South Korea Proposes Amendment to Regulations on Biocides and Consumer Chemical Products

On 28 March 2025, the South Korean Ministry of Environment published a draft amendment to the Enforcement Rules of Consumer Chemical Products and Biocides Safety Control Act. The proposed changes aim to align with recent amendments to the Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals (K-REACH) and to improve regulatory efficiency and transparency. 

Key Objectives of the Amendment 

• Legal Alignment: Reflect changes from the revised K-REACH, which take effect on August 7, 2025, particularly the removal of the definition of “hazardous chemicals.” Related legal references are updated accordingly. 

• Simplified Document Submission: Companies modifying previously approved biocidal products or household chemical products will no longer be required to resubmit documents already held by the authorities from previous applications. However, this exemption does not apply to changes involving the transfer of rights or obligations. 

• Enhanced Public Disclosure: To ensure clarity and transparency, information on the location of manufacturing facilities will now be included in the publicly disclosed information about approved biocidal substances and products. 

Public Comment Period 

The MoE is accepting feedback from individuals and organizations until May 7, 2025. Comments should include the submitter’s position (support or opposition) and reasoning, along with their contact details.