South Korea to Implement New Threshold Quantities for 38 Hazardous Chemicals on 19 December, 2026
Reference source : National Institute of Chemical Safety (NICS), Notification No. 2026-20
On 14 October, 2026, South Korea's National Institute of Chemical Safety (NICS) issued Notification No. 2026-20, amending the Regulation on Threshold Quantities for Hazardous Chemicals under the Chemicals Control Act (CCA). The amendment will take effect on 19 December, 2026.
The revision establishes threshold quantities for 38 newly designated hazardous chemicals, including separate low-dispersion thresholds for seven substances.
Key Amendments to Threshold Quantities
The amendment introduces threshold quantities for 38 newly designated substances with acute human health hazards, chronic human health hazards, or ecological hazards, as specified in entries 1559–1598 of Annex 2 to the amended regulation.
Of these, seven substances are subject to additional low-dispersion threshold provisions.
Under the existing regulatory framework, threshold quantities are set out in three annexes:
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Annex 1: Upper and lower threshold quantities for hazard groups.
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Annex 2: Upper, lower, and minimum threshold quantities for substances with acute human health hazards, chronic human health hazards, or ecological hazards.
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Annex 3: Upper, lower, and minimum threshold quantities for accident preparedness substances.
Maximum On-Site Inventory Assessment
Under the regulation, maximum on-site inventory refers to the combined maximum quantity of a hazardous chemical that may be present at a business site at any given time across manufacturing, use, storage, and warehousing facilities.
Businesses must calculate their maximum inventories using the facility-specific methods prescribed in Annex 4 and compare the results with the applicable threshold quantities to determine whether relevant CCA requirements apply.
Effective Date and Compliance Implications
The amendment will enter into force on 19 December 2026, aligning with the entry into force of the notification issued on 18 September 2026 designating substances with acute human health hazards, chronic human health hazards, and ecological hazards.
Companies handling the newly designated chemicals should review the updated thresholds and reassess their maximum on-site inventories ahead of the effective date.