Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD)

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This page helps you to understand the IChEMS regulatory scheduling decision and provides information to support the management of industrial chemicals in line with IChEMS.

This page is for information only. For details on your legal obligations, look at the relevant regulator and the official version of the Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Instrument 2022 (IChEMS Register).

Chemical use and management

This chemical is listed in Schedule 7 of the IChEMS Register. Schedules 6 and 7 of the IChEMS Register regulate the highest risk chemicals. All uses of chemicals listed in Schedule 7 should be phased out.

Find out more about IChEMS Scheduling.

Uses

Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) had a wide range of historical uses including:

  • chlorine chemical manufacturing
  • industrial fluids and solvents, 
  • production of aluminium and graphite rods.

HCBD has not had any widespread use in Australia since the late 1990s. This chemical is not expected to be present in products or finished goods (‘articles’) or have significant waste management issues.

Restrictions

Schedule 7 chemicals have a range of prohibitions and restrictions. These will help to stop widespread use of HCBD from starting again.

The import, manufacture and export of HCBD is prohibited, with limited exceptions.

HCBD can only be used for research or laboratory purposes, or where the chemical is present in finished goods (‘articles’) that are already in use.

These controls do not apply if HCBD is unintentionally present in a very small amount.

If you handle waste containing HCBD, you must:

  • take measures to avoid contaminating other wastes with HCBD
  • dispose of waste containing HCBD in a particular way
  • not recover, recycle, reclaim or re-use HCBD on its own (in other words, as a ‘neat’ chemical)
  • manage stockpiles of waste containing HCBD in a particular way.

Businesses handling industrial chemicals must comply with the IChEMS Minimum Standards. These standards align with existing environment, health, safety, and duty of care obligations. They were designed for varying business needs and local requirements. This means that your business will likely already meet all or most of the standards.

You must also follow any guidance and requirements set by regulators for managing environmental risks. More information is available from your Australian, state, or territory environmental regulator.

Schedule

7

Relevant industrial chemical

Name: 1,3-Butadiene, 1,1,2,3,4,4-hexachloro-

CAS RN: 87-68-3

End uses or generalised end uses

Nil

Prohibitions, restrictions and risk management measures

  1. This entry comes into effect on 1 July 2023.
  2. The importation and manufacture of, and end uses for, the chemical (whether on its own or in mixtures) are prohibited except:
    1. in circumstances where the chemical is present unintentionally and unavoidably at a level at which the chemical cannot be meaningfully used; or
    2. for research or laboratory purposes; or
    3. if a hazardous waste import permit authorises the importation of the chemical.
  3. The importation, manufacture and use of an article containing the chemical are prohibited except:
    1. in circumstances where the chemical is present in the article unintentionally and unavoidably at a level at which the chemical cannot be meaningfully used; or
    2. for research or laboratory purposes; or
    3. if a hazardous waste import permit authorises the importation of the article; or
    4. in circumstances in which the article is already in use on or before 1 July 2023.
  4. The exportation of the chemical (whether on its own or in mixtures), or an article containing the chemical, is prohibited except:
    1. for the chemical—in circumstances where the chemical is present unintentionally and unavoidably at a level at which the chemical cannot be meaningfully used; or
    2. for the article—in circumstances where the chemical is present in the article unintentionally and unavoidably at a level at which the chemical cannot be meaningfully used; or
    3. if a hazardous waste export permit authorises the exportation of the chemical or the article.
  5. Producers and holders of waste must undertake all reasonably practicable measures to avoid contamination of the waste with the chemical.
  6. Waste consisting of, containing or contaminated by the chemical at a concentration that is equal to, or greater than, 100 mg/kg must be disposed of, as soon as reasonably practicable, either:
    1. in such a way as to ensure that the chemical is destroyed or irreversibly transformed so that the remaining waste and environmental releases do not contain chemicals that have Schedule 6 risk characteristics or Schedule 7 risk characteristics; or
    2. as authorised under a law of the Commonwealth or a State, where treatment in accordance with subparagraph (i) is not the environmentally preferable option.
  7. Waste consisting of, containing or contaminated by the chemical at a concentration of less than 100 mg/kg must be disposed of, as soon as reasonably practicable, in an environmentally sound manner as authorised under a law of the Commonwealth or a State.
  8. Disposal must not lead to recovery, recycling, reclamation or re-use of the chemical on its own, subject to paragraph (i).
  9. In carrying out disposal, the chemical may be isolated from the waste, provided that it is subsequently disposed of in accordance with paragraphs (f) and (g).
  10. If an activity in relation to the chemical, or an article containing the chemical, is not permitted under paragraph (b), (c) or (d), a holder of a stockpile of the chemical must:
    1. notify the relevant agency responsible for environmental protection of the nature and size of the stockpile; and
    2. manage that stockpile as waste in accordance with paragraphs (f) and (g); and
    3. comply with laws relating to the chemical that apply in the relevant jurisdiction.
  11. The IChEMS Minimum Standards must be complied with.

Explanatory information

Nil

Scheduling history

14/12/2022 – first scheduled

See more

Note: the following information is not part of the scheduling decision recorded in the IChEMS Register. It is provided for information only.

Additional identifiers

CAS Name: 1,3-Butadiene, 1,1,2,3,4,4-hexachloro-

Synonyms: Perchloro-1, 3-butadine, perchlorobutadiene, 1,3-hexachlorobutadine, 1,3-butadiene, 1,1,2,3,4,4-hexachloro-, 1,3-butadiene, hexachloro-, hexachlorobuta-1,3-diene, HCBD

Common trade names: C-46, Dolen-pur, GP40-66:120 and UN2279

Chemical structure

Chemical structure of HCBD

Known current and historical uses

HCBD is assumed to be obsolete in industry. No Australian use, import, or manufacture were reported in a 2000 mandatory call for information. This was done under the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS).

Globally, this compound may have had a wide range of applications including:

  • an intermediate in chlorinated chemical manufacture
  • hydraulic, heat transfer or transformer fluids
  • solvent for rubber and other polymers
  • as a “scrubber” to recover chlorine containing gas or to remove volatile organic components from gas
  • production of aluminium and graphite rods.

Risk assessment(s)

IMAP Tier I assessments for health and environment.

Summary of risk characteristics

This chemical is listed on the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Chemicals are listed on this convention due to: 

  • high persistence in the environment
  • high bioaccumulation potential
  • strong potential for long-range environmental transport
  • chronic toxic effects. 

Find out more on the management of POPs, including alternatives to their use through the Stockholm Convention.

Advisory Committee advice

IChEMS Advisory Committee: Advice to the Decision Maker on hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD), 19 October 2022