The K-REACH (the Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals) requires chemical substances produced or imported into South Korea to be registered based on their tonnage and hazards. Pre-registration allows enterprises to submit pre-registration applications within a specified time to obtain a grace period for formal registration. As of the end of the first quarter of 2023, the South Korean Ministry of Environment (MOE) updated the pre-registration list of existing substances under K-REACH, adding 117 new substances. The pre-registration list contains the following information:
- Substance name and CAS number
- Number of pre-registration applications for each substance
- Estimated annual production/import tonnage
- Whether it has carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reproductive toxicological properties (CMR)
- Whether it is used for consumers
- Hazard classification and labeling
- Scope and conditions of pre-registration
Under K-REACH, enterprises are required to pre-register existing substances with an annual production or import volume of greater than or equal to 1 ton to obtain a grace period for continued production or import. Existing chemical substances refer to substances that were already in use in South Korea before July 2019, and there are currently over 17,000 such substances.
► Pre-registration Tonnage Requirements
Existing chemical substances with an annual production or import volume exceeding 1 ton need to be pre-registered.
Grace period: Based on the tonnage and hazards of the pre-registered substances, enterprises can obtain different registration grace periods.
► Pre-registration Deadlines
- Substances with an annual production/import volume of 1,000 tons or more and CMR substances with an annual production/import volume of 1 ton or more: By the end of 2021;
- Substances with an annual production/import volume between 100 and 1,000 tons: By the end of 2024;
- Substances with an annual production/import volume between 10 and 100 tons: By the end of 2027;
- Substances with an annual production/import volume between 1 and 10 tons: By the end of 2030.
Enterprises need to complete pre-registration in a timely manner to obtain the grace period, carefully review whether the chemical substances they use are on the pre-registration list, and complete the registration process within the specified deadlines to ensure compliance.
Regulations and standards
► Guidelines for the Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals (K-REACH)
Regulatory authorities
► Korean Ministry of Environment (MOE)
How to obtain the list?
- Click here to search for the latest inventory
- Contact CIRS Group to purchase the latest version (in Excel)
Our services
- K-REACH Only Representative
- K-REACH Pre-registration
- K-REACH Registration
- General consultancy and training
- New Substance Inquiry
- MOE Registration Exemption Application
- Risk assessment report
- Review and translation of Test monitoring and research reports
- Preparation of Korean SDS and label
- Regulatory update monitoring
- New substance registration under KOSHA
- Korean Designated Laboratory or GLP Laboratory Test Project Commissioning
If you have any questions, please contact us at chemicals@cirs-group.com.
