South Korea Revises Hazardous Substance List: Refines Skin Corrosion Classification, Adds 75 Substances

On December 2, 2025, the National Institute of Chemical Safety (NICS) of South Korea, under the Chemical Substances Registration and Evaluation Act (K-REACH), issued Announcement No. 128 of 2025, which is the draft revision of the Designation Notice of Human Acute Hazardous Substances, Human Chronic Hazardous Substances, and Ecological Hazardous Substances (Human, etc. Hazardous Substances), and is soliciting public comments.

Background of the Revision

• Following the revision of the Chemical Substances Registration and Evaluation Act (enforced on August 7, 2025), the designation criteria for human acute hazardous substances, human chronic hazardous substances, and ecological hazardous substances (hereinafter referred to as human, etc. hazardous substances) have been expanded. Based on reassessment under the new criteria, substances with strong skin corrosivity are planned to be designated as human, etc. hazardous substances.
• In Annex 1, Item 1 of the Enforcement Decree of the Chemical Substances Registration and Evaluation Act, the classification for skin corrosion/irritation has been revised from Category 1A to Category 1 (1A, 1B, 1C).

Main Revisions

• Newly Designated Substances

Upon reassessment of substances that have completed hazard reviews, 75 substances with high hazards meeting the designation criteria for human, etc. hazardous substances (Annex 1 of the Enforcement Decree of K-REACH) are newly designated as such. Their unique identification numbers range from 2025-1-1281 to 2025-1-1355.

• Meeting Skin Corrosion Category 1A: Unique Nos. 2025-1-1335, 2025-1-1336
• Meeting Skin Corrosion Category 1B: Unique Nos. 2025-1-1281∼1288, 1290, 1291, 1293, 1294∼1305, 1307∼1313, 1315∼1319, 1321, 1322, 1326, 1327, 1329∼1334, 1338∼1352, 1354, 1355
• Meeting Skin Corrosion Category 1C: Unique Nos. 2025-1-1289, 1292, 1306, 1314, 1320, 1323∼1325, 1328, 1337, 1353
• Among them, Sodium hypochlorite (Unique No. 2025-1-1355) also meets the criteria of Item 3 (Ecological Hazardous Substances) in Annex 1 of the Enforcement Decree.

• Updated Information on Existing Substances

In the attached table, Korean names and CAS numbers have been added to the Name of Human, etc. Hazardous Substance column for the substances corresponding to unique identification numbers 97-1-119, 97-1-379, and 97-1-417.

• Establishment of a Grace Period

A grace period is provided for persons handling the newly designated human, etc. hazardous substances to fulfill their obligations under the Chemical Substances Control Act (CSCA) (such as import notification and business permits, hazardous chemical substance labeling, handling standards, etc.).

Grace Period Arrangements

Persons who have already commenced handling the newly designated human, etc. hazardous substances before the enforcement date of this announcement must fulfill the corresponding obligations under the CSCA by the following deadlines. However, for Sodium hypochlorite (Unique No. 2025-1-1355), each obligation deadline is extended by one year from the dates specified in this article.

• Chemical Substance Confirmation under CSCA Article 9: January 1, 2027
• Hazardous Chemical Substance Labeling under CSCA Article 16: January 1, 2027
• Import Notification of Human, etc. Hazardous Substances under CSCA Article 20: January 1, 2027
• Preparation and Submission of Chemical Accident Prevention Management Plans under CSCA Article 23: July 1, 2028
• Business Permits and Business Notifications for Hazardous Chemical Substances under CSCA Article 28: July 1, 2028
• Handling Standards for Hazardous Chemical Substances under CSCA Article 13 and Annex 1 of its Enforcement Rules: July 1, 2027
• Installation and Management Standards for Hazardous Chemical Substance Handling Facilities under CSCA Article 24 and Annex 5 of its Enforcement Rules: July 1, 2030

The detailed draft amendment can be viewed on the NICS official website:

https://nics.mcee.go.kr/common/userCmmnFileDown.do?fileId=9143&fileSeq=3

Enforcement Date

This notice shall enter into force three months after the date of its promulgation. However, for Sodium hypochlorite (Unique No. 2025-1-1355) in the attached table, it shall enter into force one year after the enforcement date of this notice.

Call for Comments

Individuals, institutions, organizations, or associations with opinions on this draft revision should submit their comments to the National Institute of Chemical Safety by December 22, 2025 (Phone: 032-560-8681, Fax: 032-568-2038).

If you need any assistance or have any questions, please get in touch with us via service@cirs-group.com.

Further Information

NICS