless you meet the criteria for a commercial evaluation authorisation).

The additional or different requirements to be aware of when working out your category of introduction of chemicals that meet the definition of a designated fluorinated chemical are:

• Step 1: Introductions that cannot be exempted or reported
• Step 4.1: Introductions that are always medium to high risk for human health
• Step 5.1: Introductions that are always medium to high risk for environment

What is the human health risk?

At step 4 of the categorisation process, the indicative human health risk for the introduction of a designated fluorinated chemical is medium to high risk. This means that it is an assessed introduction.

What is the environment risk?

At step 5 of the categorisation process, the indicative environment risk for the introduction of a designated fluorinated chemical is medium to high risk. This means that it is an assessed introduction.

Additional record keeping obligations

There are no unique records that must be kept based on the introduction of a fluorinated chemical. For record keeping requirements that apply to all chemical introductions see our guidance on compliance, reporting and record keeping obligations.