In January, 2026, the Korea National Institute of Chemical Safety (NICS) released Announcement No. 2026-1, formally revising the Chemical Hazard Assessment Results. The update was carried out in accordance with the procedures set out under the Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals (K-REACH). The revision is intended to ensure the timely disclosure of hazard assessment outcomes for registered substances and to update information for chemicals whose data protection periods have lapsed, thereby strengthening transparency in chemical management and safeguarding public health.
Key Revisions
The amendment primarily involves four main aspects:
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Addition of Newly Assessed Substances:
Hazard assessment results for 56 substances that have completed evaluation have been newly included in Appendix 2 (Existing Chemical Substances) of the Announcement. Each listing provides the assigned registration number, chemical name, CAS number, and indicates whether the substance is classified as hazardous, along with its specific classification and labelling, physicochemical characteristics, and detailed hazard information.
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Update to Existing Substance Data:
Using newly obtained scientific data, the hazard profiles of five chemical substances already recorded in Appendix 2 have been revised and updated.
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Release of Completed Assessment Inventory:
In line with standard procedures, an updated list of all substances that have completed hazard assessment has been published. This list includes essential details such as substance names (and CAS numbers), classification regarding human health hazards, and key hazard characteristics.
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Disclosure Following Data Protection Expiry:
With the expiration of the legally mandated data protection period (ending in 2024), the chemical names and CAS numbers of 67 previously confidential new substances have now been made public in Appendix 1 (New Chemical Substances). In addition, corrected information for two substances previously announced in duplicate has also been disclosed.
Compliance Implications
Companies are advised to promptly review the published appendices to determine whether any substances they manufacture, import, or use are included and to confirm any updated hazard classifications. If a substance has been newly designated as hazardous or its classification has been revised, corresponding Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and product labels must be updated without delay to maintain compliance with South Korea’s chemical management requirements.
