South Korea publishes exemptions for chemical substances wholly exported to foreign countries.

On June 4, 2024, the Korean Environmental Corporation (K-ECO) announced that chemical substances that are wholly exported to foreign countries and fall under Article 11, Clause 1 of the Decree (Confirmation of Exemption from Registration and Reporting) will be exempted from registration and reporting. 

The Decree was due to enter into force on August 7, 2025, but the implementation date has been brought forward to May 28, 2024. This is due to the immediate application of Article 11, Clause 1, Number 3 of the Act and is part of an initiative by the Ministry of Environment to improve the active administration system. It will no longer be necessary to submit documents to prove the exporting country and the export volume. 

Relevant Legal Text 

※ Article 11, Clause 3 of the Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemical Substances: A person who intends to manufacture or import other chemical substances prescribed by Presidential Decree, such as a chemical substance manufactured or imported to export the whole quantity thereof, in which case he or she has obtained confirmation of exemption from registration or reporting (hereinafter referred to as "confirmation of exemption from registration, etc.") from the Minister of Environment. 

In such cases, the number of goods registered pursuant to Article 10 (1) and (5) or reported pursuant to paragraph (4) of the same Article shall be excluded from the calculation of the quantity for which registration, etc. has been exempted.