News Details

On July 10, 2026, South Korea’s National Institute of Chemical Safety (NICS) issued Notice No. 2026-66, announcing a proposed partial amendment to the Public Notice on Chemical Hazard Review Results under the Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemical Substances (K-REACH).

The proposed amendment aims to reorganize the current disclosure framework and publish newly completed chemical hazard review and hazard assessment results.

Key Changes under the Proposed K-REACH Amendment

Separate Disclosure of Hazard Review and Hazard Assessment Results

NICS proposes to distinguish between:

• Hazard review results conducted under Article 18 of K-REACH
• Hazard assessment results conducted under Article 19 of K-REACH

Articles 1 and 2 of the existing notice will be revised, and a new Article 3 covering hazard assessment results will be introduced.

The existing annex will also be divided into:

• Annex 1: Chemical Hazard Review Results
• Annex 2: Chemical Hazard Assessment Results

Chemicals Covered by the Amendment

Hazard Review Results

For new chemical substances:

• No new substances will be added
• Six existing entries will be revised, including corrections to unique numbers 2021-159 and 2023-88

For existing chemical substances:

• Seventy-eight substances will be newly added
• Six existing entries will be revised based on newly available hazard information

The newly added substances mainly include chemicals for which hazard reviews were completed between September and December 2025, as well as substances identified as hazardous to human health or the environment between January and April 2026.

Hazard Assessment Results

A new Annex 2 will publish hazard assessment results for six notified new chemical substances considered to present potential hazard concerns.

Information to Be Published

The amended notice will disclose key regulatory information, including:

• Chemical name
• CAS number
• Classification as hazardous to human health or the environment
• Major hazard properties
• Hazard review or hazard assessment conclusions

Potential Impact on Companies

Manufacturers, importers and Only Representatives operating under K-REACH should review the proposed substance lists and determine whether any of their chemicals are included.

The amendment may affect:

• K-REACH registration dossiers
• Korean safety data sheets
• Chemical classification and labelling
• Supply chain communication
• Risk management measures
• Import and manufacturing compliance

Companies should also verify whether the published chemical names, CAS numbers and hazard information are accurate.

Public Comment Deadline

Stakeholders may submit comments on the proposed amendment to NICS by July 30, 2026.

Submissions should include:

• Comments on each proposed amendment
• Proposed revisions and supporting reasons
• Name of the individual or organization
• Representative’s name, where applicable
• Address and telephone number

Recommended Actions

Companies supplying chemicals to the South Korean market should:

1. Review the substances listed in the proposed amendment.
2. Check whether registered or imported chemicals are affected.
3. Assess whether SDS or labelling updates may be required.
4. Submit comments before the deadline if any information is incorrect or requires clarification.