South Korea updates registration standards for new chemical substances under K-REACH for 2025

Since January 1, 2025, South Korea has been enforcing updated registration standards for new chemical substances under K-REACH. This update aligns with National Policy Task 68 (Safe Food, Healthy Living Environment), which focuses on differentiated management based on the risk level and quantity of hazardous chemicals. 

Key Changes: 

• Registration Threshold: The threshold for manufacturing and importing these substances will increase from 0.1 to 1 tonne per year. 

• Hazard Categorization: The current definition of 'toxic substance' will be removed. Instead, substances will be categorized according to their hazardous characteristics, leading to a risk-based management system. Categories include: 

         - Acutely hazardous substances for humans 

         - Chronically hazardous substances for humans 

         - Substances harmful to ecology 

• Safety Enhancements:  

         - Expand disclosure of information on registered and reported chemical substances. 

         - Strengthen the reporting system. 

These changes aim to reduce the registration burden on companies while enhancing public safety and transparency. 

Policy Overview Highlights: 

• Revised registration standards for new chemical substances (from 0.1 tonne to 1 tonne per year). 

• New procedures for disclosure, reporting data adjustment, and adequacy review. 

• Defined management principles for substances with unidentified hazards. 

Effective Dates: 

January 1, 2025, and August 7, 2025.