Australia bans DBDPE, mercury in products and restricts other hazardous chemicals

Canberra, Australia, June 2025 - The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) published the Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Amendment (2025 Measures No. 1) Instrument 2025 in June 2025, banning on the use of decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE, CAS 84852-53-9) starting on 1 January 2027 and mercury compounds starting on 1 July 2026.  The domestic consultation also proposes to place chemical management procedures for 4 other chemicals. The new requirements varied little from the draft proposal issued in May 2025. However, the compliance deadlines have been extended for some industry sectors.

DBDPE 

From 1 January 2027, the import, export, manufacture and use of DBDPE is prohibited except in very limited circumstances, including:

• essential uses

• research or laboratory purposes

• where the chemical is present in finished goods (‘articles’) that are already in use

• environmentally sound disposal.

The proposal would prohibit the manufacture, importation and use of DBDPE in products including manufactured articles starting on 1 January 2027.  Unintentional trace contamination (UTC) level for DBDPE in chemical substances and mixtures would be permitted if it is equal to or less than 10 mg/kg. UTC levels in manufactured articles (e.g. fully formed products where the chemicals are not designed to be released) are permitted if they remain below 500 mg/kg.  These requirements align with existing Australia’s restrictions for decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE).

DBDPE is widely used as a flame retardant in plastics and thermoplastic, including applications for electronic sectors (e.g. plastic casings, insulation for wires, cables). It is also used in paint coatings for construction, automobile and furniture sectors, and in flame-retardant rubber products used by the transportation and aerospace sectors (e.g rubber seals). 

Manufactured articles or products, which are required to comply with fire retardancy standards and where no viable alternative exists to replace DBDPE may still contain the chemicals until the following deadlines:

• 1 July 2033 - defence applications

• 1 July 2037 - aerospace, automotive, building and construction materials, electrical and electronic equipment, marine, rail and other transport applications; garden, forestry and outdoor power equipment; agricultural, construction, manufacturing and mining equipment and machinery; garden, forestry and outdoor power equipment; industrial machinery, non-road mobile machinery and stationary power equipment

Replacement parts for these applications are permitted for sale and use until 1 July 2052. 

Mercury 

By 1 July 2026, Australia will also ban the use of mercury in products with the exception of those already existing on the market prior to this date. The use of mercury in electrical and electronic applications may still be permitted under the following timeline if no viable alternative exists:

• 1 January 2027 - compact fluorescent lamps with non-integrated ballasts

• 1 January 2028 - all wattages of triband phosphor non-linear fluorescent lamps (NFLs) (e.g., U-bend and circular) for general lighting purposes; linear fluorescent lamps (LFLs) for general lighting purposes (e.g. (i) triband phosphor < 60 watts with a mercury content not exceeding 5 mg/lamp; (ii) triband phosphor ≥ 60 watts)

• 1 June 2030 - high pressure sodium vapour and metal halide lamps for general lighting purposes

Risk management for other chemicals 

By 1 January 2026, users, manufacturers, importers of the following chemicals must follow risk management procedures:

• 1,2-dibromoethane (CAS 106-93-4)

• 1,2-dichloroethane (CAS 107-06-2)

• Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT, CAS 12108-13-3)

• Aryl sulfonate hydrotropes

While the DCCEEW concluded these chemicals presented lower risk to the environment, it nevertheless, would impose risk management for these chemicals, which includes identifying risks as well as the development, assessment, evaluation and monitoring of control measures. Companies or entities handling these chemicals must also:

• ensure safe storage, handling and disposal of the chemicals; 

• plan for and respond effectively and promptly to industrial chemical incidents; 

• and communicate with people throughout the supply chain to ensure those handling the chemicals are aware of these risks  

Supply chain communication includes but is not limited to placing hazard and risk information on the safety data sheet, material sheet or through other communication means.