South Korea bans the sale and distribution of unapproved biocidal products and tightens restrictions on misleading labeling and advertising

On June 28, 2026, South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE) announced that, effective July 1, 2026, it would prohibit the sale and distribution of unapproved biocidal products following the expiry of their applicable approval deferment periods under the Consumer Chemical Products and Biocides Safety Control Act (K-BPR). It also announced restrictions on labeling and advertising that could lead consumers to mistake ordinary products for biocidal products or treated articles (i.e., articles treated with or incorporating biocidal products).