Time is Ticking for Mandatory PFAS reporting in Australia
Canberra, Australia, October 2025 — The Executive Director of the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) has launched a formal evaluation of the introduction and use of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Australia. As part of this review, AICIS now requires all chemical introducers registered between 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2025 to submit detailed information on their introduction and use of 522 listed PFAS.
Required Information
Companies must report whether they have imported or manufactured any of the listed PFAS during the relevant period. If so, they must provide:
The CAS number and chemical name
Mode of introduction (import and/or manufacture)
Total volume introduced
The end use(s) of each listed PFAS
If a registrant cannot supply the required information, they must provide a justification explaining why. AICIS has issued official notifications to each registrant. Responses are due within 40 days of receiving the notice, which for most companies will fall around 30 November 2025.
Purpose of the Evaluation
The data will enable AICIS to verify import volumes and usage patterns for all 522 PFAS and may inform future assessments within the agency’s Rolling Action Plan for chemical evaluation.
Exempted Product Categories
Certain product types containing the listed PFAS are exempt from reporting requirements:
Articles — hard-shaped objects where chemicals are not intended to be released
Non-isolated intermediates
Products regulated by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA)
Therapeutic goods regulated under the Therapeutic Goods Act
Articles where chemicals are intended to be released into the environment are not exempted. Examples include:
Cosmetics
Fragrances
Printing and writing inks
Bottled cleaners
Other products designed to release chemical components during normal use
Supply Chain and Testing Expectations
AICIS advises companies to gather information from their supply chains or conduct testing to determine whether any of the 522 listed PFAS are present in their products.
Australia’s action follows similar PFAS information-gathering initiatives in Canada and the United States, though the U.S. has recently begun scaling back some of its PFAS reporting requirements.
