Chemical Control Legislation in Korea: K-REACH, K-BPR and K-OSHA

 
The Act on the Registration & Evaluation of Chemicals (known as Korea-REACH) is reflecting very much the same principles as EU REACH. This law is well known and in the middle of its implementation. Pre-registrations have been completed, SIEFs (CICOs) formed and registrations for Tier 1 substances, to be registered until 31.12.2021, are in progress. However, it should be noted that beside K-REACH two additional regulations are of interest for Korean manufacturers or importers and exporters in or to Korea. The Consumer Chemical Products and Biocides Safety Act, also known as K-BPR, regulates consumer chemical products, biocidal products and treated articles. The regulation came into force on 1st Jan. 2019 and from 1st January 2020 onwards, biocidal products and treated articles containing active substances have to be fully approved before being imported and made available on the market. Existing active substances, pre-notified under K-BPR, enjoy an approval grace period, during which they can be further manufactured and imported (e.g. as biocidal active substances or as biocidal products). In addition, the Korean Occupational Safety and Health Act (K-OSHA) was amended. It sets out new obligations for chemical manufacturers and importers, including the disclosure of composition information and submission of safety data sheets (SDS) to the Ministry of Employment and Labour (MoEL). For non-Korean manufacturers exporting chemicals to Korea, the Only Representative was also introduced in the K-OSHA Amendment to take over the disclosure and SDS Submission responsibility in order to protect confidential information. OR eligibility under K-OSHA is expected to be the same as under K-REACH. The presentation highlights all three regulations and summarises them accordingly.