Statement of Principles concerning chloracne (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 62 of 2020) (Cth)

Statement of Principles concerning CHLORACNE (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 62 of 2020) The Repatriation Medical Authority determines the following Statement of Principles under subsection 196B(2) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.

Dated 28 August 2020

The Common Seal of the Repatriation Medical Authority was affixed to this instrument at the direction of:

Professor Nicholas Saunders AO Chairperson

Contents 1 Name 2 Commencement 3 Authority 4 Repeal 5 Application 6 Definitions 7 Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates 8 Basis for determining the factors 9 Factors that must exist 10 Relationship to service 11 Factors referring to an injury or disease covered by another Statement of Principles Schedule 1 - Dictionary 1 Definitions

1 Name This is the Statement of Principles concerning chloracne (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 62 of 2020). 2 Commencement This instrument commences on 28 September 2020. 3 Authority This instrument is made under subsection 196B(2) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986. 4 Repeal The Statement of Principles concerning chloracne No. 17 of 2012 (Federal Register of Legislation No. F2012L00447) made under subsection 196B(2) of the VEA is repealed. 5 Application This instrument applies to a claim to which section 120A of the VEA or section 338 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 applies. 6 Definitions The terms defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary have the meaning given when used in this instrument. 7 Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates (1) This Statement of Principles is about chloracne and death from chloracne. Meaning of chloracne (2) For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, chloracne: (a) means a chronic skin disease, characterised by an acne-like eruption of open and closed comedones (whiteheads and blackheads), pustules and epidermal cysts, occurring after the systemic absorption of certain polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons; and (b) excludes drug-related acneiform facial eruptions. Note: Chloracne lesions are typically distributed over the face, earlobes and neck, and can also occur on the trunk, genitalia and buttocks. Other skin manifestations may include hyperpigmentation and hyperhidrosis. The skin lesions may be accompanied by systemic signs and symptoms. Death from chloracne (3) For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, chloracne, in relation to a person, includes death from a terminal event or condition that was contributed to by the person's chloracne. Note: terminal event is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. 8 Basis for determining the factors The Repatriation Medical Authority is of the view that there is sound medical‑scientific evidence that indicates that chloracne and death from chloracne can be related to relevant service rendered by veterans, members of Peacekeeping Forces, or members of the Forces under the VEA, or members under the MRCA. Note: MRCA, relevant service and VEA are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. 9 Factors that must exist At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting chloracne or death from chloracne with the circumstances of a person's relevant service: (1) inhaling, ingesting or having cutaneous contact with a polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbon from the specified list of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons, within the three months before the clinical onset of chloracne; Note 1: Examples of products that may contain polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons from the specified list include: (a) fungicides; (b) herbicides; (c) insecticides; (d) transformer oils; and (e) wood protectors. Note 2: Examples of circumstances that may lead to exposure to polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons from the specified list include: (a) being in an environment shrouded in dust from timber treated with; (b) being sprayed with; (c) cleaning or maintaining equipment used to apply; (d) consuming cooking oil or food contaminated with; (e) decanting or spraying; (f) handling or sawing timber treated with; and (g) using cutting oil contaminated with; any of the polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons from the specified list of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons. Note 3: specified list of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. (2) inhaling, ingesting or having cutaneous contact with a polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbon from the specified list of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons, within the three months before the clinical worsening of chloracne; Note 1: Examples of products that may contain polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons from the specified list include: (a) fungicides; (b) herbicides; (c) insecticides; (d) transformer oils; and (e) wood protectors. Note 2: Examples of circumstances that may lead to exposure to polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons from the specified list include: (a) being in an environment shrouded in dust from timber treated with; (b) being sprayed with; (c) cleaning or maintaining equipment used to apply; (d) consuming cooking oil or food contaminated with; (e) decanting or spraying; (f) handling or sawing timber treated with; and (g) using cutting oil contaminated with; any of the polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons from the specified list of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons. Note 3: specified list of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. (3) inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for chloracne. 10 Relationship to service (1) The existence in a person of any factor referred to in section 9, must be related to the relevant service rendered by the person. (2) The factors set out in subsections 9(2) and 9(3) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, chloracne where the person's chloracne was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person's relevant service. 11 Factors referring to an injury or disease covered by another Statement of Principles In this Statement of Principles: (1) if a factor referred to in section 9 applies in relation to a person; and (2) that factor refers to an injury or disease in respect of which a Statement of Principles has been determined under subsection 196B(2) of the VEA; then the factors in that Statement of Principles apply in accordance with the terms of that Statement of Principles as in force from time to time.