South Korea’s MoE Updates Safety and Labeling Standards for Risk Concerned Products

The Ministry of Environment issued the updated version of the Designation of Risk Concerned Products and the Safety and Labeling Standards (hereafter referred to as the Standards) to specify the safety and labeling criteria for high risk products, as well as threshold for substance content allowed for each product, etc. It came into effect on 22 Aug 2017.

South Korea is strengthening control on spray products after the “humidifier incidents” which was associated with lung disease and deaths in South Korea. Lists of approved biocidal active substances are newly incorporated into the standards for spray cleaners, air fresheners and deodorants respectively, along with the percentage threshold for using the allowed biocidal active substances. There are

• 26 approved biocidal active substances for cleaners (download)

• 23 approved biocidal active substances for air fresheners (download)

• 22 approved biocidal active substances for deodorants (download)

Manufacture or importation of risk concerned products requires product testing in one of the 8 qualified labs every three years to verify compliance with the safety standards and keep testing reports for inspections. For products containing biocidal active substances already on the market, a grace period for testing can be granted by submitting a proposed testing plan to the MoE before 22 August 2018. However, if a product contains a biocidal active substance which is not on the white list, the manufacturer must submit data before use for safety assessment by the MoE in advance.

In addition, 5 products are newly designated by MoE as risk concerned products, including

• Windshield washer fluids for automobiles

• Engine antifreeze coolants

• Dehumidifying agent for home use

• Candle

• Gap and crack fillers

So far the standards include six categories covering a total of 23 kinds of risk concerned products as below.

According to MoE’s press release, the authority set out a timetable for full compliance with the updated safety and labeling standards of the above mentioned products.

• Spray cleaners, air fresheners, deodorants and gap and crack fillers: 22 Feb 2018 for safety standards, 29 Jun 2018 for labeling standards

• Windshield washer fluids for automobiles: 30 Dec 2017 for safety and labeling standards

• Engine antifreeze coolants: 29 Jun 2018 for safety and labeling standards

• Dehumidifying agent for home use and candle: 30 Dec 2017 for safety standards, 29 Jun 2018 for labeling standards