News Details

On 25 August 2026, South Korea's National Institute of Chemical Safety (NICS) has published a proposed revision to the Regulation on Approval of Consumer Chemical Products Subject to Safety Confirmation.

This, reflects the transition of certain product categories from the consumer chemical product framework to the biocidal product framework. Comments on the proposal can be submitted untill 14 September 2026. 

The proposal would realign product categories, revise approval data requirements and product codes, remove specifications that are no longer considered necessary for certain insecticides, and clarify the regulatory scope of preservative-treated products used in humidifiers. 

South Korea Realigns Consumer Chemical Product Categories 

The proposal removes six categories from the definition of existing consumer chemical products: 

• Disinfectant and preservative products for humidifiers 

• Insecticides for public health 

• Repellents for public health 

• Insecticides for infectious disease prevention 

• Disinfectants for infectious disease prevention 

• Rodenticides for infectious disease prevention 

In their place, the proposal introduces two categories of products that remain under transitional approval arrangements:  

• disinfectants for infectious disease prevention subject to an approval grace period  

• insecticides (microbial preparations) subject to an approval grace period. 

The first category covers public-health disinfectant products that use existing biocidal substances designated as subject to an approval grace period, as well as certain products that generate a new biocidal substance in situ through mixing or reaction. 

The second category covers microbial insecticide preparations used to control sanitary pests or mass-occurring insects that may adversely affect living environments, public facilities or transportation safety. The transitional provisions apply only within the relevant approval grace period for each substance. 

Changes to Approval Data and Insecticide Specifications 

The supporting data framework would be updated to reflect the revised product categories. 

Under Appendix 2, the current category covering public health insecticides, repellents and infectious disease prevention products would be replaced by a category for infectious disease prevention disinfectants and insecticides subject to an approval grace period. 

The requirements specifically applicable to existing disinfectant and preservative products for humidifiers would also be removed, while the submission framework for other humidifier consumer chemical products and humidifier preservative-treated products would remain. 

Appendix 4 would also be revised. The section containing specifications for major insecticide ingredients, covering entries from deltamethrin to hydramethylnon solid formulations, would be deleted. The proposal explains that these specifications are no longer required following the regulatory changes affecting existing public health and infectious disease prevention insecticides. 

New Approval Codes for Transitional Products 

The approval numbering system would be reorganized in line with the new product structure.  

Existing product codes assigned to the six deleted categories would be removed, while two new codes would be established: 

• Code 8: Infectious disease prevention disinfectants subject to an approval grace period 

• Code 9: Insecticides (microbial preparations) subject to an approval grace period 

Other provisions governing the assignment of approval numbers would remain unchanged. 

Humidifier Preservative-Treated Products: Broader Regulatory Scope 

The proposal also introduces an important change to the definition of humidifier preservative-treated products.  

The current definition focuses on products that claim a secondary effect or efficacy, such as protecting or preserving a component installed in a humidifier against microorganisms.

The revised definition focuses instead on whether a biocidal substance or biocidal product is used for such a secondary purpose. 

According to the amendment rationale, this is intended to prevent products from falling outside the regulatory scope simply because a biocidal product is used for a secondary purpose without an associated antimicrobial or preservation claim. 

This means companies should consider the actual use of biocidal substances or products when determining regulatory applicability, rather than relying solely on the claims made for the finished product. 

Transitional Measures and What Companies Should Do 

The proposal includes transitional measures for products in the six categories being removed. Products already approved under the applicable provisions may continue to follow the relevant labeling requirements during the statutory transitional period. If changes are made during that period, the applicable change notification or change approval requirements would continue to apply. 

Companies manufacturing or importing affected products in South Korea should therefore: 

• Review whether existing products fall within a category being transferred to the biocidal product framework; 

• Confirm whether either of the newly defined approval-grace-period categories applies; 

• Assess the revised approval data requirements and product codes; 

• Review existing approvals and applicable transitional periods; and 

• For humidifier-related products, assess whether the use of a biocidal substance or biocidal product creates regulatory obligations even where no antimicrobial or preservation claim is made. 

The proposal primarily represents a regulatory realignment between South Korea’s consumer chemical product and biocidal product frameworks, rather than a uniform increase in compliance requirements. Companies handling affected disinfectants, insecticides, repellents, rodenticides and humidifier-related products should review their product classifications and existing approvals as the transition progresses.