News Details
South Korea Strengthens Chemical Safety Regulations with Amendments to Enforcement Decrees of K-REACH and CCA
On July 29, 2025, the South Korean Government approved amendments to the enforcement decrees of the Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemical Substances (K-REACH) and the Chemical Control Act (CCA). These updated decrees, overseen by the Ministry of Environment (MoE), will enter into force on August 7, 2025. The revisions aim to strengthen public safety while improving the efficiency of national chemical management systems.
Key Updates under the K-REACH Amendment:
- Hazardous substances will now be categorized into three distinct types: acute human toxicity, chronic human toxicity, and ecotoxicity, replacing the previous single classification system.
- The definition of acute toxic substances is being expanded to include criteria such as skin corrosion (Categories 1B & 1C) and specific target organ toxicity from single exposure (STOT-SE).
- Chemical data disclosure will be expanded for substances not related to business confidentiality, promoting transparency and safe usage.
Key Updates under the CCA Amendment:
- Exemption for consumer-use scenarios: Individuals handling hazardous chemicals for their own personal use, or selling them directly to consumers, will no longer be subject to certain occupational safety requirements such as mandatory protective equipment.
- Delegation of responsibilities: Foreign manufacturers can now appoint local agents to carry out mandatory chemical verification procedures, reducing administrative burdens for importers.
Regulatory Impact:
These amendments aim to balance public health and industry efficiency by applying risk-based management standards and reducing unnecessary compliance burdens. Greater transparency in chemical information is also expected to foster safer chemical use without compromising business trade secrets.
We acknowledge that the above information has been compiled from MoE (South Korean Ministry of Environment).
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