Withdrawal of 130 Pre-registered Biocidal Substances in South Korea

A re-assessment of use ahead of approval deadlines was carried out in late May in South Korea, where more than 20% of existing pre-registered biocidal substances under their domestic Consumer Chemical Products and Biocides Safety Act (K-BPR) were withdrawn.

According to the updated National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) list published on May 24, the still-standing 452 biocidal substances, compared to that of 582 in the previous year, indicates there has been a reflection among companies to re-evaluate what substances to use ahead of deadlines for the completion of approvals, which led to a reduction in substances on the list.

Once removed from the list, the pre-registered substances have lost their pre-approved status, no longer owning the legality to be imported or manufactured for use as a biocide. Nevertheless, if the companies wish to extend the permit for activity until December 31, 2022, concerned parties can decide to submit a “Temporary manufacture/import plans in 2022” within 10 days from the notification date of a withdrawal/the rejection of an application.

Following the vast removal of the pre-registered substances, 116 product types have been removed from the listing regarding the allowed biocide product types covered under the aforementioned approval. However, despite the reduction in the approved number of chemicals, there is an additional product type for substance naphthalene for insecticides.

The deadlines for completion of approvals range from December 31, 2022, to December 31, 2029, depending on the product type where the substance is used. Companies are responsible for informing the downstream users of any changes in listing status for those substances in products or treated articles.

For the authority to process applications in time, NIER on March 31 also urged companies to submit dossiers by mid-April, where if the deadline was reckoned unlikely to be met, the substance would be withdrawn. Once again on May 11, NIER issued a notice in pursuit of completed dossiers that needed corrections or supplementary data, for that many applicants had failed to supply them.