Australia has announced plans to simplify the NICNAS new chemicals review program by setting up 3 classes of chemicals by risk (hazard + exposure):
1. Very Low Risk – no notice required, just record-keeping
2. Low Risk - a brief notice with self-certification that "low risk" criteria are met
3. Medium - High Risk - current more intense review with agency certificate needed proceed to market with likely restrictions to manage risk and future evaluation post-market.
The government will issue a risk matrix that accounts for hazard and exposure that will determine which category a proposed chemical product falls into. Reform is subject to development of new legislation and regulation with public input and expected to be rolled out from 2016 - 2018. Fees are going up to pay for the effort.
It will be interesting to watch how the risk matrix develops and how it may be influenced by or influence any TSCA reform.
- Tags:
- Australia
- new chemicals
- NICNAS