K-REACH: South Korea Simplifies Registration for Companies

The South Korean government wants to simplify the registration of substances in the context of K-REACH for small and midsize companies. It has taken two approaches. First, it will reduce the amount of data required and second, it will provide numerous forms of assistance for the registration process. The Web site (available only in Korean) of the Ministry of Environment has published a packet of helpful measures.

Four South Korean ministries are participating in the initiative: The Ministry of Environment (MoE); the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, (MoSF); the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (Motie); and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS). The support provided involves advisory measures, assistance with accessing the required substance data, and aid during the registration process itself.

Requirements for the data are also to be substantially reduced. Substances that GHS does not list as hazardous will require only 15 tests as of June 2018, instead of the previously required 47 tests. The government’s requirements are just as low for substances that function as intermediate products during manufacturing. When such substances are produced in a quantity less than 1,000 tons, no tests at all are required. If the quantity exceeds 1,000 tons, the required entries in the dossier are limited to the results of 15 sets of test data. The simplification does not apply to the data records required for registration of the 510 priority existing chemicals (PECS). For more information about PECS visit also our blog.

As a further simplification for small and midsize companies, the government plans a data gap analysis of 7,000 selected substances within South Korea and abroad. The data the individual companies must provide depends on the annual tonnage, properties, and use of the substance along with exposure to it and what data is already present.

The initial pilot projects are to occur as of 2018. They are preferably to be planned for substances of special economic relevance that small companies manufacture or import in larger quantities. In these cases, the government wants to support the entire registration process. For example, registration forms will be created in which both government representatives and companies participate. The government owns the data, and companies can use it a low cost.

The government must also improve the infrastructure. As has long been the case, the country does not have enough testing locations. For example, only three testing locations can determine the inhalation toxicity and environmental safety of substances.

Overall, government is planning a series of initiatives in the context of K-REACH. One effort will make the required IT systems available. Guidelines are to be published by the end of 2018.

For more information about K-REACH, please see also our blog.

Do you need expert support? We have worked with our partner, KTR Europe GmbH, for many years. Please contact us at reach@kft.de.

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