South Korea Simplifies Data Requirements for Exemption Confirmation for Non-hazardous R&D Substances

South Korea’s Ministry of Environment (MoE) recently issued the updated Annex 5 (Methods for data preparation for exemption confirmation) of K-REACH Enforcement Rules according to the new amendments that came into force on March 16, 2022 (CL news). 

To relieve the compliance burden on SMEs and motivate R&D, the MoE stipulates that importers in South Korea can apply for the exemption confirmation (exempted from providing chemical name and CAS No.) if the substance/mixture meets the following conditions:

1. Imported<0.1 t/y for R&D purposes;

2. Non-hazardous; and

3. Overseas suppliers who have CBI concerns are unwilling to provide chemical name and CAS No., but the corresponding MSDS is provided.

In addition, the slides for online application procedures as well as 10 FAQs on this issue were released on August 1, 2022. The slides detail the materials required for this kind of exemption confirmation, including:

• Evidence proving that the substance is only used for R&D purposes;

• Letter of Confirmation (LoC) prepared in the form in line with requirements under K-CCA to verify the substance/mixture is not hazardous;

• MSDS prepared in accordance with K-OSHA.