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Editor's Note: This article was originally published in July 2025 to analyze the proposed handling limits for hazardous substances, and was updated on 11 August 2025 to introduce the finalized version.
By NICS Announcement No. 2025-12 issued on August 7, 2025, South Korea's National Institute of Chemical Safety (NICS) introduced a new regulation - Regulation on Standard Handling Limits of Hazardous Chemicals. It took effect immediately and repealed the previous regulation - Regulations on Standard Handling Limits of Toxic Substances, Restricted Substances, Prohibited Substances and Substances Subject to Authorization (MoE Announcement No. 2025-72).
The new regulation includes four annexes:
Annex 1 - Standard handling limits for each hazard category
Annex 2 - Standard handling limits for substances acutely hazardous to human health, substances chronically hazardous to human health, and substances hazardous to the environment
Annex 3 - Standard handling limits for accident precaution substances
Annex 4 - Calculation method for the maximum handling quantity
The finalized version can be accessed here.
According to NICS Announcement No. 2025-12, if the handling quantities of hazardous substances have already increased and before August 7, 2025, companies shall prepare and submit the chemical accident prevention management plan within two years from the effective date of this announcement.
Previous article issued on July 15, 2025:
On July 8, 2025, by NICS Notice No.2025-85, the South Korea’s National Institute of Chemical Safety (NICS) invited the public to give feedback on the draft regulation Stipulated Handling Limits for Hazardous Substances. The consultation will be closed on July 21, 2025.
Background
Under the revised K-CCA, the term ‘hazardous substances’ now only refers to substances acutely hazardous to human health, substances chronically hazardous to human health, substances hazardous to the environment, and accident precaution substances, excluding restricted substances, prohibited substances, and substances subject to authorization. Toxic chemical substances are divided into three types in accordance with the new designation criteria specified by the revised K-REACH.
In response to the updates of toxic substances designation criteria and the scope of hazardous substances, the draft regulation is developed, thereby better implementing the differentiated management framework based on hazards stipulated by the revised K-CCA.
Highlights
A new annex of standard handling limits (upper and lower) for each hazard category is drafted, covering acute toxicity, chronic toxicity, physical and chemical hazard, and ecological toxicity.
The current annex of handling limits for toxic chemical substances is adjusted to clarify the toxicity type and concentration threshold in mixture, which aligns with the new designation criteria. Meanwhile, a new column of minimum handling limits drafted for low-risk chemical substances is included in both annexes for toxic chemical substances and accident precaution substances.
For certain hazardous substances, their stipulated handling limits are indicated by the value marked with *, if they are in liquid form under room temperature and normal pressure.
The draft annexes can be downloaded here.
