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Editor's Note: This article was originally published in March 2026 to report the consultation on the proposed handling limits for 73 newly designated hazardous substances, and was updated on 7 May 2026 to introduce the finalized version.
On May 6, 2026, by NICS Announcement No. 2026-4, South Korea's National Institute of Chemical Safety (NICS) adopted the partial amendment to 'Annex 2 - Standard handling limits for substances acutely hazardous to human health, substances chronically hazardous to human health, and substances hazardous to the environment' of the Regulations on Standard Handling Limits of Hazardous Chemicals.
According to the Chemical Control Act (K-CCA) and its Enforcement Rules, these handling limits are important criteria for determining what obligations apply. To be specific:
Entities intending to install facilities for handling hazardous substances and entities operating such facilities shall prepare and submit the Chemical Accident Prevention and Management Plan to the MCEE every 5 years if the quantity of a hazardous substance in the workplace exceeds the stipulated upper handling limit.
If the quantity of a hazardous substance exceeds the lower handling limit, the Chemical Accident Prevention and Management Plan is also required when the entity applies for a business operation permit for hazardous substances.
If the quantity of a hazardous substance is below the lower handling limit but exceeds the minimum handling limit, a business operation declaration is required.
The 'Chemical Accident Prevention and Management Plan' is not required if the quantity of a hazardous substance is below its stipulated lower handling limit.
For facilities handling a hazardous substance below the minimum handling limit, installation inspection and regular inspection are exempted.
The finalized partial amendment is available here.
Previous article issued on March 31, 2026:
On March 31, 2026, by NICS Notice No. 2026-04, South Korea's National Institute of Chemical Safety (NICS) proposes an amendment to the Regulations on Standard Handling Limits of Hazardous Chemicals. Comments are welcome before April 15, 2026.
The proposed updates target Annex 2 - Standard handling limits for substances acutely hazardous to human health, substances chronically hazardous to human health, and substances hazardous to the environment of the Regulation. More specifically:
To set the standard handling limits (upper, lower, and minimum) for 73 hazardous substances (Given No. 2026-1-1281 ~ 2026-1-1353), which were newly designated on March 27, 2026 (ChemLinked News).
To set the low-diffusion handling limits for 5 newly designated substances (Given No. 2026-1-1283, 2026-1-1295, 2026-1-1298, 2026-1-1299, and 2026-1-1301) and 2 previously listed hazardous substances (Given No. 2025-1-2529 and 2025-1-1260). That is to say, when the concerned hazardous substances are handled in liquid or solid form, they are considered with a low possibility of diffusion; the prescribed low-diffusion handling limits shall be taken as their standard handling limits.
Screenshot of the draft partial amendment
