Reason for Amendment

• The amendment to the Act on Registration, Evaluation, etc. of Chemicals (Law No. 20232, promulgated on February 6, 2024, and effective on August 7, 2025) removes the definition of toxic substances and introduces new definitions for acute human toxicity substances, chronic human toxicity substances, and ecological toxicity substances. This amendment aims to establish the criteria for the designation of harmful substances and address other matters delegated by the law and necessary for its implementation.
  
  

Key Points
a. Establishment of Criteria for Harmful Substances

• With the introduction of new definitions for acute human toxicity substances, chronic human toxicity substances, and ecological toxicity substances, criteria for the designation of harmful substances (Article 3 and Appendix 1) are established.
  
  

b. Addition of the Basis for the Establishment of a Toxicity Evaluation Committee

• The amendment adds the legal basis for forming a toxicity evaluation committee within the Chemical Substance Evaluation Committee under Article 7 of the law (Article 7).
  
  

c. Reflection of Terminology Changes Due to the Amendment

• Terminology changes are incorporated in the following articles: Article 11, Article 20-2, Article 27, and Article 31.
  
  

d. Addition of Chemicals Requiring Toxicity Evaluation

• Under the new Article 19-3 (Review of submitted chemical substance data), and the amendment of Article 42 (Public Disclosure of Chemical Substance Information), chemicals recognized as requiring toxicity evaluation are added to the list (Article 16).
  
  

e. Amendment of the Scope of Publicly Disclosable Information Despite Data Protection Requests

• In accordance with Article 45 of the law (Data Protection), the scope of publicly disclosable information is revised, even if data protection is requested (Article 30).

• This includes the public disclosure of use classifications, registration formats, and summary data on toxicity, irrespective of trade secrets under the Unfair Competition Prevention Act.
  
  

f. Delegation of Authority and Commissioning of Duties

• Amendments are made to the delegation of authority and the outsourcing of duties (Article 31).

• The authority for receiving reports regarding appointments or dismissals under Article 38(2) is consolidated under Korea Environment Corporation, replacing multiple entities (National Institute of Environmental Research, Chemical Substance Safety Agency, Local Environmental Offices).

• The authority for issuing reporting and data submission orders, as well as inspection and access rights under Article 43(1), is also consolidated under Local Environmental Offices.