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Editor's Note: This article was originally published in March 2026 to report the consultation on the proposed amendment to the KECI, and was updated on 28 April 2026 to introduce the finalized version.
On April 28, 2026, by MCEE Announcement No. 2026-103, South Korea's Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE) officially released the partial amendment to the Korean Existing Chemical Inventory (KECI). They took effect immediately. The updates are consistent with the draft for comments in March.
Correcting the name of one previously listed existing chemical (KE-3015).
Modifying the chemical names of two previously listed existing chemicals (Given No. 2010-3-4455 and 2011-3-5317) and assigning CAS numbers to them.
| Given No. | Chemical name and CAS No. (previous) | Chemical name and CAS No. (current) |
KE-03115 | Bis(2,3-epoxypropy)terephthalate | Bis(2,3-epoxypropyl)terephthalate |
2010-3-4455 | 2,2-Dimethyl-1,3-propanediol polymer with 3-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylpropanoic acid, 1,1'-methylenebis[4-isocyanatocyclohexane], 5-isocyanato-1-(isocyanatomethyl)-1,3,3-trimethylcyclohexane, dimethylcarbonate, 1,6-hexanediol and 2-oxepanone | 2,2-Dimethyl-1,3-propanediol polymer with 3-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylpropanoic acid, 1,1'-methylenebis[4-isocyanatocyclohexane], 5-isocyanato-1-(isocyanatomethyl)-1,3,3-trimethylcyclohexane, dimethylcarbonate, 1,6-hexanediol and 2-oxepanone |
2011-3-5317 | N,N-Bis[2-(4-dimethylaminobenzoyl)oxyethyl]-N-methylamine | 1,1'-[(Methylimino)di-2,1-ethanediyl]bis[4-(dimethylamino)benzoate] |
Disclosing specific chemical names for 136 substances whose CBI status has lapsed.
More details can be accessed here.
Previous article issued on May 26, 2026:
On March 26, 2026, South Korea's Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MECC) issued the MCEE Notice No. 2026-296, proposing a partial amendment to the Korean Existing Chemical Inventory (KECI). The regulatory update primarily focuses on disclosing the chemical names of previously protected substances and specifying the CAS numbers of certain existing chemicals that were previously listed in the KECI. The public consultation will conclude on April 16, 2026.
Proposed updates
Under the current chemical regulatory framework, certain substances in the KECI were previously published under generic names because they were granted Confidential Business Information (CBI) protection. Due to the expiration of these data protection periods, the MCEE proposed to disclose specific chemical names for 136 substances whose CBI status has lapsed.
In addition, the MCEE proposes to modify the chemical names of two previously listed substances (Given No. 2010-3-4455 and 2011-3-5317) to accurately reflect their newly assigned CAS numbers (CAS No. 918866-78-1 and 925246-00-0) and corresponding CAS names.
A minor administrative correction is also being applied to one existing substance (KE-03115), correcting its chemical name from 'Bis(2,3-epoxypropy)terephthalate' to 'Bis(2,3-epoxypropyl)terephthalate'.
These changes directly impact chemical manufacturers, importers, and downstream users operating within the South Korean market. Companies handling substances that previously relied on generic names for CBI protection must verify whether their chemicals are among the 136 newly disclosed items. Accurate identification is critical for ongoing compliance, hazard communication, and proper documentation in supply chain operations. Industry stakeholders are invited to review the proposed changes and submit their feedback before the 16 April 2026 deadline.
The draft partial amendment to KECI is available here.
