CAS 108-88-3 · AICIS · Australia

Toluene (methylbenzene) under AICIS

C7H8 · 甲苯

Status: Listed. Toluene is on the AICIS (Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme; replaced NICNAS on 1 July 2020 under the Industrial Chemicals Act 2019, verify against https://www.industrialchemicals.gov.au/about-us/who-we-are-and-what-we-do) Inventory of Industrial Chemicals as a Listed Industrial Chemical. Australia adopted the GHS classification matching REACH (Flam. Liq. 2 + Repr 2 + Asp. Tox. 1 + STOT RE 2 + Skin Irrit. 2 + STOT SE 3). **SUSMP Schedule 5 (Caution) applies for retail mixtures above concentration cutoffs** (lighter than caustic soda batch 1 + KOH batch 17 SUSMP Schedule 6). NOT on Australian Drug Control Act precursor list. NO active Australian AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin toluene. Australia has limited domestic toluene production (Caltex / Ampol Lytton refinery + Viva Energy Geelong refinery, both BTX-yielding); structurally net-importer for downstream solvent + adhesive + coatings industries. ChAFTA preferential zero-duty applies for Chinese-origin imports.

AICIS treats toluene as a routine listed industrial chemical with **SUSMP Schedule 5 (Caution) scheduling for retail mixtures** (lighter than caustic soda batch 1 + KOH batch 17 + acetic acid batch 19 SUSMP Schedule 6). The operational compliance work is moderate (annual AICIS registration, WHS-compliant SDS, ADG 7.7 Class 3 transport, ATEX-zoned warehousing for bulk). NO active Australian AD/CVD case. NOT on Drug Control Act precursor list (lighter than acetone batch 15). ChAFTA preferential zero-duty makes Chinese-origin toluene competitive vs Korean, Singaporean, Japanese alternatives. Australia has **limited domestic toluene production** (Caltex / Ampol Lytton refinery + Viva Energy Geelong refinery, both yielding BTX as refinery byproduct); structurally net-importer for downstream solvent + adhesive + coatings industries. Major Australian downstream consumers: Dulux Group, Wattyl, PPG Industries Australia, BASF Australia, Henkel Australia. **Australian solvent-abuse legislation** in some states restricts retail sale of toluene-containing products to minors.

Listing and threshold

Substance Toluene (methylbenzene) (CAS 108-88-3), C7H8
Regime Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS), administered by the Department of Health
Jurisdiction Australia
Status Listed
Tonnage threshold AICIS introducer registration required for any business introducing >100 kg/year of any industrial chemical

Classifications under this regime

  • Listed Industrial Chemical on AICIS Inventory
  • Australian GHS classification: Flam. Liq. 2 (H225), Repr. 2 (H361d), Asp. Tox. 1 (H304), Skin Irrit. 2 (H315), STOT RE 2 (H373), STOT SE 3 (H336)
  • Signal word: DANGER. GHS pictograms: GHS02 + GHS07 + GHS08
  • SUSMP Schedule 5 (Caution) applies for retail mixtures above concentration cutoffs
  • NOT on Australian Drug Control Act precursor list
  • Australian Dangerous Goods Code (ADG 7.7): Class 3 (flammable liquid), UN 1294, Packing Group II
  • Safe Work Australia workplace exposure standard: 50 ppm 8-hr TWA, 150 ppm STEL
  • IARC: nitric acid itself is not separately classified; occupational exposure to strong-inorganic-acid mists containing sulfuric acid was classified IARC Group 1 (laryngeal cancer) in Monograph Volume 54 (1992) (verify the current classification and Monograph volume against https://monographs.iarc.who.int/list-of-classifications before relying on the inorganic-acid-mist read-across for nitric acid)

Restrictions and conditions of use

  • No AICIS-specific use restrictions for industrial-grade toluene above concentration cutoffs
  • SUSMP Schedule 5 retail packaging rules apply for retail mixtures
  • NO active Australian AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin toluene currently
  • WHS Regulation 2011 hazardous-chemicals handling requirements apply at workplaces handling toluene bulk above declared thresholds
  • NFPA-equivalent flammable liquid storage requirements apply for bulk; ATEX-zoned warehousing may be required
  • ChAFTA preferential zero-duty applies to Chinese-origin toluene (HS 290230)
  • TGA approves toluene for limited pharmaceutical-formulation applications under Therapeutic Goods Act 1989
  • **Australian solvent-abuse legislation** in some states restricts retail sale of toluene-containing products to minors

Importer obligations

The Australian importer of record must be registered with AICIS (online registration is straightforward and annual). For Listed Industrial Chemicals like toluene no individual chemical assessment is required. SUSMP Schedule 5 applies for retail mixtures. Workplace handling SDS drives WHS hazardous-chemicals register entry at handling facilities; ATEX-zoned warehousing applies for bulk receipt. Australia has limited domestic toluene production (Caltex / Ampol Lytton refinery + Viva Energy Geelong refinery, both yielding BTX as refinery byproduct); structurally net-importer for downstream solvent + adhesive + coatings industries. Major Australian downstream consumers: Dulux Group (paint), Wattyl (paint and coatings), PPG Industries Australia, BASF Australia, Henkel Australia (adhesives). ChAFTA preferential zero-duty makes Chinese-origin toluene competitive vs Korean (LG Chem Yeosu, Hanwha Solutions, Lotte Chemical, GS Caltex), Singaporean (ExxonMobil Singapore Refinery, Shell Eastern Petroleum Pulau Bukom), and Japanese (JXTG / ENEOS) alternatives.

Required documents

  • AICIS introducer registration certificate (annual)
  • WHS-compliant Safety Data Sheet (Safe Work Australia model code format) reflecting H225 / H304 / H315 / H336 / H361d / H373 classification
  • Customs entry (ICS / ABF) with HS code 290230
  • ChAFTA Form CO certificate of origin for preferential treatment
  • Industrial-grade specification certificate (minimum 99.5% purity)
  • ADG 7.7 Class 3 dangerous-goods transport documentation

Common compliance traps

The pitfalls that have bitten importers on this lane in the past. None of these is theoretical.

  • AICIS registration must be CURRENT at customs clearance; lapsed registrations trigger holds
  • WHS hazardous-chemicals register entry required at handling facilities; ATEX-zoned warehousing applies for bulk
  • SUSMP Schedule 5 (Caution) scheduling for retail mixtures (lighter than caustic soda batch 1 + KOH batch 17 + acetic acid batch 19 SUSMP Schedule 6)
  • NOT on Australian Drug Control Act precursor list (lighter than acetone batch 15 which IS scheduled Cat III)
  • NO active Australian AD/CVD case on Chinese toluene currently
  • ChAFTA preferential zero-duty makes Chinese-origin toluene competitive vs Korean (LG Chem, Hanwha, Lotte, GS Caltex), Singaporean (ExxonMobil, Shell), Japanese (JXTG / ENEOS) alternatives
  • Australian end-use is dominated by paint + coatings + adhesives + petrochemical-feedstock industries: Dulux Group, Wattyl, PPG Industries Australia, BASF Australia, Henkel Australia
  • Australia has limited domestic toluene production (Caltex / Ampol Lytton refinery + Viva Energy Geelong refinery, both yielding BTX as refinery byproduct); structurally net-importer
  • Australian solvent-abuse legislation in some states restricts retail sale of toluene-containing products to minors

Where to read next

For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for toluene (methylbenzene), see the CAS 108-88-3 sourcing reference.

For grade-by-grade buying notes, freight maths, supplier-tier pricing, and a worked landed-cost example, the toluene (methylbenzene) cornerstone hub covers the full sourcing chain.

For the structure and history of AICIS, see the AICIS glossary entry.

Need cross-jurisdiction compliance support on this substance? Run it through the REACH / TSCA / IECSC / AICIS / K-REACH checker, or send us the substance and the destination and we will quote FOB China and CIF / DDP landed including the regulatory work on the destination side.

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Cross-jurisdiction profile and sourcing references

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