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K-REACH - Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemical Substances, South Korea
Jun 18, 2019
Nadine He
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CONTENTS

What is K-REACH

The Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals of Korea (a.k.a “K-REACH”) was passed on Apr 30th, 2013 and revised several times. It is regarded as the first REACH-style chemical regulation adopted in an Asian country. K-REACH manages new chemical substances, existing chemical substances and downstream products by prescribing the requirements for registration, hazard evaluation and risk assessment.

The revised K-REACH legislation is a significant deviation from the regulatory mechanisms outlined in the previous version. The amendments came into effect on Jan 1st, 2019, which sets out a plan of registering existing substances over 1 ton per year in the next 12 years. 

This webpage is designed to assist non-Korean companies, particularly SMEs, in identifying their obligations under the revised K-REACH so they can take the necessary steps to ensure compliance with this regulation.

Management Framework for Substances and Products

The chart below is a conceptual representation of the K-REACH framework. Chemicals and products (mixtures and articles) are regulated differently as illustrated. 

Fig. 1 - Framework of K-REACH (Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemical Substance, South Korea)

  1. Pre-registration of existing chemical substances (≥1 t/y) before 30 Jun 2019 is necessary to be eligible for the phase-in registration grace period.

  2. 510 PECs that have been published on 1 Jul 2015 are subject to joint registration before 30 June 2018.  They are not eligible for pre-registration/late pre-registration and are not subject to the phase-in registration grace period. PECs (≥ 1 t/y) should be registered immediately before manufacture/import.

  3. For new chemical substances < 0.1 t/y, they only require notification rather than registration. 

  4. K-REACH will allow the Ministry of the Environment (MoE) to perform hazard evaluation and risk assessment. According to the results of hazard evaluation, MoE will designate toxic chemical substances. Based on the hazard evaluation and risk assessment, MoE will impose production and importing requirements necessitating substances undergo authorization, restriction or prohibition.

  5. Notification of products containing priority management substances (including hydrates) is required before manufacture or importation if the priority management substance contained in the product exceed 1 t/y and 0.1% weight ratio threshold.

Who is affected

Korean manufacturers or importers have legal obligations to comply with K-REACH. Foreign manufacturers may appoint an Only Representative (OR) to fulfill relevant obligations under K-REACH. 

Manufactures, importers and ORs will be responsible for

  • Pre-registration

  • Registration

  • Information communication with downstream users and sellers

  • Products Notification

  • Other activities

Importers in South Korea may turn to their non-Korean suppliers and request information that they may need to fulfill their regulatory obligations. As for information exchange, a two-way communication mechanism is adopted to involve manufacturers, importers and their downstream users and sellers in the same supply chain. 

History

图2.png

Fig. 2 - History of K-REACH (Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemical Substances, South Korea)

South Korea has been working on its own “REACH-style” regulation for the registration and evaluation of chemicals since 2011. The final version of K-REACH was passed by the National Assembly on 30 April 2013, and came into force on 1 Jan 2015.

Since its notification to the WTO on 9 March 2011 (G/TBT/N/KOR/305), the draft proposal has been revised several times focusing on the registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of new chemicals and existing chemicals that are manufactured in or imported to South Korea.

The significant amendments to K-REACH were promulgated by the president on 20 Mar 2018 as Law No. 15512, which is a significant deviation from the regulatory mechanisms outlined in the previous version. The revised K-REACH (effective on 1 Jan) is almost identical to EU REACH. Amendments regarding reduction of vertebrate animal testing during generation of registration data were incorporated into the revised version of K-REACH as Law No. 15584 on 17 Apr 2018. The new requirements came into force on 1 Jan 2019 as well as the other amendments. In recent years, K-REACH has been revised several times with minor changes to improve the regulatory requirements. Its current version can be accessed here.

How to comply

Existing Chemical Substances: Pre-registrtaion and Registration

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Fig. 3 - E-translation: Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemical Substances, South Korea

All existing chemical substances manufactured or imported at ≥ 1 t/y are subject to pre-registration before 30 Jun 2019. The manufacture/import volume can be determined based on the records in year 2016 to 2018. Late pre-registration is applicable to chemicals manufactured or imported over 1 t/y for the first time after the deadline and before the corresponding phase-in registration deadline.

Pre-registration before 30 Jun 2019 is necessary to be eligible for the phase-in registration grace period. Phased-in registration of existing chemicals should be complied with based on tonnage band by 2030. However, designated CMR substances with a volume over 1 ton per year should be registered as a priority by 2021. The phase-in deadlines will be set based on tonnage band, as below:

  • >1000 t/y; or designated CMRs (364 substances) above 1 t/y: by 2021

  • 100-1000 t/y: by 2024

  • 10-100 t/y: by 2027

  • 1-10 t/y: by 2030

However, for the 510 PECs that were published on 1 Jul 2015, they were subject to joint registration before July of 2018. They are not eligible for pre-registration/late pre-registration and are not subject to the phase-in registration grace period. PECs (≥ 1 t/a) should be registered immediately before manufacture/import.

As of 31 March 2023, a total of 226,520 pre-registration applications were submitted for 17,380 chemical substances, of which 77 are CMR substances. About 9% of the pre-registered substances are manufactured or imported over 1,000 t/y. (Read more)

New Chemical Substances: Notification and Registration

The Korea Existing Chemicals Inventory (KECI) contains more than 46,000 chemicals that were domestically circulated in South Korea prior to 2 Feb 1991 or those published by MoE after hazard evaluation under TCCA after 2 Feb 1991. Those not listed in the KECI are regarded as new chemical substances subject to new chemical registration.

All new chemical substances regardless of tonnge are required to be registered. However, for new chemical substances < 0.1 t/y, they only require notification rather than registration. In addition, registration under K-OSHA should also be complied with as before for new substances ≥ 0.1 t/y. 

K-REACH: Data Submission

K-REACH adopts levels of tonnage band with higher tonnage bands requiring more data submission. The information below is required for data submission,

  • Company information (Name, address and representative of the manufacturer or the importer etc.)

  • Chemical identification information (chemical name, molecular formula and chemical structure etc.)

  • Use information

  • Classification and labeling

  • Physicochemical properties

  • Toxicological information

  • Risk assessment information for substance at or above 10 t/y

  • Guidance on safe use (including personal protective devices and measures for explosion, fire or leak)

  • Other information

*For new chemical < 0.1 t/y, only very simple information is required to submit, including manufacturer/importer information, chemical name and identity, uses, classification and labelling, etc. Before 2020, for new chemical < 1 t/y, only one test data (acute oral toxicity) should be submitted. 

Table 1. Number of Testing Items under K-REACH

Data requirement

0.1-1 t/y

(for new chemical only from 2020)

1-10 t/y

10-100 t/y

100-1,000 t/y

>1,000 t/y

Physical and   Chemical Properties

5

8

11

13

13

Human Health   Hazards

2

4

10

11

15

Environmental   Hazards

2

3

5

13

19

Total

9

15

26

37

47


Testing Data requirements

Note: “O”means that the testing plan can be submitted instead of the complete testing report.

Table 2. Physiochemical Testing Items under K-REACH


Required Tests

0.1-1 t/y

(for new chemical only from 2020)

1-10 t/y

10-100 t/y

100-1,000 t/y

>1,000 t/y

Physicochemical Properties Testing

Physical state

Water solubility

Melting/freezing point

Boiling point

Vapor pressure

Partition coefficient n-octanol/water


Relative density


Granulometry


Flammability



Explosive property



Oxidizing property



Viscosity




O

O

Dissociation costant




O

O


Table 3. Toxicological Testing Items under K-REACH


Required Tests

Testing Method OECD TG

0.1-1 t/y

(for new chemical only from 2020)

1-10 t/y

10-100 t/y

100-1,000 t/y

>1,000 t/y

Toxicology   Properties Testing

Acute oral toxicity

420/423/425

Acute dermal toxicity (or inhalation)

402/434, 403/433/436



(O)

(O)

(O)

Skin corrosion/irritation

404/430/431/435/439


Eye corrosion/irritation

405/437/438/460/491/492/494/496



Skin sensitization

406/429/442


Ames test

471

In vitro chromosome aberration

473/487



In vivo somatic cell mutagenicity test

474/475, 488, 486/489



Additional mutation test (germ cell mutagenicity etc.)

478/483/485, 488, 489


O

O

Repeated toxicity (28 days)

407, 410, 412, 422



Repeated toxicity (90 days)

408/409, 411, 413





O

Carcinogenicity

451/453





O

Screening for reproductive/development toxicity

421/422



O

O

O

Pre‐natal developmental toxicity study

414





O

Two‐generation reproductive toxicity

416/433





O


Table 4. Eco-toxicological Testing Items under K-REACH


Required Tests

Testing Method OECD TG

0.1-1 t/y

(for new chemical only from 2020)

1-10 t/y

10-100 t/y

100-1,000 t/y

>1,000 t/y

Ecotoxicology Properties Testing

Short-term fish toxicity

203

Short-term daphnia toxicity

202


Algae growth inhibition

201



Long-term fish toxicity

204/210/212/215




O

O

Long-term daphnia toxicity

211




O

O

Short-term toxicity to plants

208/227




O

O

Long-term toxicity testing on plants






O

Short-term   toxicity to invertebrates (earthworm)

207




O

O

Long-term toxicity testing on invertebrates (earthworm) 

220/222





O

Long-term toxicity to sediment organisms

218/219/225





O

Activated sludge respiration inhibition test

209/224




O

O

Ready biodegradability

301/310/311

Hydrolysis as a function of pH

111



Inherent biodegradability

302




O

O

Identification of degradation products

303/304/306/308/308/309


O

O

Bioconcentration

305





O

Adsorption/desorption screening test

106/121




O

O

Additional adsorption/desorption screening






O

Fate and behavior in the environment






O


Vertebrate animal testing

Amendments regarding reduction of vertebrate animal testing during generation of registration data have been passed and incorporated into the revised version of K-REACH as Law No. 15584 on 17 Apr 2018. The new requirements came into force on 1 Jan 2019. The authority will develop and adopt alternative tests to minimize the use of vertebrate animals (newly added Article 4 Paragraph 5 of K-REACH). In addition, industry also needs to prioritize alternative animal testing during data generation (newly added Article 5 Paragraph 5). The vertebrate animal testing minimizing principle is adopted as a new Article 16-2 during chemical registration, hazard evaluation and risk assessment. As stipulated in Revised Article 17, any person who intends to apply for registration shall confirm in advance if there is existing vertebrate animal test data. For more deatils, please see ChemLinked news

K-REACH allows the use of non-testing methods to fill data gaps for chemical registration. However, the authority has held a conservative stance in accepting non-test data.  In view of the global trend of using non-testing methods to minimize the use of vertebrate testing, South Korea's NIER made public on 30 September 2022 the revised Regulation on Registration Application Dossier Preparation, Hazard Evaluation Methods, etc., which took effect immediately. This revised supporting regulation specifies non-testing methods for chemical registration under K-REACH and adds new exemption criteria for testing items,  reflecting a shift in the authority’s attitude in this regard. (Read more)

K-REACH: Hazard Evaluation & Risk Assessment

图4.png

Fig. 4 - Hazard Evaluation & Risk Assessment of K-REACH (Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemical Substances, South Korea)

The MoE will conduct hazard evaluation on the registered substances. MoE may require additional data from the registrant if deemed necessary for hazard evaluation. The toxic chemical substances will be designated based on the hazard evaluation outcome, which is consistent with the criteria under the previous TCCA. The information, such as the chemical name, hazard properties will be disclosed to the public for reference after hazard evaluation. Generic names can be used for publication if data protection applies. However, once it is designated as toxic chemical, the generic name cannot be adopted.

Risk assessment is required for substances manufactured or imported for 10 tons or more per year, or when the result of hazard evaluation implies the necessity of further risk assessment. Based on the hazard evaluation and risk assessment, MoE will designate the substances subject to authorization, restriction or prohibition. Generally, the SVHC such as CMRs and PBTs will be designated for authorization with specific sunset date. Only those authorized before the deadline can continue to be circulated on the market after the sunset date. However, the status of chemicals for authorization is subject to change due to the possible development of new technology or substituted chemicals, etc.

The chemicals manufactured or imported at 100 ton per year will require risk assessment requirement from 1 Jan 2015. For those between 10 ton and 100 ton per year, there are 4 corresponding extended deadlines,

  • 100 t/y: Jan 1, 2015

  • 70 t/y: Jan 1, 2017

  • 50 t/y: Jan 1, 2018

  • 20 t/y: Jan 1, 2019

  • 10 t/y: Jan 1, 2020

K-REACH: Joint Submission

Joint submission of registration dossiers on the same chemicals is an obligation under K-REACH with the goal of reducing the burden on the industry and avoiding duplicate generation of test data. The individual submission could be applicable in special cases if approved by MoE in advance.

A pre-set institution like the Substance Information Exchange Forum (SIEF) is established for chemical information exchange. The SIEF is a borrowed concept from EU REACH, like EU REACH the co-registrants will be required to purchase distinct endpoint data from the lead registrant (LR) and use them in their own separate dossiers.

Opt-out is possible when:

  1. Exposure of Confidential Business Information (CBI) causes commercial damage

  2. Joint submission requires higher cost than individual submission

  3. Other causes listed in Presidential Decree

  4. “Confirmation of Individual Submission” from MoE in advance

Data sharing:

  1. Permission to use for the registration from data owner is required

  2. The period of data compensation under K-REACH is 15 years, after which the data is available to be used freely

  3. Enquiry of existing available data can be made to MoE

K-REACH: Information Communication

图5.png

Fig. 5 - Information Communication of K-REACH (Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemical Substances, South Korea)

K-REACH adopts a two-way communication mechanism under which the suppliers should provide chemical information to recipients, and vice versa. The manufacturer and importer of registered substances or mixtures containing registered substances should provide registration No., chemical name, hazard & risk information, safe use information to the downstream user and seller. Downstream users and sellers should also provide its manufacturer or importer the use, exposure, volume of use or sale, safe use information etc. upon request. If any changes occur, the updates should be informed to upperstream and downstream parties within one month.

K-REACH: Product Management

Under K-REACH, the definition of a "product" covers both mixtures and articles for consumer use. Nnotification of products containing priority management substances (including hydrates) is required before manufacture or importation if

  • The content of a priority management substance exceeds 0.1 % w/w; and

  • The total import weight of the priority management substance in products is over one tonne per year.

In total 672 substances have been designated for priority management in Dec 2018, of which 204 substances will be effective from Jul 1st, 2019 and the other 468 substances effective from Jul 1st, 2021. In April 2022, the MoE announced the updates to the list of substances subject to priority management under K-REACH by the Announcement No. 2022-79. More specifically,

  • Combining the Annex 1 and 2 (2018 version) into Annex 1 and grouping chemicals having the similar structures or same functional groups, assigning them with numbers from 1 to 645;

  • Adding 54 types of chemicals (in total 162 substances) that are confirmed to have hazard of endocrine disorder, PBT, vPvB, or CMR corresponding to the designation criteria under K-REACH, and assigning them with numbers from 646 to 699 (effective from January 1, 2024);

  • Deleting 4 chemicals previously designated, since they are already listed as prohibited substances 

  • Clearly indicating that hydrate/anhydride of the listed substances are also subject to priority management. 

Manufacturers or importers have legal obligations to notify the authority the name, use, content, hazards, simple exposure information, etc. of the priority management substance. However, the notification is not required if the substance has been registered under K-REACH.

K-REACH: Authorization List

On July 29, 2022, by MoE Ordinance No.997, South Korea's MoE announced the adoption of Article 34 (2) into the K-REACH Enforcement Rules, which clarifies the criteria for the designation of candidate substances subject to authorization. This new article and its supporting regulation - Regulation on Designation, etc. of Substances subject to Authorization took efftect on the same date (October 15, 2022). The flowchart below illustrates the main procedures for designation of substance subject to authorization under K-REACH.

On November 23, 2022, South Korea's MoE issued the first batch of eleven candidate substances subject to authorization under K-REACH for public consultation. Period for comments ended on February 28, 2023. The eleven candidate substances are selected from the list of 672 substances subject to priority management under K-REACH based on substances' hazards, domestic circulation volume, the existing risk assessment results and control measures in South Korea and abroad. They are: 



Chemical name

CAS No.

1

Benzene

71-43-2

2

Bisphenol A; 4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol

80-05-7

3

Dibutyl phthalate; DBP

84-74-2

4

Benzyl butyl phthalate; BBP

85-68-7

5

4,4'-methylenebis[2-chloroaniline]

101-14-4

6

Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate; DEHP

117-81-7

7

Orange lead

1314-41-6

8

Lead monoxide

1317-36-8

9

Chromium trioxide

1333-82-0

10

Lead sulfochromate yellow

1344-37-2

11

Strontium chromate

7789-06-2


So far, there are no substances in the Authorization List. Under K-RACH, once added to this list, these substances cannot be placed on the market and used after a specified "sunset date", unless an authorization is granted or the use is exempt from authorization. That is to say, listed substances should obtain the authorization from MoE prior to production, import or use in South Korea, even if they have already completed registrations under K-REACH.

News

· Please click here to see a list of news about K-REACH.

Expert Articles & Ebooks

1. Nadine He, 24 Apr 2019, "K-REACH Only Representative Transfer Issues: Can I Change My OR?"

2. Nadine He, 21 Oct 2018, "K-REACH Pre-registration: Concise Overview of Critical Checkpoints"

3. Nadine He, 9 Jan 2018, "K-REACH Enforcement Decree Amendments"

4. Nadine He, 1 Dec 2015, " K-REACH Notification of Products Containing Hazardous Chemical Substance"

5. Nadine He, 20 Mar 2015, "Registration Exemption under K-REACH"

6. William Chou, 30 Dec 2014, "How K-REACH Will Affect the Flavors and Fragrances Industry"

7. Nadine He, 10 Apr 2014, "Polymer Registration under K-REACH: Scope, Data Requirements & Exemptions" , Chemlinked

8. Nadine He, 19 Nov 2013, "K-REACH: A Comparative Analysis With EU-REACH and China REACH", Chemlinked

9. Sanghee Park, 3 May 2013, "K-REACH Adopted in the National Assembly and Starts from 1 Jan 2015", Chemtopia

10. Eun-suk Park, 24 Sep 2013, "Chemical Registration Challenges in South Korea", Nam&Nam

11. "South Korea's National Assembly Aadopts K-REACH". LawBC. 17 May 2013.

12. "Korean Legislature Adopts K-REACH". 3E Company. 6 June 2013.