Low Regulatory Concern Chemicals Reform Initiative - Implementation of Outstanding Reform

NICNAS has recently introduced a number of reform initiatives to encourage the introduction of new and safer chemicals based on the criteria set out in the 'Low Regulatory Concern Chemicals (LRCC) Final Report and Recommendations on the outstanding reforms' (published in the November 2007 issue of the Chemical Gazette).

The reforms initiatives have resulted in the following changes to the new chemical permit categories:

• Increase in volume for low hazardous chemicals introduced under the Low Volume Chemical (LVC) Permit system;

• Introduction of highly controlled low risk chemicals under the Controlled Use Permit (CUP) system;

• Extension of the Early Introduction Permit (EIP) system to low hazardous and highly controlled low risk chemicals;

• Free EIP for non-hazardous chemicals and polymers and polymers of low concern.

New/updated application forms for the LVC, EIP and CUP permit are now available at the New Chemicals forms section of the website.  The Handbook for Notifiers has been updated to include guidance on these permit categories to help notifiers determine whether their chemical meets the criteria established for the new categories. Draft guidance and forms for modular assessment options for new chemical certificate notifications has also been developed (see May 2009 Chemical Gazette). These will be added to the NICNAS website shortly.

Related Publications/Information

More Information

• Evaluation of LRCC Reforms

• November 2007 Chemical Gazette

• Final Report and Recommendations for NICNAS Low Regulatory Concern Chemicals (LRCC) Reform Initiative

• The Implementation Strategy for the Recommendations for NICNAS LRCC Reform Initiative (PDF 196 Kb)

Discussion Papers

• Overview of the Planned Reforms (PDF 104 Kb);

• Low-Hazardous Criteria for the Purpose of Notification and Assessment - Discussion Paper No. 1 (PDF 290 Kb);

  • Appendix 1 (PDF 152 Kb);

  • Appendix 2 (PDF 124 Kb);

  • Appendix 3 (PDF 110Kb)

• Low Risk Criteria and Scenarios for Controlled Use Permits - Discussion Paper No. 2 (PDF 162 Kb);

• Modular Assessment of Chemicals that have been assessed by another Authority - Discussion Paper No. 3
  (PDF 203Kb);

• Modular Assessment of Chemicals for which appropriate analogues have been previously Assessed by NICNAS - Discussion Paper No. 4 (PDF 190 Kb);

• Review of Definitions - Naturally Occurring Chemicals and Essential Oils - Discussion Paper No. 5 (PDF 49 Kb);

• Low Regulatory Concern Polymers - Discussion Paper No. 6 (PDF 39 Kb).