K-REACH: What are the next steps after pre-registration?

The first registration deadline under K-REACH is by 31 December 2021, which applies to those who manufacture and import existing chemical substances exceeding 1,000 tons per year, or carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reproductive toxins (CMR) at more than 1 ton per year.

16,905 substances were pre-registered by the end of the pre-registration deadline according to the Ministry of Environment (MoE) in South Korea. The next step after the pre-registration is to join a Chemical Information Communicative Organization (CICO, corresponding to SIEF in EU-REACH) of a pre-registered substance and prepare registration. The following section explains how to comply with K-REACH registration and affected stakeholders. 

How to comply with K-REACH registration

K-REACH requires registration for all existing chemicals manufactured and imported in quantities exceeding 1 ton per year. Joint registration is mandatory under K-REACH unless a business is authorized by the MoE for individual registration. Joint registration refers to forming a consortium consisted of several potential registrants to submit all necessary dossier for chemical substance registration under K-REACH.  

Businesses who want to register their chemicals shall join a CICO through CICO online platform, where they can form a consortium and elect a Lead Registrant (LR). The role of LR and active members in a CICO is to decide essential rules needed for a CICO management and prepare dossier required for registration. Besides, they pay for the costs to prepare dossier and consortium management, which will be reimbursed when passive members join the consortium.

After the pre-registration deadline, several CICOs have been formed to prepare joint registration. Besides, some CICOs already selected their Lead Registrant (LR) and proceeded data gap analysis to identify data requirements for registration of their pre-registered substances.

To register a chemical substance before the registration deadline, it is recommended to join a CICO of a concerning chemical substance as soon as possible, especially when a business wants to join as an active member. Potential registrants shall prepare information on their substances and communicate with all the downstream users to collect all the required information.

Affected stakeholders and implications

By 31 December 2021, existing substances manufactured and imported at more than 1,000 tons and CMRs at more than 1 ton per year shall be registered. As a first step, manufacturers and importers join a CICO of a concerning chemical substance. Then gather the required information on the substance, including downstream users company information and their use of the substance.

Late pre-registration is possible for those who manufacture and import existing substances in quantities exceeding 1 ton per year for the first time after the pre-registration deadline. It is possible until 12 months before the relevant grace period deadlines for registration.

Overseas manufacturers and exporters can appoint GPCKOREA as an only representative to fulfill obligations under K-REACH.

Relevant Services provided by GPCKOREA

• Regulatory compliance support
• Only Representative to fulfil various obligations under K-REACH

Updated: 17 July 2020