South Korea Recommends Formation of Separate Consortiums for Nanomaterial Registration under K-REACH

South Korea follows the definition of nanomaterials under EU REACH and recommends formation of separate consortiums for nanomaterial registration as there are significant differences in the hazardous properties of substances in nanoparticle form. Guidance on nanomaterial registration will be developed after analysis of findings derived from a nanomaterial registration pilot program. The function of forming separate consortiums or nanomaterials has been designed on the CICO platform.

Nanomaterials have been earmarked for special attention by South Korean policymakers due to their widespread use. South Korea’s MoE has advised companies to form separate consortiums during registration of a nanomaterial (see MoE’s notice) as the hazardous properties of a chemical can vary dramatically in nanoparticle form.

The MoE has followed EU REACH regulation to define a nanomaterial under K-REACH as:

(a) A material containing particles where the size of 50% or more of the particles external dimensions is in the size range of 1 to 100 nanometers;
(b) A fullerene, graphene flake, and single-wall carbon nanotube with one or more external dimensions below 1 nanometer.

As previously disclosed, a total of 171,932 pre-registration applications have been submitted for 16,743 chemical substances (CL news). K-REACH requires registrants of the same pre-registered existing chemical substance to join the CICO platform (a SIEF-like platform) and establish a consortium to prepare for joint registration during the corresponding grace period. A special function for forming separate consortiums has been designed for nanomaterials on the platform.

To better identify potential problems and develop supportive measures to promote nanomaterial registration, the MoE is implementing a pilot project. Guidance on nanomaterials will be prepared and issued afterwards.