Nonylphenol Ethoxylates: What Australia’s IChEMS Proposal Means

Comments on a proposed national standard for nonylphenol ethoxylates close this Friday, 23 October 2026. Australia’s environment department wants feedback before it sets final rules. Therefore, importers, formulators and users of industrial surfactants should read the proposal now.

In total, the consultation covers ten groups of industrial chemicals. Nonylphenols and nonylphenol ethoxylates (NP/NPEs) are one of them. Below is what the sources say, and what to check before the deadline.

As at 19 October 2026.

What the IChEMS proposal says about nonylphenol ethoxylates

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) opened its consultation on 21 September 2026. Submissions close at 5pm AEDT on Friday 23 October 2026. They go through a survey on the DCCEEW consultation page.

The proposals sit under IChEMS. According to SGS, the IChEMS Register sorts chemicals into seven schedules by environmental risk. Specifically, DCCEEW proposes to place nonylphenols and nonylphenol ethoxylates in Schedule 5.

SGS describes Schedule 5 as covering chemicals likely to cause harm. It also reports a proposed start date of 1 January 2028 for that schedule. By contrast, long chain perfluorocarboxylic acids and hydrofluorocarbons are proposed for Schedule 6. The other proposed groups range from salicylic acid and ethane, propane and butanes in Schedule 2 to hydrofluoroolefins in Schedule 4, according to the DCCEEW list. However, nothing in the proposal is final yet. DCCEEW lists the date for making the standards as “to be advised”.

Why nonylphenol ethoxylates draw regulatory attention

NP/NPEs are nonionic surfactants. In other words, they work like detergents. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says their uses can lead to widespread release into aquatic environments. It also describes them as highly toxic to aquatic life. Its fact sheet lists industrial processes, laundry detergents, personal hygiene products, automotive products, latex paints and lawn care products among their uses.

Overseas markets have been moving for some time, and that history offers useful context. The same EPA page reports that in 2010 members of a US textile rental association achieved a 50% phase-out of NPEs from the industrial laundry detergent market. In May 2012, a US EPA assessment identified eight classes of surfactants as safer alternatives. Note that these are US events, not Australian rules. Even so, they show how users have handled the shift before.

In contrast, the Australian proposal has a narrower scope. GPC Gateway reports that it addresses environmental risks from industrial use. It also does not cover medical or agricultural uses.

Who should check their products for nonylphenol ethoxylates

SGS says the affected parties are manufacturers, users, importers and exporters of the listed chemicals. It also includes products that contain them or are contaminated by them. For this reason, that wording matters for anyone buying finished formulations. A cleaner, degreaser or emulsifier could contain the chemical without naming it on the front label.

First, check the safety data sheet. Look for the chemical names and CAS numbers of NP/NPEs in the composition section. DCCEEW also publishes an indicative CAS number list with the consultation. The department notes that the list is not comprehensive. Treat it as a starting point, then ask suppliers to confirm the composition in writing.

Product categories worth a quick review include cleaning chemicals and other general chemicals that rely on surfactant blends. Likewise, your own formulations deserve the same check.

Steps to take before the 23 October deadline

The consultation page provides a separate proposed scheduling decision and a chemical profile for nonylphenols and nonylphenol ethoxylates. Importantly, the detailed measures sit in those documents. This post does not summarise them, so read the originals.

A practical sequence looks like this:

1. Download the NP/NPE proposed scheduling decision and chemical profile from the DCCEEW page.
2. Review your product list and supplier SDSs for NP/NPE names and CAS numbers.
3. Note which uses are industrial, since that is the scope of the proposal.
4. Submit comments through the survey by 5pm AEDT on 23 October 2026.
5. Send questions to ichems.enquiry@dcceew.gov.au, the contact DCCEEW provides.

If your business imports surfactant-based products, a short submission can explain your use, volumes and supply chain. GPC Gateway reports that feedback will inform the final standards, which will then be listed on the IChEMS Register.

Key Takeaways

• DCCEEW’s IChEMS consultation closes at 5pm AEDT on Friday 23 October 2026.
• NP/NPEs are proposed for Schedule 5 of seven schedules, which SGS says are ranked by environmental risk.
• SGS reports a proposed start date of 1 January 2028 for Schedule 5.
• The scope is industrial use, and the final standards have no confirmed date yet.
• Check SDS composition sections and CAS numbers for NP/NPEs now.

Talk to the UD Trading team about nonylphenol ethoxylates and your chemical imports. Email enquiries@udtrading.com.au or visit udtrading.com.au

Sources

• DCCEEW: Proposed standards for management of industrial chemicals under IChEMS
• SGS SafeGuardS: Australia consults on proposed IChEMS scheduling (6 October 2026)
• GPC Gateway: Australia consults on environmental standards for ten industrial chemical groups (28 September 2026)
• US EPA: Fact sheet on nonylphenols and nonylphenol ethoxylates