On Oct 31st, MOE released the draft list of the first batch of PECs, containing 518 chemicals. This batch of PECs must be registered within 3 years of the release date of the final list.
The registration criteria of existing chemicals under K-REACH will be different from that under EU REACH. The latter requires all existing chemicals to be registered, while K-REACH only requires registration of Priority Evaluation Chemicals (PECs) in quantities greater than 1 ton per year.
PECs are selected based on hazard information and tonnage. There are two major sources for PECs
Chemicals used to be under the management of TCCA
Chemicals identified as hazardous in abroad.
Source | Hazardous | Tonnage | Amount |
TCCA | Toxic chemicals | Above 1 ton/year | 421 |
Observational chemicals | |||
Restricted/Prohibited chemicals | |||
Chemicals under tonnage supervision | Above 10 ton/year | ||
Chemicals prone to accidents | N/A | ||
Suspended chemicals * | Selected regardless of tonnage | ||
Abroad | Chemicals restricted by EU | Selected in preference to others | 351 (254 of which overlap with TCCA) |
Chemicals identified by IARC | Above 10 ton/year | ||
CMR chemicals | |||
Toxic chemicals for aquatic environment |
* Suspended chemicals mean the chemicals that are implicated as a causative factor in an accident.
By requiring registration for PECs, MoE aims to gather information and limit the use of hazardous chemicals. The replacement of these chemicals will be encouraged. From now on, MoE will organize a comprehensive investigation of chemicals in the list. In March 2015 the evaluation committee will hold a deliberation on the list. Then in June 2015, the final list of the 1st batch of PECs will be determined.
However, it should be remembered that PECs are not the only chemicals that should be registered. Low volume chemicals of less than 1 ton/year that pose serious risk to human health and the environment will also require registration.
