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Australian legal obligations: Permits and Notifications

Summary of Export Permit Provisions

Schedule 1 Chemicals

  • A permit is required to export Schedule 1 chemicals (or mixtures thereof)
  • Export of Schedule 1 chemicals (or mixtures thereof) will only be permitted to other CWC member countries.
  • Applications to export Schedule 1 chemicals (or mixtures thereof) must be received by Defence Export Controls (DEC) not later than 37 days before the date of shipment.
  • The exported Schedule 1 chemical may only be used for research, medical or pharmaceutical purposes.

Schedule 2, Schedule 3 and Additional (Australia Group) Chemicals

  • Permits are required for exporting Schedule 2 and 3 chemicals (and some mixtures thereof)
  • Applications to export Schedule 2 and 3 chemicals (or mixtures thereof) must be received by Defence Export Controls (DEC) at least 15 working days before the date of shipment.
  • Schedule 2 chemicals may only be exported to CWC member countries.
  • Applications to export of Schedule 3 chemicals to a country that is not a party to the CWC need to be accompanied by certain written assurances and end-use information from responsible authorities in the receiving country including:
    • that the chemicals will only be used for purposes not prohibited by the CWC;
    • that they will not be re-transferred;
    • the types and quantities of chemicals involved;
    • their end-use(s); and
    • the names(s) and address(es) of the end-user(s).

Export Permit Applications can be downloaded from the Defence Export Controls (DEC) website.

All export permits are issued free of charge

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