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By the MoE Notice No. 2025-566 issued on September 4, 2025, South Korea’s Ministry of Environment (MoE) opened a public consultation on the draft amendment to the Operating Rules of the Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals. This draft amendment aims to enhance the efficiency of administrative institutions (such as the National Institute of Chemical Safety and the Korea Environment Corporation). It clarifies the OR (only representative) transfer issues and quantity calculation. Comments are welcome before September 25, 2025.
Below are major updates proposed in this draft amendment that are particularly relevant to enterprises:
To stipulate that the chemical registration/notification compliance work completed by the original OR remains valid after the original OR is dismissed. This amendment aims to clarify this at the legal level. The new OR will not need to resubmit the registration dossier for the non-Korean enterprise it represents.
To clarify the quantity calculation method for the registration or notification of chemical substances.
When a chemical substance subject to registration under K-REACH is imported from multiple overseas suppliers, the annual import quantity of this chemical substance should be calculated as a total. If a chemical substance is imported/porduced solely for export, the prescribed quantity can be deducted from the annual production and import quantity of the chemical substances subject to registration.
When a Korean enterprise is both an importer itself and the OR appointed by non-Korean enterprises, the chemical import quantity shall be calculated separately under different roles.
This draft amendment provides clearer rules for the compliance and transfer of OR. It may ensure the compliance of completed registrations and avoid duplication of work when an OR is dismissed.
