South Korea implements pilot project to strengthen biocide safety in home appliances

From 2028, only approved biocidal products will be allowed in household appliances in South Korea and safety controls will be strengthened. In preparation for this, the Ministry of Environment (MoE), the Korea Consumer Agency, and the home appliance industry have released guidelines aimed at improving the safety management of biocidal products used in household devices. 

Key Features of the Guidelines for Biocidal Product Safety 

• Developed in advance of the upcoming regulations, the guidelines focus on creating a comprehensive safety management system that ensures the legal use of biocides in home appliances.  

• The guidelines promote transparency and safety by requiring information sharing throughout the manufacturing and supply chain. 

Pilot Project to Implement Safety System in Home Appliances 

• To facilitate the adoption of these guidelines, the MoE will launch a pilot project aimed at establishing a safety management system for biocidal product in the home appliance sector.  

• The initiative will include training and consultations for appliance manufacturers and suppliers to enhance their safety management capabilities. 

Expanding Safety Efforts to Other Sectors 

• This initiative follows similar efforts in the automobile industry, where the MoE previously set up a safety management system for auto parts suppliers.  

• In the future, the MoE, in collaboration with the Korea Consumer Agency, plans to expand these safety management systems to other sectors such as textiles and bedding.