Appendix: Apply for protection of confidential business information as part of your assessment certificate application

See our page on protecting confidential information, for broader guidance, including how confidentiality works and what happens after we receive an application.

Starting your CBI application in AICIS Business Services

Accessing the CBI tab

The CBI tab displays once the following sections are finalised:

• Overview
• Participants
• Application type

On the CBI tab, you will see 3 options:

• Create chemical name application
• Create end use application
• CBI validation

Two tables display:

• CBI application overview – lists all CBI applications created
• CBI other contacts overview – lists all participants with a CBI role and their business contact details

The CBI other contacts overview draws information from the Participants tab.

Each participant assigned a CBI role must submit their own CBI application. Once completed, their application appears in the CBI application overview.

Apply for protection of chemical name

• Only one participant may apply to protect the chemical name.
• Select the chemical name from the picklist (this is the public chemical name entered by the initial applicant).
• Under The chemical name you are applying for protection, enter the actual chemical name you do not want published.
• Under Suggest an AICIS Approved Chemical Name (AACN) for this chemical, provide a proposed AACN (masked chemical name).

If an AACN already exists for the chemical (issued to another introducer), we will assign the same AACN. Each chemical can only have one AACN.

Justification requirements

You must provide evidence and reasons:

• for the level of masking chosen
• to demonstrate that your request meets AICIS's statutory test.

You have the option to enter this information directly or upload a supporting file. 

Your justification must address both the technical requirements, and the statutory test criteria.

See detailed guidance and examples for AACNs

See our statutory test guidance

If your proposed AACN is not acceptable, we will consult with you to determine a more suitable one.

Submit the application

Once you've entered the required information, follow these steps:

• Click 'Proceed to CBI invoice'
• Select the invoice payer from the picklist
• Save the application.

An invoice is then created for the invoice payer you've selected.

Apply to protect end use

• One or more participants may apply to protect the end use.
• Select the applicant from the picklist.
• Describe the specific end use you wish to protect.

For assistance, including examples, refer to the guidance on creating a generalised end use.

Justification requirements

You must provide evidence and reasons to show that your claim meets the statutory test. You can enter this directly or upload a supporting file.

See our statutory test guidance

Saving and invoicing

• Save the application as a draft once completed
• Click 'Proceed to CBI invoice'
• Select the invoice payer from the picklist
• Save the application.

If we approve the application, we will publish a generalised end use instead of the specific end use.

Returning to CBI overview

Click 'Return to CBI overview' to go to CBI validation.

CBI validation