South Korea’s pre-registration of existing chemical substances ended on Jun 30th, 2019. Registrants that missed the pre-registration deadline, are in principle ineligible for follow-up manufacture or import in South Korea. However, the IT system for pre-registration is still open and technically speaking still accepting applications. According to the authority, the current system should only be used for late pre-registration. Although the data requirements in the system are the same as the pre-registration, the registrants should self-check in advance if they fit the eligibility criteria for late pre-registration.
Late pre-registration is only applicable to existing chemical substances manufactured or imported over 1 tonne per year for the first time after Jun 30th, 2019 and before the corresponding phase-in registration deadline. Average annual manufacture/import volume for the previous three years(2016, 2017, 2018) should be below 1 tonne per year. Relevant materials, e.g. customs evidentiary documentation, contract, etc.) shall be retained to substantiate eligibility and for later review by the authority.
Enterprises that meet the criteria for pre-registration but missed the deadline, can still try to submit their data since no additional proof is required in the IT system to define whether it is an application for pre-registration or late pre-registration at current stage. But there is a possibility that they will face punishment in the future.
