Glossary

	Glossary
	This glossary contains a brief description of terms relevant to an understanding of the NICNAS Annual Report for 2004-05. The terms described in the glossary do not substitute for definitions contained in the Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Act 1989 (the Act). An interpretation of terms relevant to the operation of the Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme is given in Part 1 Section 5 of the Act.
the Act	Commonwealth Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Act1989
Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT)	body which provides independent review of a wide range of administrative decisions made by the Australian Government and some non-government bodies
Audit	formal review of procedures and practices in relation to obligations under the Act
Australian High Volume Industrial Chemicals (HVIC) list	list of information about chemicals manufactured in and/or imported into Australia in quantities greater than or equal to 1000 tonnes
Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances (AICS)	list of chemical identity data maintained by NICNAS; legal device that distinguishes new from existing chemicals and lists all industrial chemicals in use in Australia between 1 January 1977 and 28 February 1990; includes new assessed chemicals since February 1990 and corrections as required)
Australian Public Service (APS) Values	articulated in section 10(1) of the Public Service Act 1999; provide the real basis and integrating element to the Australian Public Service, its professionalism, its integrity and its impartial and responsive service to the government of the day
Business Plan for NICNAS	document describing the performance measures and data for NICNAS and how these relate to the NICNAS Strategic Plan
Candidate List	list of chemicals selected for possible priority assessment, following a screening process, from chemicals nominated to NICNAS by industry, unions, the public and government
Chemical Gazette	government publication, published by NICNAS, under its Act, on the first Tuesday of each month, containing information regarding changes to NICNAS legislation, newly assessed chemicals and the Register of Chemical Introducers
Community Engagement Forum	NICNAS's consultative group that identifies community concerns about the impact of industrial chemicals on the environment, public health and/or worker health and safety
Compliance case	a business entity which has one or more potential contraventions of the Act
Concise International Chemical Assessment Document (CICAD)	concise, informative document published under the IPCS that provides a summary of the relevant scientific information concerning the potential effects of a chemical on human health and/or the
Consultancy	procurement of external specialists to provide advice and services where NICNAS staff either do not have the expertise or have overriding obligations
Director	Director of NICNAS
Due diligence	level of judgement, care, prudence, determination and activity with which a person would reasonably be expected to perform under particular circumstances
Ecologically sustainable development (ESD)	using, conserving and enhancing the community's resources so that ecological processes, on which life depends, are maintained and the total quality of life, now and in the future, can be enhanced
Existing chemicals	industrial chemicals other than new industrial chemicals
Industrial chemical	chemical that has an industrial use (whether or not it also has other non-industrial uses)
Industry Government Consultative Committee (IGCC)	primary consultative body for industry and government on NICNAS matters; among other things, reviews the utilisation of resources against NICNAS objectives under terms of reference set by the Minister
International Program on Chemical Safety (IPCS)	co-operative venture of the World Health Organisation, International Labour Organisation and United Nations Environmental Programme formed with the objective of establishing the scientific basis for the assessment of the risk to human health and the environment from exposure to chemicals and to provide technical assistance to strengthen national capacities for the sound management of chemicals
the LRCC Act	Commonwealth Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Amendment (Low Regulatory Concern Chemicals) Act 2004
Low regulatory concern chemicals (LRCC)	industrial chemicals which could qualify for reduced regulatory input on the basis of a definition of low risk or where regulatory input from elsewhere is sufficient to meet Australian requirements
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)	document that describes the properties and uses of a substance, ie identity, chemical and physical properties, health hazard information, precautions for use and safe handling information
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)	agreement between parties that details mutual obligations in relation to services and/or the exchange of information (relating to industrial chemicals)
New chemicals	agreement between parties that details mutual obligations in relation to services and/or the exchange of information (relating to industrial chemicals)
Occupational health and safety (OHS)	general area of concern in employment which spans the physiological and psychological needs and well-being of persons engaged in occupations, work-related trauma and death, the prevention of work-related trauma and death, the protection from, or from risk of, work-related trauma and death, and the rehabilitation and retraining of persons who have suffered workrelated trauma (CCH Occupational Health and Safety: Glossary, CCH International, 1992)
Office of Chemical Safety (OCS)	general area of concern in employment which spans the physiological and psychological needs and well-being of persons engaged in occupations, work-related trauma and death, the prevention of work-related trauma and death, the protection from, or from risk of, work-related trauma and death, and the rehabilitation and retraining of persons who have suffered workrelated trauma (CCH Occupational Health and Safety: Glossary, CCH International, 1992)
Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development (OECD)	groups 30 member countries sharing a commitment to democratic government and the market economy; plays a prominent role in fostering good governance in the public service and in corporate activity; work covers economic and social issues from macroeconomics, to trade, education, development and science and innovation
Outcome	in the context of the PBS, a stated goal for achievement by an organisation
Output	in the context of the PBS, a set of activities and products that contribute to the achievement of a stated goal of an organisation (outcome); subject to performance standards
Portfolio Budget Statement (PBS)	document that details proposed allocation of resources to government outcomes by agencies within a portfolio; facilitates understanding of the proposed appropriations in Appropriation Bills and provides sufficient information, explanation and justification to enable parliament to understand the purpose of each outcome proposed in the Bills
Precursor chemicals	chemicals which are known to be used in the manufacture of illicit drugs
Priority existing chemical (PEC)	chemical declared by the Minister for assessment under the NICNAS Existing Chemicals Program because its manufacture, handling, storage, use or disposal gives rise or may give rise to an adverse risk to human health and/or the environment
Rotterdam Convention	the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, ratified by Australia on 20 May 2004
Screening Information Data Set (SIDS)	agreed minimal data set as determined by the OECD that allows for the establishment of the hazards of a specific industrial chemical
Service Charter for NICNAS	document that spells out the types, levels and standards of service NICNAS clients can expect from the organisation, including details of complaint resolution procedures
SIDS Initial Assessment Report (SIAR)	OECD Existing Chemicals Programme report of hazards of a specific industrial chemical based upon an evaluation of an OECD Screening Information Data Set
Stockholm Convention	the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), ratified by Australia on 20 May 2004
Strategic Plan for NICNAS	document that details the strategies NICNAS uses to achieve its stated goals and values for the three years 2002-05
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)	is a unit of the Australian Department of Health and Ageing
Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3	NICNAS Registration levels, each relating to a range of total values for industrial chemicals introduced in a registration year (1 September – 31 August of following year), used in assessing registration charges
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	Acronyms and abbreviations
ACC	Australian Crime Commission
ACCC	Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
ACCI	Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
ACCORD	ACCORD Australasia - previously ACSPA, the Australian Consumer and Speciality Products Association
AGD	Attorney General's Department
AHECC	Australian Harmonised Export Commodity Classification
AICS	Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances
AIOH	Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists
APMF	Australian Paint Manufacturers' Federation
APVMA	Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority
AS	Australian Standard
CAS	Chemical Abstracts Service
CEC	Commercial Evaluation Category
CEF	Community Engagement Forum
CICAD	Concise International Chemical Assessment Document
COAG	Council of Australian Governments
CPLG	Chemicals and Plastics Leadership Group
CSSC	Chemicals Standards Sub-Committee of the ASCC
DAN/D@N	Database @ NICNAS
DEH	Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage
DoHA	Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
DITR	Australian Government Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources
DPP	Director of Public Prosecutions
EEO	Equal employment opportunity
EIP	Early Introduction Permit (NICNAS)
EPA	Environmental Protection Agency (US)
EPHC	Environment Protection and Heritage Council
FOI	Freedom of Information
FSANZ	Food Standards Australia New Zealand
FTE	Full time equivalent
HPV	High production volume (chemicals) (NICNAS)
HSNO	Hazardous Substances and New Organisms
ICMM	International Council on Mining and Metals
ILO	International Labour Organisation
INC	Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee
IPCS	International Programme on Chemical Safety
LTD	Limited notification category (NICNAS)
LVC	Low Volume Chemical (NICNAS)
MAN	Mutual Acceptance of Notification
MSDS	Material Safety Data Sheet
NAMW	Number-average molecular weight
NDPSC	National Drugs and Poisons Schedule Committee
NEPC	National Environment Protection Council
NEPM	National Environment Protection Measures
ASCC	National Occupational Health and Safety Commission
NOTS	Notified Toxic Substances
NZ ERMA	New Zealand Environmental Risk Management Authority
OECD	Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
OGTR	Office of Gene Technology Regulator
OHS	Occupational Health and Safety
PACIA	Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association
PBFR	Polybrominated Flame Retardant
PBDE	Polybrominated diphenylether
PEC	Priority Existing Chemicals
PFAS	Perfluoroalkyl sulfonate
PFOA	Perfluorooctanoic acid
PFOS	Perfluorooctane sulfonate
PIC	Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazadous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade
PLC	Polymer of Low Concern notification (NICNAS)
PON	Privacy Officer Network
POPs	Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
RACI	Royal Australian Chemical Institute
RD&A	Research, development or analytical (RD&A purposes)
RSC	Review Steering Committee for NICNAS Existing Chemicals Program
SCAA	Surface Coatings Association of Australia
SIAM	SIDS Initial Assessment Meeting of the OECD
SIAR	SIDS Initial Assessment Report of the OECD
SIDS	Screening Information Data Set
SLA	Service level agreement
STD	Standard notification category (NICNAS)
SUSDP	Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons
TAG	Technical Advisory Group
TTMRA	Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement
UNCED	United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
UNEP	United Nations Environment Programme
WHO	World Health Organisation