***K-REACH, Chemicals Control Act (CCA), and Chemical Labeling Requirements***

One of the most common questions we receive from overseas chemical manufacturers is:

“Can we simply ship our products to Korea with an English label?”

To answer this, it is important to understand the two major Korean chemical regulations:

  • K-REACH (Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals)
  • Chemicals Control Act (CCA)

Although both are administered by the Korean Ministry of Environment (MOE), they regulate completely different aspects of chemical compliance.

What is K-REACH?

K-REACH (Korea REACH) is Korea’s equivalent of the European Union’s REACH Regulation.

Its purpose is to ensure that chemicals entering the Korean market have been properly evaluated for their effects on human health and the environment.

Simply put,

K-REACH regulates whether a chemical can legally be manufactured or imported into Korea.

Main Requirements

Companies may need to:

  • Register existing substances
  • Notify or register new substances
  • Submit hazard and exposure data
  • Complete risk assessments
  • Provide technical dossiers

Who is responsible for K-REACH?

Compliance may be handled by:

  • Korean manufacturers
  • Korean importers
  • An Only Representative (OR) appointed by an overseas manufacturer

For foreign suppliers, appointing an OR is often the preferred option.

The OR is usually a Korean regulatory consulting company that submits the registration on behalf of the overseas manufacturer.

Why appoint an OR?

K-REACH registration requires detailed information about the chemical composition.

Many manufacturers prefer not to disclose their full formulation to every Korean customer.

By appointing an OR, confidential composition data remains between the manufacturer and the OR, while multiple Korean importers can import the same registered substance without conducting separate registrations.

This not only protects confidential business information but also simplifies regulatory compliance for Korean customers.

What is the Chemicals Control Act (CCA)?

The Chemicals Control Act regulates how hazardous chemicals are managed after they have entered Korea.

Unlike K-REACH, it does not determine whether a chemical can be imported.

Instead, it focuses on preventing:

  • Chemical accidents
  • Environmental pollution
  • Worker exposure
  • Chemical leaks and spills

In other words,

CCA regulates the safe storage, handling, transportation, and use of hazardous chemicals within Korea.

Main Requirements under the Chemicals Control Act

Depending on the chemical classification, companies may need to:

  • Identify whether the substance is regulated as a hazardous chemical
  • Store chemicals according to Korean regulations
  • Follow handling requirements
  • Prepare emergency response procedures
  • Report handling quantities
  • Meet facility requirements
  • Prepare accident prevention plans (where applicable)

The exact obligations depend on the type of chemical and the quantities handled.

Who Must Comply?

Typically:

  • Importers
  • Distributors
  • Chemical users
  • Warehouses
  • Logistics companies
  • Waste management companies

Example

Suppose a Korean company imports Nitric Acid.

The substance may already have been registered under K-REACH.

However, after importation, the importer must also comply with the Chemicals Control Act by:

  • Storing the product correctly
  • Following workplace handling requirements
  • Preparing emergency procedures
  • Reporting handling quantities where required
  • Meeting storage facility requirements

K-REACH vs. Chemicals Control Act

ItemK-REACHChemicals Control Act
Korean Name화평법화관법
Official NameAct on the Registration and Evaluation of ChemicalsChemicals Control Act
PurposeRegistration before market entrySafe management after import
FocusRegistration and evaluationStorage, handling, transportation
Applies toManufacturers, Importers, ORAnyone handling hazardous chemicals
AuthorityMinistry of EnvironmentMinistry of Environment
TimingBefore manufacture/importAfter import during handling and storage

Who Does What?

Foreign Manufacturer

May:

  • Appoint an Only Representative
  • Provide composition information
  • Support K-REACH registration
  • Supply compliant SDSs

Korean Importer

Responsible for:

  • Import compliance
  • K-REACH registration (unless covered by an OR)
  • Compliance with the Chemicals Control Act
  • Reporting obligations where applicable

Distributor

Generally responsible for:

  • Product traceability
  • Supplying SDSs
  • Proper labeling where applicable

Chemical User

Responsible for:

  • Safe storage
  • Proper handling
  • Compliance with Chemicals Control Act requirements

So, what are the labeling requirements?

Now let’s return to the original question.

Can chemicals be sold in Korea with only an English label?

The answer is generally No, particularly for hazardous chemicals.

While customs authorities do not usually inspect products specifically for Korean workplace labels during import clearance, companies handling chemicals in Korea must comply with Korean hazard communication requirements.

For hazardous chemicals supplied in Korea, labels generally need to comply with the Korean GHS (Globally Harmonized System), including:

  • Product identifier
  • Supplier information
  • Hazard pictograms
  • Signal word
  • Hazard statements
  • Precautionary statements

These hazard communication elements are generally required in Korean.

Therefore, a label displaying only the product name in English is generally not sufficient for workplace compliance in Korea.

However, this does not necessarily mean that the Korean-compliant label must be attached by the overseas manufacturer before export. In many cases, the Korean importer or distributor prepares and attaches the required Korean GHS label after the product arrives in Korea, before it is supplied to workplaces or placed on the Korean market.

What about Hazardous Materials under the Fire Services Act?

Some chemicals are also classified as Hazardous Materials under the Korean Fire Services Act.

For these products, additional identification—such as the applicable Petroleum Class (Class I–IV) or other hazardous material classification—may be required for storage and facility management.

This requirement is separate from K-REACH and depends on the chemical’s physical hazards.

A Simple Way to Remember

Think of the regulations like this.

K-REACH asks:

“Can this chemical legally enter the Korean market?”

Chemicals Control Act asks:

“Now that the chemical is in Korea, how should it be safely stored, handled, and managed?”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can a foreign manufacturer complete K-REACH directly?

Usually, foreign manufacturers appoint an Only Representative (OR) in Korea to complete the registration.

Does K-REACH require disclosure of the chemical composition?

Yes. Registration requires detailed substance information. Many overseas manufacturers therefore appoint an OR to protect confidential formulation information.

Does CCA affect customs clearance?

Not directly.

CCA mainly regulates how chemicals are stored, transported, and handled after they enter Korea.

Can chemicals be imported with English labels only?

For hazardous chemicals intended for use in Korea, Korean GHS labeling is generally required to comply with workplace chemical regulations but this could be done by the Korean importer before the product is supplied or used.

Conclusion

K-REACH and the Chemicals Control Act regulate different stages of a chemical’s lifecycle.

  • K-REACH determines whether a chemical can legally enter the Korean market.
  • The Chemicals Control Act governs how hazardous chemicals are safely managed after importation.

For overseas manufacturers and exporters, understanding both regulations helps avoid shipment delays, compliance issues, and unnecessary regulatory costs.

If you are planning to export chemicals to Korea, it is advisable to review your products under both regulations before shipment.

Conclusion

Many overseas manufacturers choose to appoint an Only Representative (OR) in Korea to simplify K-REACH compliance while protecting confidential formulation information.

However, responsibilities under the Chemicals Control Act generally remain with the Korean importer or company handling the chemicals, since those obligations apply after the products enter Korea.