News Details

On September 15, 2026, the Korea Environment Corporation announced procedures for registrants to review and protect confidential information, following the expansion of registration information disclosure under South Korea’s K-REACH. 

The expanded registration information disclosure system took effect on August 7, 2025. Under the new framework, certain information submitted by registrants will be made publicly available. Companies are therefore advised to review their registration dossiers for sensitive business information and personal information before disclosure. 

Information Subject to Expanded Disclosure 

For this phase, the disclosure applies to registration data submitted prior to August 7, 2025, for existing chemicals designated under the Notice on Existing Chemicals Subject to Registration. 

The expanded disclosure may include: 

• chemical names and identifiers 

• uses under the use classification system 

• classification and labelling information 

• registration type, including annual manufacturing or import tonnage range, and whether certain registration data were waived 

• summaries of physicochemical properties 

• summaries of hazard information 

• information on safe handling and use 

Separate guidance for other registered chemicals and notified substances is expected in October 2026. 

Data Protection Requests for Confidential Information 

Registrants may submit a special data protection request for eligible information requiring confidentiality protection, including: 

• commercial names or product names 

• chemical or product uses 

• safe-use information, including handling precautions and disposal methods 

• certain hazard information summaries 

• certain risk assessment summaries 

• information relating to the registration type and annual manufacturinge or import tonnage range 
   

For hazard summaries, information concerning test methods and test results is excluded from protection. For risk assessment summaries, information on no-effect levels for human health and the environment is also excluded. 

Requests must be submitted through the Chemical Substance Information Processing System together with the required application form, supporting evidence and relevant attachments.

Registrants are also required to complete a data protection checklist and submit supporting evidence demonstrating the need to protect confidential business information. 

Where the information subject to disclosure includes personal information protected under South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Act , a separate protection request must be submitted by official letter via email, in accordance with the detailed guidance. 

December 15, 2026, Deadline 

The submission period runs from September 16 to December 15, 2026.  

Only data protection requests submitted within this three-month period will be considered under the special procedure. Registration information for which no protection request has been submitted by the deadline is expected to be disclosed. 

Companies holding K-REACH registrations should therefore review their existing registration information and determine whether any commercially sensitive or personal information requires protection before the December 15 deadline.