Requirements by topic
| Topic | Requirement | Effective | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firefighting foamBan | Use of firefighting foam containing PFOS, PFOA or PFHxS is prohibited except at trace levels, including for foam already installed in Class B systems.Installed Class B foam limits: 0.8 mg/kg PFOS and salts, 0.8 mg/kg PFOA and salts, 0.1 mg/kg PFHxS and salts; to be reviewed by 1 July 2027. | July 1, 2025 | In force | Schedule 7, paras. (b)(i)(C) and (c)(i)(C) of each entry |
| Firefighting foamUse limit | Aqueous film-forming foam containing PFBA, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFBS, PFHpA, PFPeS or 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamides, their salts or related compounds, may be used only in emergencies, with any release fully contained. Imports and exports of firefighting foam containing them need authorisation under Commonwealth law.Users should not use these foams where an effective and feasible alternative exists, and must give the relevant environmental protection agency a strategy for moving away from them. The entries do not ban manufacture or import of the chemicals themselves. | July 1, 2027 | Scheduled | Schedule 4 PFHxA, PFPeA and PFBA entry; Schedule 5 PFBS, PFHpA, PFPeS and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide entries (F2026L00750) |
| Other named productsBan | Import, export and manufacture of PFOS, PFOA and PFHxS, on their own, in mixtures or in articles, are prohibited, and their use is prohibited, except as listed.Exceptions: unintentional trace contamination at or below 0.025 mg/kg (acid and salts) or 1 mg/kg (related compounds); research or laboratory purposes; import or export under a hazardous waste permit; use of articles already in use on or before 1 July 2025 (read in the PFOA entry). Waste at or above 1 mg/kg (acid and salts) or 40 mg/kg (sum of related compounds) must be destroyed or irreversibly transformed, or managed in an environmentally sound manner; stockpiles must be notified. | July 1, 2025 | In force | Schedule 7, PFHxS, PFOS and PFOA entries, paras. (a)-(j) |
| Other named productsBan | Manufacture, import, export and use of PFHpS, PFNS and PFDS, their salts and related compounds, on their own, in mixtures or in articles, are prohibited, except as listed.Exceptions: unintentional trace contamination at or below 0.025 mg/kg (acids and salts) or 1 mg/kg (related compounds); research or laboratory purposes; import or export under a hazardous waste permit; use for environmentally sound disposal; and articles already in use on or before January 1, 2027. Waste at or above 1 mg/kg (acids and salts) or 40 mg/kg (related compounds, summed) must be destroyed, irreversibly transformed or otherwise managed in an environmentally sound manner, and stockpiles must be notified. | January 1, 2027 | Scheduled | Schedule 7, PFHpS entry and PFNS and PFDS entry (F2026L00750) |
The instruments
Australia
IChEMS Register PFAS listings (Schedules 4, 5 and 7)
- Citation
- Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Instrument 2022 (F2022L01658), Schedule 7, as amended by the Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Amendment (2023 Measures No. 1) Instrument 2023 (F2023L01689), and the Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Instrument 2026 (F2026L00750)
- Enacted by
- F2023L01689 (2023); amended by F2026L00750 (2026)
- Enacted or adopted
- December 12, 2023
- Last amended
- June 9, 2026
- Status
- In force
- Source
- https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2022L01658/latest/text
Exemptions
- Unintentional trace contamination below listed levels
- Research or laboratory purposes
- Import or export authorised by a hazardous waste permit
- Articles already in use on or before 1 July 2025 (PFOA entry)
- Use for environmentally sound disposal (PFHpS, PFNS and PFDS entries)
- Articles already in use on or before 1 January 2027 (PFHpS, PFNS and PFDS entries)
Pending rules and decisions
- Proposed IChEMS Schedule 6 listing of long-chain PFCAs: Ban on long-chain PFCAs, their salts and related compounds
Consultation ran September 21 to October 23, 2026; no decision as of November 10, 2026. (October 23, 2026)
DCCEEW's proposed scheduling decision would list C9 to C21 PFCAs, their salts and related compounds in Schedule 6 from January 1, 2028, prohibiting their manufacture, import, export and use, with a trace limit of 0.025 mg/kg for each congener and its salts. Semiconductors in replacement parts and replacement parts for motor vehicles no longer in mass production could still be used until January 1, 2041. Source
Timeline
- December 12, 2023 Enacted
Register amendment listing PFOS, PFOA and PFHxS in Schedule 7 was made. Source - July 1, 2025 Took effect
Schedule 7 prohibitions on PFOS, PFOA and PFHxS took effect. Source - June 19, 2026 Rule
The 2026 Measures No. 1 amendment to the IChEMS Register took effect. It adds PFHpS, PFNS and PFDS, their salts and related compounds to Schedule 7, prohibited from January 1, 2027, and from July 1, 2027 limits firefighting foam containing PFHxA, PFBS and five other shorter-chain PFAS groups to emergency use. Source