Korea proposes to apply different management standards depending on toxicity and handling volume of toxic substances

On December 8, 2022, the Ministry of Environment of Korea announced a proposal to amend the designated management system for toxic substances, with different control standards applied depending on the toxicity and handling volume. In the current regulations, the same standards apply to facilities handling toxic substances regardless of the toxicity, but the proposed changes divide the hazards of toxic substances into “acute”, “chronic” or “ecotoxic” and apply different management standards. The Ministry plans to prepare a draft revision of the Chemicals Control Act (CCA) and the Act on Registration and Evaluation, etc. of Chemicals (K-REACH) by August 2023, in accordance with the contents of the amendment plan.