Australia Updates 2025 Workplan for IChEMS 
On May 15, 2025, the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water (DCCEEW) updated the workplan for the Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard (IChEMS). This workplan is based on the IChEMS Scheduling Strategy (2024–2027) and is revised in the final quarter (April–June) of each financial year.
The 2025 update identifies bisphenols, phthalate esters, and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) as candidate chemicals for IChEMS Scheduling. Regulatory measures for these chemicals will be prioritized for review by 2026. However, the workplan does not specify regulatory measures. Moving forward, substance evaluations and proposals for IChEMS Scheduling will be conducted in accordance with this workplan.
Below is a partial list of chemicals listed in the updated workplan.
Chemicals expected to be considered in the 2025-2026 financial year include:
Internationally recognised chemicals of concern:
| Chemical name | CAS RN |
|---|---|
| Bisphenol A (BPA) | 80-05-7 |
| Phthalate esters | 84-69-5*1 and others |
| Bisphenol S | 80-09-1 |
| 2,4,6-Tri-tert-butylphenol | 732-26-3 |
| Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) | 128-37-0 |
| Phenolic benzotriazoles | 3846-71-7*2 and others |
*1 Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)
*2 UV-320
Known and emerging chemicals of concern:
| Chemical name | CAS RN |
|---|---|
| Perfluorononanesulfonate (PFNS) and Perfluorodecanesulfonate (PFDS) salts | 17202-41-4 and others |
| Perfluoroheptanesulfonate (PFHpS) salts | 68259-07-4 and others |
| Perfluoroheptanesulfonate (PFHpS) related compounds | 68555-76-0 and others |
| 6:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonamide (6:2 FTS) surfactants | 34455-29-3 and others |
| Perfluoroethylcyclohexane Sulfonate (PFECHS) and other cyclic PFAS | 67584-42-3 and others |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid and its direct precursors | 375-73-5 and others |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate related substances | 34454-97-2 and others |
| Butylated hydroxyanisole and related antioxidants | 25013-16-5 and others |
| Hydroquinone and p-benzoquinone | 123-31-9 and others |
| Tetrabromobisphenol A | 79-94-7 |
| bis(perfluoroalkyl) (C6–C12) phosphinic acid | 68412-69-1, 26530-20-1 |
| Dichlorooctylisothiazolinone and octylisothiazolinone | 64359-81-5 |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) | 375-85-9 |
| Perfluoropentanesulfonate (PFPeS) salts | 3872-25-1 and others |
| Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) and their salts | 307-24-4 and others |
| 6:2 Fluorotelomer silanes and silicones | 73609-36-6 and others |
| Perfluoroalkyl (C6–C12) phosphonic acid (C6–12 PFPA) | 68412-69-1 |
| 6:2 Fluorotelomer alcohol and other precursors to short chain perfluorocarboxylic acids | 647-42-7 and others |
Chemicals that impede a safe circular economy:
| Chemical name | CAS RN |
|---|---|
| Lead Soaps and lead carboxylic acids | 1072-35-1 and others |
Chemicals expected to be priorities for future consideration include:
Internationally recognised chemicals of concern:
| Chemical name | CAS RN |
|---|---|
| Long chain perfluorocarboxylic acids | n/a |
| Medium chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) | 85535-85-9 |
| Nonylphenol | 25154-52-3 |
| Nonylphenol ethoxylates and their sulfate and phosphate esters | n/a |
| Commercial octabromobiphenyl | 27858-07-7 |
| Commercial decabromobiphenyl | 13654-09-6 |
| Perfluoro-4-ethylcyclohexane sulfonate (PFECHS) | 646-83-3 |
| Tris(2,3 dibromopropyl) phosphate | 126-72-7 |
If the chemicals are added to Schedule 6 – Industrial chemicals that are likely to cause serious or irreversible harm to the environment with essential uses, their manufacture, use, and import/export in Australia will be prohibited, except for essential uses, in accordance with Column 6 (Risk Management Measures, Including Prohibitions and Restrictions) of the schedule.
If they are added to Schedule 7 – Industrial chemicals that are likely to cause serious or irreversible harm to the environment with no essential uses, their manufacture, use, and import/export will be completely banned in Australia, regardless of application.
Furthermore, these chemicals may be regulated as groups whenever feasible, considering their similar end-uses, properties of concern, and environmental effects. This approach aims to prevent ‘regrettable substitutes’ with similar chemicals.
For further details on the IChEMS workplan and Scheduling Strategy, please refer to the following URL.
https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/chemicals-management/national-standard/standard-setting#our-workplan
