South Korea to revise circular economy act to further promote product recycling

The Ministry of Environment (MOE) of the South Korea issued a preliminary notice of legislation of a draft Decree partially amending the Presidential Decree on the Act on Promotion of Transition to a Circular Economy Society (hereinafter “Draft”) inviting opinions from the public from August 19 through to September 30, 2024. The partial amendment proposed in the Draft defines the mandates of the law and matters necessary for the implementation thereof upon the full revision of the Framework Act on Resources Circulation into the Act on Promotion of Transition to a Circular Economy Society (Law No. 19208, to be enforced on January 1, 2025). With this, the products and distribution packaging materials subject to the promotion of circular use, the scope of use of sustainable products, and compliance requirements are stipulated.

The major revisions made in the draft rare as follows.