Department/Agency
Australian Building Codes Board
Problem being addressed
In 2019-20, the ABCB commenced a regulatory impact analysis to determine whether the permissible lead content in plumbing products in contact with drinking water should be reduced. This followed a number of highly publicised instances of lead leaching from copper alloy plumbing products in contact with drinking water in excess of the levels permitted by AS/NZS 4020 ‘Testing of products for use in contact with drinking water’.
Proposal
The final Decision RIS recommends in favour of Option 2, that all copper alloy plumbing products in contact with drinking water comply with NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 ‘Drinking Water System Components - Lead Content’ in addition to the requirements of AS/NZS 4020.
A Consultation RIS was released for public comment between 7 December 2020 to 1 March 2021, and 40 submissions were received. Non-confidential submissions can be accessed on Consultation Hub.
All submissions were taken into consideration by the ABCB in preparing a Decision RIS, which represents one input into the decision making process of the Board.
RIS outcome
Compliant with Decision RIS requirements
Link to announcement
https://www.abcb.gov.au/resources/category/regulation-impact-statements