South Korea Regulatory News

On November 18, 2025, the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) notified the WTO of a draft revision to the Food Labeling Standards aimed at improving consumer clarity and harmonizing rules w...

On November 18, 2025, the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) notified the WTO of a draft revision to the Food Labeling Standards aimed at improving consumer clarity and harmonizing rules with international guidelines. The amendment focuses on clearer labeling for decaffeinated coffee and stricter requirements for alcoholic beverages that collaborate with non-alcohol food brands. To align with international standards, the MFDS plans to revise how decaffeinated (decaf) coffee can be labeled.

Updated Labelling Rules for Decaffeinated Coffee

• Alignment with global standards for decaffeinated coffee labeling.
• New criteria based on residual caffeine content in coffee beans after the decaffeination process.
• Clarifies the requirements so that only products meeting scientifically defined limits can use “decaffeinated” or “decaf” labeling

Strengthened Labeling Standards for Alcohol Collaboration Products

• Alcoholic collaboration products must clearly display that they are alcoholic beverages on the main label.
• The rule aims to prevent confusion caused by packaging that resembles ordinary snacks, drinks, or other food products.
• Enhanced labeling improves consumer awareness and supports informed purchasing decisions.

Public Feedback

The MFDS invites individuals and organizations to submit opinions regarding the draft amendment by January 6, 2026. The information should include opinions on the proposed changes, as well as the name, and contact information of the respondent.

On August 20, 2025, South Korea announced a revision of the enforcement decree of K-REACH Act (Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemical Substances). The amendment follows the revision of t...

On August 20, 2025, South Korea announced a revision of the enforcement decree of K-REACH Act (Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemical Substances). The amendment follows the revision of the K-REACH Act (Law No. 20860, promulgated on March 25, 2025, and effective from September 26, 2025). The amendment designates the Korea Environmental Preservation Institute (KEPI), as defined under Article 59 of the Framework Act on Environmental Policy, as a newly eligible institution to be entrusted with related governmental tasks under K-REACH.

As a result, this amendment to the Enforcement Decree further specifies KEPI's the scope of responsibilities.

Key Contents

1. Expansion of SME Support Programs (New Subparagraph 7 of Article 29-2): The support scope for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is broadened to include activities aimed at reducing the use of highly hazardous chemical substances, establishing legal grounds for financial and technical support in these areas.
2. Designation of Tasks for KEPI (New Paragraph 7 of Article 31): KEPI will be responsible for:
• Operating and supporting the Information Review Committee under Article 7-1-4
• Conducting preliminary research and reviews for the committee
• Supporting SMEs’ activities to reduce hazardous chemical use as newly established in Article 29-2-7
3. Task Allocation Among Environmental Organizations (New Paragraph 8 of Article 31): The following tasks may be entrusted to KEPI, the Korea Environment Corporation, and the Korea Chemical Management Association:
• Training professionals in chemical management (under Article 42-2-5 of the Act)
• Implementing legal compliance programs, education, and public outreach (under Article 29-2-1 of the Enforcement Decree)

The specific tasks to be assigned will be announced separately through an official notice.

Public Comment Submission

Institutions, organizations, or individuals who wish to express their opinions on this proposed amendment must submit their comments by September 29, 2025, to MoE.

On August 19, 2025, South Korea has announced a proposed revision to the regulation titled "Guidelines on the Preparation of Registration Application Data and Methods for Hazard Assessment" in line wi...

On July 30, 2025, South Korea notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of a proposed revision to the “Labelling Standards for Biocidal Products” under the Consumer Chemical Products and Biocide...

On July 30, 2025, South Korea notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of a proposed revision to the “Labelling Standards for Biocidal Products” under the Consumer Chemical Products and Biocides Safety Control Act. This amendment aims to make safety and usage information more accessible and intuitive for consumers. The proposed changes are designed to simplify and organize labelling contents, improve readability and visual clarity and help consumers quickly grasp the product’s hazards, benefits, and safe usage instructions. 

Key Changes

1. Enhanced Readability for General Consumers

• Greater visibility of product type and safety-related information through clearer formatting.
• Grouping related content together to allow intuitive reading and understanding.

2. Improved Labeling Guidance for Manufacturers and Importers

• Consolidation of overly detailed or duplicate labeling elements.
• Labeling adjustments based on product size or packaging space, differentiating between on-product labels and supplementary documents.
• For dual-use products (both biocidal and consumer chemical products requiring safety verification), redundant labeling will be eliminated.

3. Additional Improvements

• To accommodate a broader range of future product types, approval number formatting will be updated (product type digits: 4 → 5; serial number digits: 4 → 3).
• Introduction of electronic labels (e.g., QR codes) is encouraged to offer extra safety and usage information.

Public Feedback

Individuals or organizations with opinions on the draft regulation may submit their feedback to the Ministry of Environment (Chemical Products Management Division) by June 17, 2025.

On July 29, 2025, the South Korean Government approved amendments to the enforcement decrees of the Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemical Substances (K-REACH) and the Chemical Control Act...

On July 29, 2025, the South Korean Government approved amendments to the enforcement decrees of the Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemical Substances (K-REACH) and the Chemical Control Act (CCA). These updated decrees, overseen by the Ministry of Environment (MoE), will enter into force on August 7, 2025. The revisions aim to strengthen public safety while improving the efficiency of national chemical management systems.

Key Updates under the K-REACH Amendment:

• Hazardous substances will now be categorized into three distinct types: acute human toxicity, chronic human toxicity, and ecotoxicity, replacing the previous single classification system.
• The definition of acute toxic substances is being expanded to include criteria such as skin corrosion (Categories 1B & 1C) and specific target organ toxicity from single exposure (STOT-SE).
• Chemical data disclosure will be expanded for substances not related to business confidentiality, promoting transparency and safe usage.

Key Updates under the CCA Amendment:

• Exemption for consumer-use scenarios: Individuals handling hazardous chemicals for their own personal use, or selling them directly to consumers, will no longer be subject to certain occupational safety requirements such as mandatory protective equipment.
• Delegation of responsibilities: Foreign manufacturers can now appoint local agents to carry out mandatory chemical verification procedures, reducing administrative burdens for importers.

Regulatory Impact:

These amendments aim to balance public health and industry efficiency by applying risk-based management standards and reducing unnecessary compliance burdens. Greater transparency in chemical information is also expected to foster safer chemical use without compromising business trade secrets.

On July 3rd, 2025, South Korea announced a partial amendment of Cosmetic Act, in response to international regulatory trends—such as mandatory cosmetic safety assessments recently adopted in the U....

On July 3rd, 2025, South Korea announced a partial amendment of Cosmetic Act, in response to international regulatory trends—such as mandatory cosmetic safety assessments recently adopted in the U.S. and China. The amendment aims to enhance its cosmetic safety standards to match or exceed global benchmarks.  

Key Contents  

1. Mandatory Cosmetic Safety Assessments 

• Cosmetic manufacturers (responsible sellers) must prepare and retain safety assessment documentation for each product before distribution or sale. 

• Assessments must be reviewed by qualified safety experts. 

• The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) may request submission of safety documents if health risks are suspected. 

• Administrative and financial support will be available to assist companies with compliance. 

2. Establishment of a Cosmetic Safety Information Center 

• MFDS will designate specialized institutions to act as Cosmetic Safety Information Centers, responsible for performing ingredient risk assessment, supporting product safety evaluations, training safety evaluators, conducting testing, R&D, and public education. 

3. Launch of an Integrated Cosmetic Information System 

• A centralized digital platform will be created to manage safety data, covering Ingredient risk assessments and manufacturing, import, and usage records. 

• Public agencies must share relevant data upon request, in compliance with privacy laws. 

4. Penalties & Compliance Measures 

• Companies that fail to prepare or store safety assessments, including those not complying with MFDS submission requests, will face legal penalties. 

• Specific products, such as those marketed for infants or children, will require stricter review. 

Implementation Timeline 

• Law will come into effect one year after promulgation, and enforcement dates may vary by product, based on production volume or market relevance, as determined by Presidential Decree. 

On July 8, 2025, South Korea announced the draft establishment of “Standard Quantity Thresholds for Hazardous Chemicals”.  In response to the overhaul of the toxic substance designation and manag...

On July 8, 2025, South Korea announced the draft establishment of “Standard Quantity Thresholds for Hazardous Chemicals”.  In response to the overhaul of the toxic substance designation and management framework, amendments to the subordinate legislation under the Chemical Substances Control Act are being proposed. The draft introduces specific quantity thresholds for hazardous chemicals, as delegated to the Chemical Safety Agency under Articles 19(2), 19(8), 23(12), 27(1), 27(7), and 29(1) of the enforcement rules. The goal is to establish a clear regulatory basis and update existing thresholds accordingly. 

Key Provisions of the Draft Regulation 

A. Classification-Based Quantity Thresholds 

A new reference table is introduced to determine standard control quantities based on the revised classification system under the Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals. The table covers: 

• Acute toxicity 

• Chronic toxicity 

• Physical and chemical hazards 

• Ecotoxicity 

Each group is assigned upper and lower threshold limits to reflect hazard severity. 

B. Updated and Expanded Quantity Criteria 

Existing quantity thresholds are revised to align with the updated hazard categories (acute, chronic, and ecological). A new minimum control threshold is introduced for lower-risk substances. 

Additional notes include: 

• For substances designated as accident-preparedness substances, specific thresholds listed in Annex 3 will apply. 

• For substances listed as items 282 and 557, if the material is in liquid form under standard conditions, the quantity marked with an asterisk (*) applies. 

• For entries marked ** or ***, the applicable threshold depends on whether the substance is handled in liquid or solid form. 

C. Consolidation of Existing Standards 

The quantity standards currently found in [Annex 3-2] of the enforcement rules will be migrated and integrated into a separate public notice by the Chemical Safety Agency for clarity and unified management. 

Public Comment Submission 

Stakeholders, including institutions, organizations, and individuals, are encouraged to submit feedback on this draft by July 21, 2025. Responses may be submitted online through the National Legislative Participation Center or by sending a written opinion including name, affiliation, contact information, and comments to the Director of the NICS.