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On May 19, 2026, by NICS Notice No. 2026-42, South Korea's National Institute of Chemical Safety (NICS) announced a proposed partial amendment to the Regulations on Specific Handling Standards for Hazardous Chemicals. The proposed updates aim to establish specific safety guidelines for 74 newly designated hazardous substances (possessing Skin Corrosive Cat. 1B or 1C) and to enhance the handling protocols for Carbon Monoxide.
Background
Under the Chemicals Control Act (K-CCA), the term 'Hazardous Chemicals' refers to 'Substances Acutely Hazardous to Human Health', 'Substances Chronically Hazardous to Human Health', 'Substances Hazardous to the Environment', and 'Accident Precaution Substances'. According to Article 13-6 of K-CCA, anyone who handles hazardous chemicals shall comply with the safety management standards specified in Annex 1 of the K-CCA Enforcement Rules. Specific handling standards for each hazardous chemical are clarified in Annex 1 of the Regulations on Specific Handling Standards for Hazardous Chemicals. This time, the proposed updates focus on detailing specific handling standards and recommendations for 74 newly designated hazardous chemicals (read more) and Carbon Monoxide. The proposed updates are necessary to bolster safety measures for high-risk chemicals.
Proposed Updates
New Standards for Corrosive Substances: The establishment of specific handling standards for 74 newly designated hazardous chemicals (Given No. 2026-1281 ~ Given No. 2026-1354) due to their skin corrosive properties (Hazard Category 1B/1C). Details are highlighted in blue in the draft amendment.
Updated Protocols for Carbon Monoxide: An update to the handling standards for Carbon Monoxide (Given No. 2023-1-1123), which officially adds a mandatory "pre-handling risk verification" checkpoint to the existing safety requirements. More specifically, handling operations shall be conducted only under safe conditions—specifically, after verifying detection and alarm systems prior to handling, such as during the maintenance or repair of handling facilities where exposure is possible.
This draft partial amendment is currently open for public consultation. The NICS is actively soliciting feedback from industry stakeholders, organizations, and individuals. Interested parties are encouraged to submit their formal opinions—detailing their support or opposition along with corresponding reasoning—to the NICS Chemical Accident Investigation and Analysis Team. Comments can be submitted via email, postal mail, or fax. Following the conclusion of the public consultation period and subsequent reviews, the finalized handling standards will be officially promulgated by the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment (MCEE).
