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Editor's Note: This article was originally published in October 2024 to analyze the proposed draft to the Designation of Restricted Chemicals and Prohibited Chemicals proposed in September, and was updated on 5 December 2024 to introduce the designation of Chrysotile as prohibited chemical.
On December 5, 2024, South Korea’s Ministry of Environment (MoE) issued the partial revision to the Designation of Restricted Chemicals and Prohibited Chemicals.
By MoE Announcement No. 2024-253, 'Chrysotile and mixtures containing 1% or more thereof (Given No. 06-5-7)' has been removed from the Restricted Chemicals List and included in the Prohibited Chemicals List as a supplementation of Given No. 06-4-27*. (*Previously, prohibited chemical Given No. 06-4-27 includes crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite asbestos, actinolite asbestos, tremolite asbestos, and mixtures containing 1% or more thereof.)
Screenshot of the MoE Announcement
This designation took effect immediately. The manufacture, import, sale, keeping/storage, transportation, and use of 'Chrysotile and mixtures containing 1% or more thereof' is now prohibited in South Korea.
The announcement this time does not mention whether to adopt the other updates (concerning 'Lead Compounds' and 'Methylene Chloride') that were proposed in September. Chemlinked will keep an eye on this issue, and provide you with the updates promptly.
Proposed draft in September 2024:
By MoE Notice No. 2024-612, South Korea’s Ministry of Environment (MoE) opened a public consultation to solicit comments on the proposed updates to the Designation of Restricted Chemicals and Prohibited Chemicals. Based on the hazard assessment results under K-REACH, lead compounds and methylene chloride, which are highly likely to be used for specific purposes, are proposed to be designated as restricted substances. Additionally, chrysotile, which has already been completely banned from handling under other laws, is to be adjusted from restricted chemical to prohibited chemical. The public consultation closed on October 16, 2024.
Proposed updates
Methylene chloride, including mixtures containing 0.1% thereof, is proposed to be listed in the Restricted Chemicals List and assigned to Given No. 06-5-15. They will be prohibited from being used for household cleaning agents, aerosols, paint removal purposes in household, construction, and furniture applications.
Restricted chemical Given No. 06-5-8 is proposed to be expanded from ‘lead and mixture containing 0.009% or more thereof’ to ‘lead and lead compounds, and mixture containing 0.009% or more thereof’. Their use in paints will be banned unless for the purpose of applications in aircraft or military supplies. A list of lead and lead compounds is provided in the proposal (see screenshot below).
Chrysotile and mixtures containing 1% or more thereof (Given No. 06-5-7) is proposed to be removed from the Restricted Chemicals List and included in the Prohibited Chemicals List as a supplementation of Given No. 06-4-27*. Once adopted, they will be prohibited from manufacture, import, sale, keeping/storage, transportation and use.
The draft amendments can be accessed here.
