South Korea to designate xylene, styrene, and 1,3-butadiene as “accident preparedness substances” 
The Ministry of Environment (MOE) of South Korea has announced a draft regulation under the Chemicals Control Act, as amended in February 2024, to newly designate xylene, styrene, and 1,3-butadiene as “accident preparedness substances.” The draft also stipulates that such designations will be made via notifications issued by the National Institute of Chemical Safety (NICS), rather than the MOE.
Background
Under the 2024 revision of the Chemicals Control Act, chemical substances previously managed collectively as “toxic substances” will now be classified into three categories: substances with acute toxicity to human health, substances with chronic toxicity to human health, and substances with ecological toxicity. Different management standards will apply to each category. The revised Act is scheduled to take effect on August 7, 2025.
