Overview of Chemical Regulation in South Korea
This article provides an overview of the industrial chemicals regulations in South Korea. We summarise their important obligations with actions required in 2024.
The main industrial chemical regulations in South Korea include K-REACH and K-OSHA.
K-REACH is the Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals (AREC). The main K-REACH revision has been enforced since 1 January 2019.
K-OSHA is the South Korean Occupational Safety and Health Act. The competent authority is the Ministry of Employment and Labor MoEL. K-OSHA focus on workplace safety and implements GHS requirements in Korea.
K-REACH Overview
Actions for the industry: Please calculate the annual tonnage of the substances your company manufactures or imports in South Korea (across all chemical products). Please find the following obligations if any substance is manufactured/imported (M/I) ≥0.1t per year by your company. Please contact us for an obligation summary & compliance strategy.
Enforcement: K-REACH places significant obligations on manufacturers, importers, users and sellers of chemicals. Companies failing to comply can face large penalties, including penalty surcharges of up to 5% of sales and prison sentences of up to 5 years.
The Main Regulatory Obligations:
The obligations under K-REACH can be fulfilled by either Korean-based companies (manufacturers/importers) or by a foreign company with a Korean-based OR (Only Representative). The main obligations depend on the substance types and annual tonnage.
Late Pre-notification of existing substances manufactured or imported ≥1 tonne/year;
Registration of priority existing chemicals (PEC) before M/I ≥1 tonne/year.
Registration of new substances before M/I ≥0.1 t/y (From 2025, the new substance registration threshold will be updated from ≥ 0.1 to ≥ 1 ton, while the notification will be required for new substances < 1t/y);
Notification of new substances before M/I <0.1 t/y;
Where relevant, apply for“Confirmation of Exemption” (e.g. Low-concern Polymers, R&D use);
Notification of priority control substances to the Ministry of Environment if manufactured/imported at >1 t/y and present in consumer products at > 0.1%;
Compliance with requirements for information provisions in the supply chain;
Restriction: restrict certain hazardous substances in consumer products and articles.
2024 K-REACH Registration Deadlines for Existing Substances:
K-OSHA Overview
Actions for the industry: Please calculate the annual tonnage of each chemical product your company manufactures or imports in South Korea. If the product is ≥1 t/y and has GHS classifications, the obligations can be found below. Please contact us for an obligation summary & compliance strategy on the products of your company.
Enforcement: With the increasing enforcement of occupational health and safety, companies failing to fulfil the OSHA requirements may subjected to a fine of 5 Million Korean Won by the authority.
The Main Regulatory Obligations:
Korean OSHA regulates manufacturers or importers of chemical substances and chemical mixtures with a GHS classification. The obligations can be fulfilled by foreign companies with the support of Korean-based representatives. The main obligations are the following:
GHS & CLP: South Korea Standards for the Classification and Labelling of Chemical Substances and Material Safety Data Sheet was updated with Notice No. 2020 –130. Companies that supply chemical products to the South Korean market must comply with the classifications, labelling and packaging requirements.
SDS Submission: The importer/manufacturer of the chemical product must submit the SDS to Korean MoEL and receive the "SDS Authorisation Number". The deadlines are the following:
For newly placed products on the South Korean market, the SDS Submission must be approved before import/manufacture.
For existing chemical products on the Korean market which already have SDS, it is mandatory to complete the SDS submission before the end of the grace period.
How can Yordas help?
Here at Yordas, our team is dedicated to helping you streamline your obligations under K-REACH and ensuring that you maintain seamless regulatory compliance. We offer a range of services to support your K-REACH requirements, including expert guidance, documentation assistance, and compliance monitoring.
For more in-depth information about how our K-REACH services can benefit your business, please feel free to contact us directly or visit our website. To remain informed about future regulatory changes and obligations, we encourage you to subscribe to our newsletter. By subscribing, you'll receive regular updates and insights to help you stay ahead of the curve in regulatory compliance. We look forward to assisting you with your K-REACH needs and keeping you informed about the latest developments in the regulatory landscape.