On August 6, 2025, South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor (MoEL) issued Notice No. 2025-50, announcing the latest revision to the Standards for Classification, Labeling and Material Safety Data Sheets of Chemicals. The revised regulations took effect on August 7, 2025. In addition to certain changes in test conditions and detailed revisions, the amendment also requires that information related to the Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals (K-REACH) be added to Section 15 (Regulatory Status) of the MSDS, in order to accurately convey information on substances with unconfirmed hazards under K-REACH.
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Before Revision |
After Revision |
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[Appendix 4] Items and details for preparing a Material Safety Data Sheet |
[Appendix 4] Items and details for preparing a Material Safety Data Sheet |
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15. Regulatory Status |
15. Regulatory Status |
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a. Control under the Occupational Safety and Health Act b. Control under the Chemicals Control Act c. Control under the Dangerous Substances Safety Management Act d. Control under the Wastes Control Act: e. Control under other domestic and foreign laws |
a. Control under the Occupational Safety and Health Act b. Control under the Chemicals Control Act c. Control under the Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals (K-REACH) d. Control under the Dangerous Substances Safety Management Act e. Control under the Wastes Control Act: f. Control under other domestic and foreign laws |
- MSDS prepared before June 30, 2026 may continue to use the old format.
- From July 1, 2026, newly prepared MSDS or changes to existing MSDS must use the revised format.
To comply with the revised MSDS format, companies need to reorganize their MSDS preparation and management systems in advance. Enterprises should regularly check whether new MSDS need to be prepared or existing ones need to be changed. For MSDS that require new preparation or revision, the revised format must be used.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Q: Is it mandatory to change existing MSDS to the revised format and provide them?
A: Changing existing MSDS solely to comply with the revised format is not required. The revised format should only be applied when the content of the MSDS needs to be modified.
Q: After changing an existing MSDS to the revised format, is it necessary to resubmit the MSDS?
A: It is necessary to check whether the grounds for MSDS resubmission stipulated in Article 159 of the Enforcement Rules of the Occupational Safety and Health Act are met. If so, the MSDS must be resubmitted through the MSDS system.
Q: What are the matters under Article 159 of the Enforcement Rules of the Occupational Safety and Health Act that trigger MSDS resubmission?
A: Changes in the following items trigger MSDS resubmission: product name; name and content of chemical substances; hazards to health and the environment; physical hazards.
Q: If a substance is covered under both K-REACH and the Chemicals Control Act, under which law should it be listed?
A: Substances subject to both laws (e.g., hazardous chemicals, restricted/prohibited substances) should be listed under K-REACH; listing under the Chemicals Control Act is also acceptable. Substances subject exclusively to one of the two laws must be recorded under the corresponding law.
