Korea CCA – Chemical Control Act

What's K-CCA?

South Korea’s Chemicals Control Act (K-CCA) passed national assembly in May 2013 and came into force on 1 Jan 2015, the same enforcement date as K-REACH. K-CCA and K-REACH replaced the previous Toxic Chemicals Control Act (TCCA) to address the basic management of industrial chemicals and chemical products in South Korea. The registration and evaluation of new and existing substances are regulated under K-REACH. K-CCA regulatory provisions mainly focus on the control of the whole process from market access, distribution, handling to disposal of chemicals.

Management Framework

Fig. 1 - Framework of South Korea’s Chemicals Control Act

• Prohibited substances: In principle, no one can handle prohibited substances, however, for those manufactured, imported or sold for use in experiment, testing and research, handling is provisionally permitted provided permission is obtained.

• Substances subject to authorization: Any person who intends to manufacture, import or use these substances should obtain permission in advance.

• Restricted substances: Any person who intends to import restricted substances should pay attention to the restricted usages and apply for permission in advance.

• Hazardous substances*: Any person who intends to import hazardous substances should notify the type and usage information. 

  *By Ordinance No. 20231 issued on 6 February 2024, hazardous substances defined under K-CCA include acute toxic substances to human health, chronic toxic substances to human health, ecological toxic substances and accident precaution substances (Read more).

Who Needs to Comply with K-CCA?

Business operators involved in the manufacture, import, sale, storage, logistics and downstream use of hazardous chemicals, restricted chemicals, prohibited chemicals, and substances subject to authorization should comply with K-CCA requirements.

Main Contents of K-CCA Regulation

The CCA regulation contains 7 chapters as well as an addenda:

• Ⅰ General provisions (Article 1-8)

• Ⅱ Statistical survey and information disclosure of chemical substances (Article 9-12)

• Ⅲ Safety management of hazardous chemical substances

• Section 1. Hazardous chemical handling criteria (Article 13-22)

• Section 2. Installation and operation of hazardous chemical handling facilities (Article 23-26)

• Ⅳ Business operators of hazardous chemical substances

• Section 1. Identification of business types and business permit for hazardous chemical substances (Article 27-30)

• Section 2. Management of business operators of hazardous chemical substances (Article 31-38)

• Ⅴ Preparation for and countermeasures against chemical accidents

• Section 1. Designation of accident precaution chemicals (Article 39-42)

• Section 2. Countermeasures against chemical accidents (Article 43-47)

• Ⅵ Supplementary provisions (Article 48-56)

• Ⅶ Penalty (Article 57-64) 

How to Comply

Written Confirmation of Chemical Product Specifications

According to the Article 9 of K-CCA, manufacturers or Importers of chemicals shall submit a “Written Confirmation of Details for Chemical Product” to the KCMA prior to manufacture or import after careful self-evaluation whether it contains any regulated chemical of the followings:

1. Phase-in substances (PECs subject to registration under K-REACH)

2. Non phase-in substances (New chemical substances subject to registration under K-REACH)

3. Acute toxic substances to human health

4. Chronic toxic substances to human health

5. Ecological toxic substances

6. Substances subject to authorization

7. Restricted substances

8. Prohibited substances

9. Accident precaution chemicals

Below are the documents required for “Written Confirmation”:

• Table of ingredients: specifying name, CAS No. content, etc. of chemical substances contained in the product.

• Relevant document, such Letter of Confirmation (LOC) 

For the submission of “Written Confirmation”, the followings are some basic rules:

• One submission for one product (a chemical or a preparation/mixture)

• A re-submission is required if any change is made to the composition.

• Separate “Written Confirmation” is required for same product imported from different countries.

Follow-up Registration/Permission Management

If any of the regulated chemical is contained, the manufacturer or importer should perform the following additional tasks after submitting the “Written Conformation”.

Off-site Impact Analysis

Under K-CCA, all enterprises intending to install and operate handling facilities for hazardous chemicals shall prepare an off-site impact analysis report that evaluates the impact of potential chemical accidents on the surrounding environment and population.

Risk Management Plan

So far there are 97 accident precaution chemicals with designated usage level thresholds in the Annex 10 of K-CCA Enforcement Rules.

K-CCA requires that any person who handles accident precaution chemicals, once this threshold is exceeded, should prepare and submit the risk management plan every five years. In addition, as accident precaution measures, the contents of the risk management plan will be notified to local residents at least once a year.

The risk management plan should include the following information:

1. List of accident precaution chemicals and their corresponding hazard information

2. List of handling facilities for accident precaution chemicals, as well as their current status

3. Engineering safety information of handling facilities of accident precaution chemicals, operation process, etc.

4. Information of responsible person and relevant staff for the operation of accident precaution chemicals

5. Education, training and self-inspection plans for accident precaution

6. Emergency contact information in case an accident occurs, etc.

7. Potential leakage, exposure pathway, as well as a contingency plan in case an accident occurs

8. Confirmation of the scope of impact on surrounding residents, environment, etc. in case an accident occurs

9. Evacuation plan in case an accident occurs

10. Measures and plans for recovery or to minimize/eliminate the damage caused by chemical accidents

11. Others relating to safety management of accident precaution chemicals  

Permission for Business 

The MoE will issue a business permit for hazardous chemical substances (except for prohibited substances and substances subject to authorization) when the handling equipment and technical manpower are shown to meet the necessary standards.

The business permit will cover manufacturing, sale, warehousing, logistics, and downstream uses. The business operators are required to submit the following corresponding materials:

• An off-site impact analysis report for the installation and operation of handling facilities for hazardous chemicals

• Inspection results for the insulation and operation of handling facilities for hazardous chemicals

• A risk management plan for accident precaution chemicals

• A list specifying the handling facilities and technical manpower