New Criteria Affects Confidential Listing
Under new criteria being drafted, confidential listing on the Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances (AICS) now needs to consider the public interest as well as the commercial interest.
All existing industrial chemicals that are currently, or have been, in commercial use in Australia are listed in AICS. The inventory is divided into an open, non-confidential section and a confidential section. Chemicals are listed in the confidential section only if commercial interests outweigh the public interest.
Public interest criteria have been drafted by an independent specialist advisory panel and include factors such as the potential for adverse effects on human health and the environment. The panel was selected for their knowledge of chemicals and regulations issues, particularly concerning confidentiality, commercial matters and public right to know considerations
The Draft Guidelines for Establishing a Case for Confidential Listing of Chemicals on the Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances have been released for wide public comment and are open for discussion through a series of public meetings.
The document is available from the NOHSC web site in PDF or Word 6
http://www.worksafe.gov.au/pdf/exchemlist.pdf (K)
or
gazette.rtf (RTF 58kB)
General enquiries should be directed to NICNAS on freecall 1800 638 528 or (02) 9577 9514.
Media enquiries should be directed to ASCC Public Affairs Unit, Elizabeth Dixon, (02) 9577 9424, Mobile 0418 606 780 or Sylvie Marimon, (02) 9577 9249.
June 21, 1999
Page last updated: 15/07/2008