Overview

On May 29, 2025, the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) announced on its official website that starting July 25, 2025, the process for fulfilling Specific Information Requirements (SIR) reporting obligations will be simplified. These changes aim to assist importers in efficiently meeting SIR reporting requirements for listed substances. Key Improvements to the SIR Reporting Process:

• Improving Inventory chemical records so it’s easier for introducers to find the information they need when there are SIRs

• Updating and expanding guidance so it’s easier for introducers to work out if they need to provide information to AICIS

• Improving SIR online forms so it’s easier for businesses to give information to AICIS

Background

AICIS replaced the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) on July 1, 2020, as the regulatory authority for industrial chemicals in Australia. The transition was accompanied by the implementation of the Industrial Chemicals Act 2019. Over the past five years, stakeholders have provided feedback on challenges related to accessing information about SIR obligations, particularly for substances previously assessed under NICNAS. AICIS identified several areas for improvement in the SIR compliance process, including:

• It can be hard to find the regulatory obligations for chemicals assessed under NICNAS that transitioned as SIR obligations under AICIS, and the process could be simplified

• Introducers can submit SIRs, but the process could be improved

For more details on previous inventory optimizations, see Australia AIIC  to Add 700+ Substance Assessment Reports, which also provides an introduction to SIR.

Detailed Optimization Measures by AICIS

Enhanced Information for Listed Substances with Secondary Notification Obligations

AICIS will surface information from the ‘secondary notification’ section of NICNAS assessment reports in the specific information requirement field in Inventory chemical records. This means the chemical records will include more details about obligations to provide information and the circumstances that apply, which will reduce the need to locate and interpret information in the secondary notification section of NICNAS assessment reports. AICIS will not disclose protected information, such as protected chemical names and CAS numbers.

Polymers of Low Concern (PLC)

The records will clearly indicate if chemicals were assessed as polymers of low concern (PLC) – since different information requirements apply for a PLC. For most PLC substances, SIR provisions will apply only if the polymer is introduced in a form that does not meet PLC standards.

Updates to SIR terms in the Inventory

To be able to publish more detailed information about the SIR obligations in Inventory chemical records, AICIS will formally vary the SIR terms of listing. The information that AICIS surfaces in the SIR term of listing in the Inventory chemical record will also be published in the next version of the downloadable Inventory. AICIS generally releases a downloadable Excel version of the AIIC inventory every six months. The latest 6th edition was released in early January this year, and the 7th edition is scheduled to be released in August this year.

New Features in Inventory Records

• Adding links to guidance to make it easier for introducers to work out if they need to submit information to AICIS

• Displaying a new link in many chemical records to allow users to directly open the associated NICNAS assessment report

• making it clearer that an assessment report cannot be linked to the chemical record (if applicable) because of protected information

Improved SIR Online Forms

From 25 July 2025, businesses will need to use the improved forms to submit information to AICIS. Many businesses have incomplete SIR forms saved as a draft in the AICIS Business Services portal. If you need to submit SIR forms that are saved as drafts, please finalise and submit them before 24 July 2025. You can also cancel any draft SIR forms that are no longer required.

Why These Changes Matter for Businesses?

These optimizations are expected to significantly simplify SIR compliance by providing businesses with clearer, more accessible information. However, businesses should remain vigilant, as certain listed substances cannot be introduced without fulfilling SIR or other additional obligations. Always check inventory records for compliance requirements before introducing substances.