Available now: 2026 categorisation guidelines and updated list of high hazard chemicals

We have released the 2026 Industrial Chemicals Categorisation Guidelines and updated our 'Guide to categorising your chemical importation and manufacture' to reflect all the changes that take effect on 1 September 2026.

What’s different from the 2025 Categorisation Guidelines

• Updated list of chemicals with high hazards for categorisation, including 293 new entries and updates to 122 existing entries.
• Five chemicals added to step 4.4 Human health hazard band C hazard characteristics after they were added to part 6.5.2 of the Guidelines: Information required to demonstrate the absence of developmental toxicity.
• Revised definition of 'chemical identity holder' to improve clarity. This single definition will replace the 2 existing definitions.

We announced these changes on 4 March 2026 and 14 August 2026 following public consultation.

How to work out your chemical introduction's category using the latest guidelines

Use our online Guide to categorising your chemical importation and manufacture.

To download a copy of the 2026 Industrial Chemicals Categorisation Guidelines, visit our Industrial chemicals laws in Australia page. If you are categorising your introduction, please refer to our online categorisation guide.