South Korea's Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) has issued a rectification notice for Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) submissions, signaling a shift into substantive compliance review. Overseas chemical exporters must ensure their Korean-language MSDS meet updated standards or face legal and supply-chain risks, with a resubmission deadline of January 16, 2026.
Background and regulatory shift
Under the revised Article 110 of South Korea's Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), manufacturers and importers of classified hazardous chemicals must submit a Korean-language MSDS compliant with national standards and obtain an official MSDS number via the KOSHA website. Foreign companies cannot submit directly and must appoint a local Only Representative (OR) to file on their behalf.
In late November 2025, KOSHA announced that a review of previously submitted MSDS revealed critical deficiencies. This marks the transition from a grace-period submission phase to active enforcement, with expectations that corrective requirements will become mandatory after the grace period ends.
Key compliance issues identified
KOSHA highlighted several recurring problems in MSDS documents and submissions: failure to clearly identify the responsible entity (manufacturer, importer, or supplier); submission in languages other than Korean; mismatches between product names in the MSDS and those registered in the Korea Chemicals Management System (KMS); missing Letters of Compliance (LoC) for chemical verification; and incomplete or absent toxicological information in Section 11.
These defects, if uncorrected, may lead to legal and compliance risks as KOSHA intensifies its review process.
What buyers should watch
Chemical importers and distributors sourcing from or operating in South Korea should prioritize reviewing their MSDS portfolios. Given the volume of documents requiring revision, a one-time overhaul is impractical. KOSHA recommends a priority-based approach: for products with severe issues that are no longer sold, consider deregistration; for active products, implement a step-by-step correction and resubmission strategy to ensure a compliant transition.
China sourcing context
Chinese chemical manufacturers exporting to South Korea should verify that their Korean-language MSDS are fully compliant with the latest OSHA standards. Appointing a qualified Only Representative in South Korea is essential for timely submission. Companies should also cross-check product names across MSDS and KMS records to avoid discrepancies that could trigger regulatory scrutiny.
Deadline and next steps
The resubmission deadline is January 16, 2026. KOSHA currently encourages proactive correction, but mandatory enforcement is expected after the grace period. Exporters are advised to act promptly to mitigate supply-chain disruptions and maintain market access.
Source: Read the original report | Published: December 25, 2025