Commercial Cleaning Supplier Compliance With AICIS GHS And Hazard Communication

Commercial Cleaning Supplier Compliance With AICIS GHS And Hazard Communication

Commercial cleaning chemicals keep workplaces hygienic and safe, but they also introduce industrial chemicals into offices, schools, healthcare settings and industrial sites. For every commercial cleaning supplier in Australia, chemical compliance is not just about meeting paperwork rules. It is about protecting people, supporting clients with clear information and building long term trust.

We treat AICIS compliance, GHS 7 classification and hazard communication in workplaces as core parts of how we operate as a commercial cleaning supplier.

Why Chemical Compliance Matters For Commercial Cleaning Suppliers

Commercial cleaning suppliers sit between chemical manufacturers and the workplaces that use those products every day. If we supply a non compliant product, it is facility managers, cleaners and building occupants who carry the risk.

  1. It supports safe handling of work health and safety chemicals so cleaners understand the hazards and the controls they need.

  2. It reduces legal risk for both the supplier and the client by aligning with the Work Health and Safety Act and model Work Health and Safety Regulations.

  3. It gives procurement teams confidence that their cleaning products regulatory requirements Australia wide are being met without constant checking.

For CWS, being a compliant supplier of commercial cleaning supplies is part of the value we offer. Our customers want confidence that the products arriving on site are correctly registered, classified, labelled and supported with current documentation.

Regulatory Framework For Cleaning Chemicals In Australia

Commercial cleaning chemicals are covered by two main regulatory pillars in Australia. The first is the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme AICIS, which regulates how industrial chemicals are introduced into the country and placed on the Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals. The second is the work health and safety regime that controls how workplace hazardous chemicals are classified, labelled and documented, using the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals GHS 7.

AICIS And Industrial Chemicals In Cleaning Products

AICIS is the national industrial chemicals introduction scheme. Any business that imports or manufactures relevant industrial chemicals for commercial use must complete AICIS registration before introducing those chemicals. This captures ingredients used in cleaning products, disinfectants and specialty maintenance chemicals, not only pure industrial reagents.

For a commercial cleaning supplier, AICIS compliance involves more than a one time registration. You need to identify the industrial chemicals present in your range, check each one against the Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals and ensure that every introduction fits into an allowed category under the Industrial Chemicals Act and associated rules.

Work Health And Safety Laws And Hazardous Chemicals

Once a product is on the market, work health and safety rules govern how it is used and communicated in workplaces. Safe Work Australia sets the national policy for work health and safety chemicals, while regulators such as SafeWork NSW, WorkSafe Victoria, WorkSafe Queensland, WorkSafe WA, WorkSafe ACT, SafeWork SA, WorkSafe Tasmania and NT WorkSafe enforce the Work Health and Safety Act and model Work Health and Safety Regulations in their jurisdictions.

Under these laws, cleaning products that meet the definition of workplace hazardous chemicals must follow GHS 7 classification, GHS 7 labelling requirements and safety data sheet requirements. As a downstream supplier, CWS has to make sure that what we put on the shelf and send to client sites aligns with those expectations.

AICIS Compliance For Commercial Cleaning Suppliers

Registration And Chemical Introductions

AICIS registration is compulsory if a business imports or manufactures industrial chemicals above very low thresholds. For commercial cleaning suppliers that bring in concentrated detergents, sanitisers or specialty maintenance products, this usually means registration is required.

Registration runs on a yearly cycle. During that period, every new chemical introduction must fall within the scope of the business registration. This applies whether the supplier buys finished product from overseas or imports ingredients for local blending.

Checking AIIC And Categorising Introductions

Each industrial chemical in a cleaning product must be checked against the Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals. If it is listed and the intended use fits the listing, it can usually be treated as a listed introduction. If it is not listed, or the use falls outside the listing, it must be placed in another category such as exempted, reported or assessed.

For example, a compliant commercial cleaning supplier will map each surfactant and solvent in a multi purpose surface cleaner to its inventory entry, confirm concentration and end use, and then confirm that the overall introduction category is correct for the volumes involved.

Record Keeping And Annual Declarations

AICIS compliance also relies on strong record keeping. Suppliers must retain evidence of what they introduce, how much, and which AICIS category each introduction falls under. This usually includes product formulas, supplier certificates, safety data, import documentation and any assessment or authorisation notices.

At the end of each registration year, an annual declaration must be lodged with AICIS confirming that all introductions were authorised and that the business met its industrial chemicals introduction scheme obligations. For a chemical compliance for cleaning suppliers program, this is a key control point.

What AICIS Compliance Looks Like At CWS

Our AICIS compliance process links product development, procurement and regulatory teams. We maintain a live register that connects each product to its ingredients, inventory checks and AICIS categories.

When we consider a new product, we review the formulation, confirm the status of each industrial chemical on the Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals and ensure that the planned introduction is covered by our AICIS registration. This gives our customers confidence that the commercial cleaning supplier behind their products is managing regulatory risk in a structured way.

GHS 7 Classification And Labelling For Cleaning Chemicals

GHS 7 Adoption In Australia

Australia has adopted GHS 7 as the current standard for workplace hazardous chemicals. For manufacturers and importers, this means that new products, and existing products as they are updated, must be classified according to GHS 7 classification criteria and carry labels that meet GHS 7 labelling requirements.

For commercial cleaning suppliers like CWS that import, distribute or own brands, this shift means we must review hazardous chemical labels Australia wide in our range and make sure they match GHS 7 outcomes. Where products arrive with overseas labels, we work with manufacturers to ensure that local labels are brought into line with Australian expectations.

Hazard Classification For Commercial Cleaning Products

GHS 7 classification looks at physical, health and environmental hazards. In the context of cleaning products, this can include corrosive bathroom cleaners, chlorine based sanitisers, flammable solvent based degreasers and products that cause serious eye damage or skin irritation.

For each formula, we review the hazards of individual ingredients and the mixture as a whole. The resulting classification then flows into the label and the safety data sheet for that product. This is a central part of SDS and label compliance.

Label Elements Required For Workplace Hazardous Chemicals

Workplace hazardous chemicals must carry labels that clearly communicate their risks. Under GHS 7 labelling requirements this includes

  1. GHS pictograms that visually represent key hazards.

  2. A signal word such as Danger or Warning.

  3. Hazard statements that describe the nature and severity of the hazard.

  4. Precautionary statements that set out safe handling, storage and disposal practices.

  5. A product identifier and the name, address and telephone number of the Australian manufacturer or importer.

For a commercial cleaning supplier that imports product, this often means updating artwork so that labels meet local hazardous chemical labels Australia rules even when the same product is sold in other regions.

Workplace Versus Consumer Cleaning Products

Some cleaning products are sold only as household consumer goods in small packs, and if they are used in workplaces in the same way, they can usually follow consumer labelling rules under the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons.

Most products that Complete Wholesale Suppliers provides to contract cleaners, facilities and industrial clients are workplace hazardous chemicals supplied in larger volumes or for more intensive use, so full workplace GHS 7 classification and labelling apply.

Safety Data Sheets And Hazard Communication

Manufacturer And Importer Duties For SDS

Safety data sheets sit at the centre of hazard communication in workplaces. Manufacturers and importers must prepare an SDS for every hazardous chemical and make sure it reflects the current GHS classification and composition of the product.

Core safety data sheet requirements include having the document in English, following the approved section structure, citing up to date hazard information and including local contact details for the manufacturer or importer. SDS documents must be reviewed regularly, usually at least every 5 years or when significant new information emerges.

Downstream Supplier Duties For SDS

Downstream supplier obligations mean that distributors and wholesalers also have responsibilities. As a commercial cleaning supplier, CWS must provide SDS for cleaning chemicals to business customers at or before first supply and whenever they request an updated copy.

We work closely with manufacturers and industry consultants to ensure that every SDS in our catalogue is current and consistent with the product label. This is a practical expression of SDS and label compliance.

SDS As A Core Hazard Communication Tool

A well prepared SDS is more than a regulatory formality. It is a day to day tool that helps customers complete risk assessments, select personal protective equipment and respond to spills or exposures.

When SDS for cleaning chemicals match the label and use clear language, supervisors can build effective training sessions for their teams. This is why Safe Work Australia and state regulators emphasise that hazard communication in workplaces depends on accurate SDS as much as on labels and signage.

Building A Practical Compliance Program At CWS

Mapping Products And Supply Chains

For Complete Wholesale Suppliers, chemical compliance for cleaning supplies starts with a clear map of our range and supply chain. Each product is linked to its formulation, supplier, AICIS status, GHS 7 classification, label version and SDS version.

This product master data allows us to respond quickly when regulations change or when clients ask for evidence that their cleaning products meet Australian regulatory expectations.

Integrating Compliance Into Procurement And New Product Development

Integrate compliance into procurement and new product development. Before any new cleaning product is added to our range.

  1. Review the formulation for AICIS registration coverage

  2. Confirm that each ingredient has an appropriate Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals status and introduction category

  3. Check that GHS 7 classification, label artwork and SDS are complete and consistent.

This approach reduces surprises later and gives customers confidence that CWS supports both safety and compliance.

Training Customer Support And Audit Readiness

Compliance does not end once a product is launched. We train our sales, customer service and warehouse teams on AICIS compliance, work health and safety chemicals and hazard communication, and we support clients with documentation packs that cover AICIS status, GHS 7 classification, SDS for cleaning chemicals and evidence of SDS and label compliance so facility managers can show their supply chain is under control and their commercial cleaning supplier is managing regulatory requirements across Australia.

Final Thoughts

Chemical compliance is now a non-negotiable part of doing business for any commercial cleaning supplier in Australia. AICIS registration, correct introduction categories, GHS 7 classification and labelling, and robust safety data sheets work together to protect workers and building users.

CWS is committed to this standard. By aligning with AICIS, the Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals, the Work Health and Safety Act, the model Work Health and Safety Regulations and guidance from Safe Work Australia and state regulators, we help customers manage risk while staying productive and act as a partner that understands downstream supplier obligations, maintains SDS and label compliance, and treats hazard communication in workplaces as a shared responsibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is AICIS and why does it matter for commercial cleaning suppliers?

AICIS is the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme. It regulates how industrial chemicals, including those in commercial cleaning chemicals, are imported or manufactured. Suppliers must be registered and ensure every industrial chemical in their range is introduced in line with AICIS rules.

Do all commercial cleaning products require AICIS registration?

AICIS registration applies to the business that introduces industrial chemicals, not each product. If a supplier imports or manufactures any commercial cleaning chemicals that contain industrial chemicals, that business generally needs to be registered with AICIS.

What does GHS 7 mean for commercial cleaning chemicals in Australia?

GHS 7 is the current system Australia uses to classify and label workplace hazardous chemicals. For commercial cleaning chemicals it sets the rules for hazard classes, pictograms, signal words, hazard statements and precautionary statements on labels and in safety data sheets.

What are a supplier’s duties for safety data sheets for cleaning chemicals?

Manufacturers and importers must prepare an accurate safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical. Commercial cleaning suppliers must provide current SDS documents to business customers at or before first supply and whenever an updated version is available or requested.

How does Complete Wholesale Suppliers support hazard communication for clients?

CWS maintains up to date GHS 7 classification, labels and SDS for its commercial cleaning chemicals, makes SDS easy for clients to access and provides documentation and support so workplaces can meet their own hazard communication and work health and safety duties.

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