From 1 July 2013, not only single substance but also mixtures circulated in Korea should comply with the Korea GHS. Korea GHS is fully implemented since 2010 for single substance. However, for the mixtures, both Korea GHS and the previously used system were applicable until 30 June 2013. With the passing of this deadline Korea GHS is now a mandatory requirement for chemicals.
Korea’s GHS Classification, Labeling and MSDS Standards of Chemicals were finalized by MoL on 10 Jan 2008 as the Public Notice No.2008-01. Korea Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) requires hazard classification & labeling and SDS for hazardous chemicals that meet the GHS hazard criteria. On 27 July 2008, the MoL published the Public Notice No. 2008-29, according to which the hazardous chemical substances should be labeled according to GHS from 1 July 2010, while for the mixtures, both the previous system and Korea GHS are allowed to use until 1 July 2013.
The Toxic Chemicals Control Act (TCCA) was amended in 2007 to adopt GHS for toxic chemicals designated by NIER of MoE. However, the implementation date and building blocks for GHS are not exactly consistent with those stipulated under Korea OSHA. Though the same grace period was given for mixtures as of 1 July 2013, the mandatory GHS requirements for individual toxic chemical substance are effective since 1 July 2011, as stipulated in the Public Notice No 2008-26. Exceptions are new chemical substances registered under TCCA as toxic which must comply with Korea GHS since 1 July 2008.
Given grace period, stepwise enforcement date are specified as below,
Korea OSHA: Substances from 1 July 2010; Mixtures from 1 July 2013
Korea TCCA: Substances from 1 July 2011 (new toxic chemical substance from 1 July 2008); Mixtures from 1 July 2013
