South Korea - GHS Status

South Korea implemented the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) in 2013. Currently, the fourth revised edition of the GHS (GHS4) is applied in South Korea under different regulations including the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Act (K-OSHA) and the Standards for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals and Safety Data Sheets. K-OSHA, last updated in 2024, imposes a duty on manufacturers and importers of chemicals supplied to Korea to correctly classify the chemical according to GHS4, label hazardous chemicals in the workplace, and provide Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs). Different authorities implement GHS in South Korea are summarised below:

Local Adaption of GHS

The following GHS hazard categories are exempt from classification under K-OSHA:

• Flammable gases – Chemically Unstable Gases, Category 1A and 1B

• Chemicals Under Pressure, all categories

• Desensitized Explosives, all categories

• Skin Corrosion/Irritation, Category 3

• Acute Hazards to the Aquatic Environment, Category 2 and 3

The following GHS hazard categories are not mandatory to separate categories under K-OSHA:

• Skin Corrosion/Irritation, Category 1A, 1B, and 1C

• Serious Eye Damage/Eye Irritation, Category 2A and 2B

• Respiratory Sensitization, Category 1A and 1B

• Skin Sensitization, Category 1A and 1B

GHS Labelling Requirements

Like many other countries, South Korea also has its own GHS labelling requirements. The requirements are set by the Standards for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals and Safety Data Sheets. Any classified chemical is correctly labelled if the label includes the following in Korean:

• The product name

• Any hazard pictogram(s) that is consistent with the correct classification(s) of the chemical.

• Any signal word that is consistent with the correct classification(s) of the chemical.

• Any hazard statement(s) that is consistent with the correct classification(s) of the chemical.

• Any precautionary statement(s) that is consistent with the correct classification(s) of the chemical.

• The information (name and contact) of either the manufacturer or importer

The label must comply with the following size requirements:

The following requirements should also be considered:

• Maximum number of hazard pictogram: 4

• Similar or repetitive hazard statement can be omitted or combined

• Similar or precautionary statement can be omitted or combined

• Maximum number of precautionary statements: 6

Safety Data Sheets

Since 16 January 2021, Korean authorities require that manufacturers, importers, or Only Representatives (ORs) appointed by non-Korean manufacturers submit a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) before manufacturing or importing chemical substances. The MSDS must be submitted in Korean Language and follow the fourth revision of UN GHS. If a chemical substance has been placed in the Korean market and an MSDS has been prepared before 16 January 2021, there are grace periods given to submit MSDSs based on the quantity of the substances, as follows:

The format and content of an MSDS in South Korea are set by K-OSHA and the Standards for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals and Safety Data Sheets. The requirements for a Korean MSDS are:

• It must be in Korean (a proper noun such as chemical substance name can be in English).

• It should contain the 16 standard sections.

• Additional sections can be added if necessary.

• For Section 3, content of ingredients can be in a range of +/- 5% P.

• For Section 10, GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) or KOLAS (Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme) study results should be prioritized.