South Korea has revised its K-REACH regulations, raising the annual production/import notification threshold for new chemical substances from 0.1 tons to 1 ton, effective January 1, 2025. This change reduces mandatory hazardous testing data requirements for lower-volume chemicals, offering significant compliance relief for overseas exporters and domestic importers. Importers and distributors should review their portfolios to leverage the new threshold and prepare for enhanced public disclosure rules starting August 2025.
Key regulatory changes
The Ministry of Environment issued Order No. 20232 on February 6, 2024, introducing a definition for "new substances of unknown hazard classification." These substances are presumed hazardous, requiring appropriate protective measures to prevent harm to human health or the environment. The notification threshold for production/import volume has increased from 0.1 tons per year to 1 ton per year, reducing the burden for lower-volume chemicals.
Revised notification requirements
Before January 1, 2025, substances under 0.1 t/y required no hazard classification/labeling rationale. After that date, substances under 1 t/y must include a hazard classification/labeling rationale, such as domestic and international hazard assessment reports, QSARs, literature, and company data. The Minister of Environment can now review submitted data accuracy, and anyone may request corrections to publicly disclosed chemical information with supporting attachments.
Public disclosure and confidentiality
From August 7, 2025, information about new substances will be published on the Ministry of Environment's official website, including substance name/CAS number, purity, molecular/structural formula, trade name, identified impurities, annual volume, intended use, hazard classification/labeling, and supporting rationale. In case of confidential business information (CBI) leakage, the informant must immediately notify the Ministry.
What buyers should watch
Importers and formulators sourcing chemicals into South Korea should verify whether their substances fall under the new 1 t/y notification threshold, potentially avoiding costly full registration. However, the August 2025 public disclosure requirement means substance identity and hazard data will become visible, impacting confidentiality strategies. Companies should prepare hazard classification documentation now to ensure smooth compliance.
Compliance and logistics signals
The revision officially took effect January 1, 2025, with the tonnage change being the most impactful. The Minister of Environment can now investigate domestic and international review results and require notifiers to provide additional hazard data. This signals a more proactive enforcement approach, making accurate and complete submissions critical for avoiding delays or penalties.
Source: Read the original report | Published: January 10, 2025