Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard
The Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard (IChEMS) establishes nationally consistent standards for managing the import, manufacture, export, use and disposal of industrial chemicals to reduce their impact on the environment.
Industrial chemicals are listed in the IChEMS register in one of 7 schedules, based on their level of risk to the environment.
- Chemicals listed in Schedule 1 are of lower risk to the environment.
- Chemicals listed in Schedules 6 and 7 pose the greatest risk to the environment.
- Chemicals listed in Schedule 7 are likely to cause serious or irreversible harm to the environment and have no essential uses.
Risk management measures (RMMs) are assigned for the safe use, storage, handling and disposal of chemicals listed in the IChEMS register. These RMMs detail the outcomes that chemical importers, exporters and users must achieve.
Prohibitions or restrictions may be applied where risks cannot be controlled through RMMs.
The NSW Government regulates the use and waste disposal aspects of industrial chemicals listed in the IChEMS register. The Australian Government regulates the import, export and manufacture of these chemicals.
PFAS chemicals prohibited under IChEMS
On 1 July 2025, IChEMS Schedule 7 listings came into effect for the following PFAS chemicals:
- perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and related substances
- perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and related substances
- perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) and related substances
These PFAS chemicals are prohibited from import, use, manufacture and export in Australia, unless specifically exempted. New requirements are also in place for the disposal of waste containing these chemicals.
The prohibitions do not apply to the use of articles already in the market on 1 July 2025. See Chemicals, products and articles under IChEMS.
The IChEMS PFAS prohibitions replace previous prohibitions on PFAS firefighting foams in place in NSW before 1 July 2025.
Application of IChEMS in NSW
All Australian states and territories have agreed to implement IChEMS through their existing environment protection frameworks.
The IChEMS register is implemented in NSW through Part 9.3E of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act).
Businesses using industrial chemicals listed in the IChEMS register must comply with the RMMs specified in the register for that chemical, including use of the chemical on its own or in products or articles. RMMs may also apply to any person who disposes of wastes containing the industrial chemical.
Failure to comply with a RMM specified for a chemical listed in the IChEMS register is considered a ‘pollution incident’. This allows the appropriate regulatory authority to take action to limit harm to the environment and human health.
Penalties may apply for failing to comply with the IChEMS register.
Businesses using industrial chemicals listed in Schedules 6 or 7 of the IChEMS register may need an environment protection licence. See Licensing high-risk industrial chemicals.
If you have any questions about how IChEMS applies in NSW, please contact [email protected]
IChEMS applies to industrial chemicals as defined by the Industrial Chemicals Act 2019 (Cth) and listed in the IChEMS register.
IChEMS does not apply to chemicals regulated under the agricultural and veterinary, therapeutic goods or food safety regimes.
If a chemical has an industrial use and is also used for agricultural, veterinary, or therapeutic purposes, or for food intended for consumption by humans or animals, the IChEMS register only applies to the industrial use.
‘Use’ of an industrial chemical is defined in the Industrial Chemicals Act 2019 (Cth) to include any of the following activities involving an industrial chemical:
- processing
- formulating
- storing
- transporting
- filling into containers
- transferring from a container to another container
- handling
- mixing
- sampling and testing
- producing an article
- releasing into the environment (with or without prior treatment)
- activities relating to an end use for the industrial chemical
‘Use’ of an industrial chemical does not include retail or personal use.
IChEMS scheduling decisions are listed in the IChEMS register. The register includes the date on which decisions will come into effect.
New IChEMS scheduling decisions are published on the national Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water website.
The IChEMS Minimum Standards are baseline requirements for the environmental management of industrial chemicals. These standards apply to all chemicals listed in the IChEMS register.
Businesses using an industrial chemical that is listed in the IChEMS register must comply with the RMMs specified in the register for that chemical. See IChEMS register.
Businesses using chemicals regulated by a chemical control order or chemicals listed in Schedule 6 or 7 of the IChEMS register may need an environment protection licence (EPL) issued by the EPA. See Licensing high-risk industrial chemicals
If you have questions about the importation and manufacture of industrial chemicals, please email the national Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water at [email protected]
More information
Further information about IChEMS is available on the national Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water website Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard IChEMS.