CAS 71-43-2 · AICIS · Australia

Benzene under AICIS

C6H6 · 苯

Status: Listed. Benzene is on the AICIS Inventory of Industrial Chemicals as a Listed Industrial Chemical. Australia adopted the GHS classification matching REACH (Carc 1A + Muta 1B + STOT RE 1 + Asp. Tox. 1 + Flam. Liq. 2). **SUSMP Schedule 7 (Dangerous Poison) applies for industrial-grade benzene above concentration cutoffs** (heavier than caustic soda batch 1 + KOH batch 17 + acetic acid batch 19 SUSMP Schedule 6, mirror of formaldehyde batch 18 Schedule 7). NOT on Australian Drug Control Act precursor list. NO active Australian AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin benzene. Australia has limited domestic benzene production (Caltex / Ampol Lytton refinery + Viva Energy Geelong refinery, both BTX-yielding); structurally net-importer for downstream petrochemical chain. ChAFTA preferential zero-duty applies for Chinese-origin imports.

AICIS treats benzene as a routine listed industrial chemical with **SUSMP Schedule 7 (Dangerous Poison) scheduling for industrial-grade above concentration cutoffs** (mirror of formaldehyde batch 18 pattern; heavier than caustic soda batch 1 + KOH batch 17 + acetic acid batch 19 + toluene batch 20 + xylene batch 21 SUSMP Schedule 5/6). The operational compliance work is substantial (annual AICIS registration, WHS-compliant SDS, ADG 7.7 Class 3 transport, ATEX-zoned warehousing for bulk, Schedule 7 labelling, AS 1940 storage compliance). NO active Australian AD/CVD case. ChAFTA preferential zero-duty makes Chinese-origin benzene competitive. Australia has **limited domestic benzene production** (Caltex / Ampol Lytton refinery + Viva Energy Geelong refinery, both yielding BTX as refinery byproduct); structurally net-importer for downstream petrochemical chain. **Australian gasoline benzene cap** (Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000) at 1 vol% drives upstream benzene-extraction-from-gasoline economics.

Listing and threshold

Substance Benzene (CAS 71-43-2), C6H6
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), Carc. 1A (H350), Muta. 1B (H340), STOT RE 1 (H372), Asp. Tox. 1 (H304), Skin Irrit. 2 (H315), Eye Irrit. 2 (H319)
  • Signal word: DANGER. GHS pictograms: GHS02 + GHS07 + GHS08
  • **SUSMP Schedule 7 (Dangerous Poison)** applies for industrial-grade benzene above concentration cutoffs
  • NOT on Australian Drug Control Act precursor list
  • Australian Dangerous Goods Code (ADG 7.7): Class 3 (flammable liquid), UN 1114, Packing Group II
  • Safe Work Australia workplace exposure standard: 1 ppm 8-hr TWA
  • **IARC: Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans)**
  • AS 1940 Storage and Handling of Flammable and Combustible Liquids

Restrictions and conditions of use

  • No AICIS-specific use restrictions for industrial-grade benzene above concentration cutoffs
  • SUSMP Schedule 7 retail packaging rules apply for industrial-grade above cutoffs
  • NO active Australian AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin benzene currently
  • WHS Regulation 2011 hazardous-chemicals handling requirements apply at workplaces handling benzene bulk above declared thresholds
  • NFPA-equivalent flammable liquid storage requirements apply for bulk; ATEX-zoned warehousing required
  • ChAFTA preferential zero-duty applies to Chinese-origin benzene (HS 290220)
  • **Australian gasoline benzene cap** under the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 (verify the current vol percent cap and effective date against https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2004A00767 before relying; prior dataset cited 1 vol percent from 1 January 2006)

Importer obligations

The Australian importer of record must be registered with AICIS (online registration is straightforward and annual). For Listed Industrial Chemicals like benzene no individual chemical assessment is required. **SUSMP Schedule 7 (Dangerous Poison) compliance is the dominant practitioner overhead** (mirror of formaldehyde batch 18 pattern). Workplace handling SDS drives WHS hazardous-chemicals register entry at handling facilities; ATEX-zoned warehousing applies for bulk receipt. Australia has limited domestic benzene production (Caltex / Ampol Lytton refinery + Viva Energy Geelong refinery); structurally net-importer for downstream petrochemical chain. **Australian gasoline benzene cap** (Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000) at 1 vol% drives upstream benzene-extraction-from-gasoline economics. ChAFTA preferential zero-duty makes Chinese-origin benzene competitive vs Korean, Singaporean, Indian Reliance Jamnagar, Saudi alternatives.

Required documents

  • AICIS introducer registration certificate (annual)
  • WHS-compliant Safety Data Sheet (Safe Work Australia model code format) reflecting H225 / H304 / H315 / H319 / H340 / H350 / H372 classification
  • Customs entry (ICS / ABF) with HS code 290220
  • **SUSMP Schedule 7 (Dangerous Poison) labelling compliance** for industrial-grade above cutoffs
  • ChAFTA Form CO certificate of origin for preferential treatment
  • Industrial-grade specification certificate (minimum 99.8% purity)
  • ADG 7.7 Class 3 dangerous-goods transport documentation
  • AS 1940 Storage and Handling of Flammable and Combustible Liquids compliance

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 required
  • **SUSMP Schedule 7 (Dangerous Poison) compliance is the dominant practitioner overhead** for industrial-grade above cutoffs (mirror of formaldehyde batch 18 pattern)
  • Carc 1A + Muta 1B + STOT RE 1 (blood) + IARC Group 1 hazard profile drives heaviest WHS workplace exposure-control overhead
  • NOT on Australian Drug Control Act precursor list
  • NO active Australian AD/CVD case on Chinese benzene currently
  • ChAFTA preferential zero-duty makes Chinese-origin benzene competitive vs Korean, Singaporean, Indian Reliance Jamnagar, Saudi alternatives
  • Australian end-use is dominated by downstream petrochemical chain (limited domestic production); structurally net-importer
  • **Australian gasoline benzene cap** (Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000) at 1 vol% drives upstream benzene-extraction-from-gasoline economics

Where to read next

For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for benzene, see the CAS 71-43-2 sourcing reference.

For grade-by-grade buying notes, freight maths, supplier-tier pricing, and a worked landed-cost example, the benzene 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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