Western Australia Government to implement single-use plastic ban plan
27 March 2023 
Australia
Australia
Plastic management rules are becoming more stringent in Australia.
Index of Oceania
- Australia (17)
New Zealand (9)
Posts of Oceania
NZ bans unsealed use of foam extinguishing agents containing PFAS
6 March 2023
New Zealand
New Zealand
On January 1, 2023, the New Zealand (NZ) Government imposed severe restrictions on foam extinguishing agents which contain PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances). The NZ Environmental Protection Agency made the …
Australia to fully transition to GHS 7 from 1 January 2023
15 February 2023
Australia
Australia
On 9 December 2022, Safe Work Australia issued a reminder to stakeholders that the country’s transition period to the UN Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS …
New Zealand to phase out difficult-to-recycle plastic containers and packaging by mid-2025
3 February 2023
New Zealand
New Zealand
On December 12, 2022, New Zealand’s (NZ) Ministry for the Environment released a summary of difficult-to-recycle plastic containers and packaging that should be phased out by mid-2025. This is the …
New Zealand introduces amendment bill regarding industrial allocations to multi-emitting companies
24 January 2023
New Zealand
New Zealand
On December 2, 2022, the New Zealand Government submitted a bill to Parliament to amend the Climate Change Response (Late Payment Penalty and Industrial Allocation) Bill. The government grants free …
Australian government simplifies record-keeping requirements for companies introducing industrial chemicals weighing 10kg or less
24 January 2023
Australia
Australia
On 15 November 2022, the Australian Government promulgated the Industrial Chemicals (General) Amendment (Introductions of 10 kg or Less) Rules 2022, and the rules came into force on 25 November. …
Australian government announces the country’s first climate change statement: “We are on the right track”
19 December 2022
Australia
Australia
Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, delivered the Government’s first annual climate change statement on December 1, 2022. The statement is a requirement under the Australian Climate …
New Zealand amends HSNO Act related to chemicals management
Aims to accelerate the evaluation process
7 December 2022
New Zealand
New Zealand
On November 1, 2022, New Zealand amended the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act of 1996 (HSNO Act) that legislates chemical substances management. The purpose of the amendment is to …
AICIS of Australia announces new assessment report for six chemicals
1 December 2022
Australia
Australia
On September 14, 2022, the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) released a new assessment report for six chemicals under Section 37 of the Industrial Chemicals Act 2019. The assessment …
Australian DCCEEW issues request for information on four persistent organic pollutants such as HCBD
14 September 2022
Australia
Australia
On August 19, 2022, the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) issued a request for information on four types of residual organic pollutants (POPs). The …
Australian Government Tables 2022 Climate Change Bill
23 August 2022
Australia
Australia
On July 27, 2022, the Australian government tabled the Climate Change Bill 2022 in Parliament. The bill aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43% by 2030 compared to 2005 …
Minister of Environment of New Zealand releases its first national adaptation plan
19 August 2022
New Zealand
New Zealand
On August 3, 2022, the New Zealand Ministry for the Environment (MfE) released New Zealand’s first ever National Adaptation Plan (NAP) to address priority climate change-related risks identified in the …
AICIS of Australia Announces Assessment Statement on Decabromodiphenyl Ether
16 August 2022
Australia
Australia
On July 12, 2022, the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) announced an assessment statement on Benzene, 1,1′-(1,2-ethanediyl)bis[2,3,4,5,6-pentabromo- (also known as decabromodiphenylethane or DBDPE) (CAS RN: 84852-53-9). End-use applications include …
AICIS of Australia Makes Changes to the Conditions for Inventory Related to HFO-1234yf
16 August 2022
Australia
Australia
Pursuant to Section 86 of the Industrial Chemicals Act 2019, on August 1, 2022, the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) announced that it would change the conditions for “1-Propene, …
New Zealand promulgates rules prohibiting the use of plastics under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008
11 August 2022
New Zealand
New Zealand
On March 14, 2022, New Zealand promulgated the Waste Minimisation (Plastic and Related Products) Regulations 2022 as a sub-rule of the Waste Minimisation Act 2008. The purpose of the regulations …
Australian AICIS extends dechlorane plus risk evaluation deadline by 1 year
8 August 2022
Australia
Australia
On June 30, 2022, the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) announced the extension of the risk evaluation deadline for dechlorane plus (1,2,3,4,7,8,9,10,13,13,14,14-dodecachloro-1,4,4a ,5,6,6a ,7,10,10a ,11,12,12a, -dodecahydro-1,4;7-dimethanodibenzo [a, e] cyclooctene) …
Australia announces “Equipment Energy Efficiency Prioritisation Plan 2021-2022”
28 April 2022
Australia
Australia
On April 8, 2022, Energy Rating, the regulator of energy efficiency standards for products in Australia, released the “Equipment Energy Efficiency Prioritisation Plan 2021-2022.” This plan sets priorities in the …
New Zealand Ministry for the Environment announces position statement on compostable products
28 April 2022
New Zealand
New Zealand
On March 24, 2022, the New Zealand Ministry for the Environment (MfE) released a position statement on compostable products as part of its National Plastics Action Plan. MfE states that …
Australia’s AICIS announces “Guide to categorising your chemical importation and manufacture Version 1.4” for business operators
7 April 2022
Australia
Australia
On March 31, 2022, the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) released a revised version of its self-judgment categorization guide that business operators who intend to import industrial chemicals into …
Australian publishes decision to revise MEPS for air conditioners of 65 kW or more
6 April 2022
Australia
Australia
On February 17, 2022, the Australian Official Gazette published a decision to revise the greenhouse effect and minimum energy performance standards for air conditioners of 65 kW or more. Minimum …
Australia’s DAWE announces “Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard Roadmap”
6 April 2022
Australia
Australia
On March 23, 2022, the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) released the IChEMS (Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard) Roadmap. This roadmap was developed in collaboration with the …
AICIS: Revision of Act as a first step towards domestic setting in law of the Minamata Convention
6 April 2022
Australia
Australia
On March 7, 2022, the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) announced that it had revised and enforced the Industrial Chemicals Rules 2019 to incorporate the Minamata Convention on Mercury …
NZ Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment presents report on the environmental fate of chemicals
6 April 2022
New Zealand
New Zealand
On March 3, 2022, Simon Upton, New Zealand’s Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, released a new report on the environmental fate of chemicals. The report summarizes the following items. Environmental …
AICIS announces amendments to the Industrial Chemicals Rules 2019
19 January 2022
Australia
Australia
On November 22, 2021, the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) announced amendments to some regulations of the Industrial Chemicals Rules 2019. Specifically, the Industrial Chemicals (General) Rules 2019 and …
NZ EPA reminds regulations of methyl bromide started on January 1, 2022
19 January 2022
New Zealand
New Zealand
On December 22, 2021, the New Zealand Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released information on its website to remind companies about the stepped introduction of additional regulations for methyl bromide used …
AICIS of Australia, Releases “Evaluations Roadmap” for Industrial Chemicals
24 September 2021
Australia
Australia
On September 17, 2021, the Australian Industrial Chemicals Induction Scheme (AICIS) released the “Evaluations Roadmap”, which outlines a strategic approach to assessing the risks to human health and the environment …
