South Korea Expands K-REACH Act: SME Support and Environmental Agency Roles Enhanced

On August 20, South Korea announced revision of enforcement decree of K-REACH act (The Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemical Substances was revised). K-REACH act was revised (Law No. 20860, promulgated March 25, 2025, and effective September 26, 2025) to include the Korea Environmental Preservation Institute (KEPI), as defined under Article 59 of the Framework Act on Environmental Policy, as a newly designated institution eligible to be entrusted with related governmental tasks.

As a result, this amendment to the Enforcement Decree specifies the scope of responsibilities that may be entrusted to KEPI.

Key Contents

1. Expansion of SME Support Programs (New Subparagraph 7 of Article 29-2)
• The support scope for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is broadened to include activities aimed at reducing the use of highly hazardous chemical substances, establishing legal grounds for financial and technical support in these areas.
2. Designation of Tasks for KEPI (New Paragraph 7 of Article 31)
• KEPI will be responsible for:
• Operating and supporting the Information Review Committee under Article 7-1-4
• Conducting preliminary research and reviews for the committee
• Supporting SMEs’ activities to reduce hazardous chemical use as newly established in Article 29-2-7
3. Task Allocation Among Environmental Organizations (New Paragraph 8 of Article 31)
• The following tasks may be entrusted to KEPI, the Korea Environment Corporation, and the Korea Chemical Management Association:
• Training professionals in chemical management (under Article 42-2-5 of the Act)
• Implementing legal compliance programs, education, and public outreach (under Article 29-2-1 of the Enforcement Decree)
• The specific tasks to be assigned will be announced separately through an official notice.

Public Comment Submission

Institutions, organizations, or individuals who wish to express their opinions on this proposed amendment must submit their comments by September 29, 2025, to MoE.