South Korea Consults on Updates to GHS Classification List

Classification and labeling information will be updated for 7 previously published toxic substances and 2 accident precaution chemicals. 33 substances will be designated as toxic chemicals providing with classification and labelling information, of which 15 are new chemicals.

Published on Jul 31st, 2019 by NIER Notice No. 2019-307^[1], South Korea's National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) is now consulting on potential updates to the GHS Classification List. Any comments are welcome before Aug 20th, 2019.

The classification information, pictograms, hazard statements, M factors or UN No., of the following substances will be revised, including:

7 toxic substances: Given No. 97-1-130, 97-1-171, 2010-1-609, 2014-1-693, 2014-1-695, 2019-1-880, 2019-1-903
2 accident precaution chemical substances: Given No. 50, 78

In addition, 33 toxic chemical substances that have been registered and found toxic after the hazard evaluation under K-REACH will be newly added to South Korea’s GHS Classification List. The 33 substances were issued on Jul 18th for public consultation to be appended to South Korea’s Toxic Chemical Substance List (CL news^[2]).

It should be noted that the 15 of the 33 toxic chemical substances (Given No. 2019-1-916~2019-1-930) are new chemical substances in South Korea. Manufacturers or importers of these substances (other than the original registrants) should still apply for new chemical registration under K-REACH before manufacture or importation. For the other 18 toxic substances (Given No. 2019-1-931~2019-1-948), they are priority existing chemical substances (PECs) that have finished joint registration under K-REACH by this June.

The details of proposed updates on substances can be accessible here^[3].