Choose from 5 options:
Foreign companies and chemical data providers
Information to help foreign companies interested in selling their chemicals and products in Australia
Registration
If you use an Australian agent or distributor to import your chemical
If you have a business arrangement with an Australian agent/distributor, they are the introducer (as importer of the chemical). The Australian agent/distributor must register their business with us and pay the relevant fees and charges. We deal directly with them about the introduction of your chemical(s). They are responsible for meeting compliance and reporting obligations under our laws.
If you are exporting directly to Australia
If you’re a non-Australian business wanting to export industrial chemicals (or products that release industrial chemicals) to sell directly to Australian customers, then you may be the introducer. As the introducer, you must register your business with us (and pay any relevant fees and charges) before any chemical is exported.
Exporting a low quantity or volume? You still need to register with us. There is no low volume limit or threshold.
Before you register with us, you need to have an Australian Registered Business Number (ARBN). To find out how to apply for an ARBN, please visit the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC). If you’re unable to obtain an ARBN, you will need to use an Australian agent or distributor.
We will deal with you directly regarding your AICIS registration and introduction of your chemicals. You are also responsible for meeting compliance and reporting requirements under our laws.
How to register
1: Go to AICIS Business Services and click ‘Sign up’ to create an account. Read the disclaimer then select the check box to confirm you have read and understood the information provided. Click ‘Next’.
2: If you have an ARBN (for foreign businesses), select ‘yes’ to the question about having an active ABN. Enter your ARBN and click ‘Get ABR’ details to confirm your number. Enter the legal name of your business that is connected to your ARBN. Select 'Introducer' under 'Type' and 'Non-Australian (overseas) business' under 'Industry code'. Click Next.
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If you get an error message that the ARBN already exists in the system, contact your business administrator or call us on 1800 638 528. |
3: Complete the remaining form and submit. You will receive an email with your username and instructions about how to set your password. Click on the link in the email. You will be directed to our password reset page. Enter your username and click ‘Reset password’.
4: You will receive a password reset email. Click the link in the email. Enter your new password, confirm and click ‘Submit’.
5: You will see a message confirming that your password has been created. Log in to AICIS Business Services and click on the ‘Registration’ tab, then click on ‘Register now’.
6: Enter the value of the industrial chemicals imported and/or manufactured during the previous financial year (1 July – 30 June) in $AUD. Confirm your information is true and correct, then click on ‘Submit’. If you are registering for the first time and you did not introduce industrial chemicals in the previous financial year, enter a value of $0 AUD.
7: Click on the ‘Payments’ tab. If you want to pay your registration fee by credit card, use the ‘Pay’ button. If you want to download your invoice and get the details for other forms of payment, use the ‘Download’ button.
8: Once we process your application, you’ll receive an email and will be able to download your registration certificate from the portal. We'll also publish your business name and registration number on our registered businesses page. Your registration is valid until 31 August each year.
Providing chemical information on someone else's behalf
You may be asked to provide information about your chemical by a third party. For example, your Australian distributor may request that you provide the chemical's proper name in their pre-introduction report (PIR), post-introduction declaration or application for an assessment certificate. In this case you are referred to as a chemical data provider.
If you don't want to disclose the chemical information to your Australian agent/distributor or customer, to protect your commercial interests, then you can give this to us directly through AICIS Business Services.
How to submit chemical information in an AICIS application, report or declaration
If you already have an AICIS Business Services account, you do not have to create a new one to provide information.
1: Go to AICIS Business Services and click ‘Sign up’ to create an account. Read the disclaimer then select the check box to confirm you have read and understood the information provided. Click ‘Next’.
2: Select 'No' for the question 'Do you have an active ABN?'. Under 'Reason for enrolling', select 'To provide information for an application'.
Enter the name of your business and select 'Information provider' under 'Type'. Under 'Industry code', select the business or organisation type that applies, then click Next.
3: Complete the remaining form and click on 'Submit'. You will receive an email containing your unique AICIS Business Services ID number beginning with NIC and instructions about how to set your password. Click on the link in the email. You will be directed to our password reset page. Enter your username and click ‘Reset password’.
4: Contact the applicant or submitter of the AICIS application/report/declaration. Send them your AICIS Business Services ID (beginning with NIC) plus the first and last name of the person associated with that ID number.
5: The applicant or submitter will then use the details to nominate you as the chemical data provider in their application/report/declaration.
6: You will receive an email from AICIS Business Services advising that you have been nominated to provide information. Follow the steps outlined in the email to submit your information. The information you provide will be treated confidentially and will not be visible to anyone else involved in the application/report/declaration.
Learn more about the role of a chemical data provider
AICIS introduction categories
Under our laws, each industrial chemical that you want to introduce has to be authorised under one of the 5 categories below. Regulatory treatment will vary depending on your introduction's level of risk to human health and the environment.
If you are exporting directly as an introducer, you need to categorise the introduction. If you are using an Australian agent or distributor, they need to categorise the introduction.
Step-by-step guide on how to categorise your introduction
The following is a summary of each introduction category. To work out which category applies to your chemical introduction, please see our 'Guide to categorising your chemical importation and manufacture' with supporting self-guided decision tools.
For mixtures or products containing more than one chemical ingredient, you must work out which of the categories below apply to each chemical introduction.
Listed introductions
A chemical introduction that is categorised as ‘listed’ means it is on our Inventory and already available for industrial use in Australia. Your business must be registered with us and you must meet any terms of the listing for that chemical. You must keep records and submit an annual declaration at the end of each registration year. There's no fee for listed introductions.
Exempted introductions
A chemical introduction that is categorised as ‘exempted’ means it meets a very strict set of criteria to be considered very low risk to both human health and the environment. If your introduction meets the criteria and you're already registered with us, you can introduce the chemical without telling us beforehand. You must keep records and submit an annual declaration at the end of each registration year. Some exempted introductions also require you to submit a once-off post-introduction declaration the first time that you introduce the chemical. There's no fee for exempted introductions.
Reported introductions
A chemical introduction that is categorised as ‘reported’ means it meets our criteria to be considered low risk to human health or the environment. You must be registered with us and submit a once-off pre-introduction report before you start introducing it. You must keep records and submit an annual declaration at the end of each registration year. There's no fee for reported introductions and no fee to submit a pre-introduction report.
Assessed introductions
A chemical introduction that is categorised as ‘assessed’ means we consider it to be medium to high risk to human health or the environment. It cannot be in the exempted or reported categories. We must assess your introduction and issue an assessment certificate before you can import or manufacture it. You must keep records and submit an annual declaration at the end of each registration year. There is a fee to apply for an assessment certificate.
Commercial evaluation
If you meet our commercial evaluation criteria, you can apply for a commercial evaluation authorisation as an alternative option to the exempted, reported or assessed category. You must keep records and submit an annual declaration at the end of each registration year. There is a fee to apply for a commercial evaluation authorisation.
The Minister can also authorise introductions under exceptional circumstances.
Applying for an assessment certificate as a foreign company
If your introduction is an 'assessed introduction' and you need to apply for an assessment certificate, you can do so with or without an ARBN — you don’t need to provide this until you need to register your business to start your introduction
Later, if we issue you with a certificate, you have the option to then apply to add any Australian agent/distributor to be covered by the certificate. This means they can introduce the chemical in Australia provided they meet the terms of the assessment certificate. They still need to register and pay the fee and meet all compliance obligations.
If your Australian agent/distributor applies, they may need to nominate you as the chemical data provider in their application. As a chemical data provider, you can apply for certain information to be protected as confidential business information.
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