On May 28, 2021, the South Korean National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) disclosed the required/exempted data items of 20 insecticidal/repelling active substances that have been evaluated internationally and to be approved through a simplified process.

On May 24, 2021, the South Korean National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) disclosed the required/exempted data items of 17 disinfecting active substances that have been evaluated internationally and to be approved through a simplified process.

On May 4, 2021, the South Korean National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) released the verification criteria for covid-19 related disinfecting effect, offering test method and criteria for the recognition and approval of consumer-use covid-19 sterilant/ disinfectant that has not yet included in the Covid-19 disinfection guidelines previously issued by the Ministry of Environment.

On March 30, 2021, the Korean Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI) issued a guidance regarding the selection criteria and data requirements for representative biocidal products (RBP) of biocidal substances to be approved through the simplified process.

On March 8, 2021, the South Korean Ministry of Environment issued the Announcement 2021-139, a draft amendment to the “MoE Notification 2020-117 Designation of Consumer Chemical Products Subject to Safety Verification and Safety and Label Standards”. The biocide part represents the largest changes, namely the abolishment of air-use disinfectants, the establishment of microbial contamination limits and clarification on eligible main substances and limits, as well as the mandatory efficacy test data required for products with biocidal substance claim. A new product category, lubricants will be newly designated as consumer chemical products based on the actual condition investigation and risk assessment. As a result of the respiratory toxicity data recently produced in Korea, Benzalkonium Chloride and Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate will be added to the list of universally prohibited substances in spray-type products.

On February 23, 2021, South Korea announced an amendment to the “List of internationally evaluated biocidal active substances”, a series of substances to be approved through a simplified process with exempted data requirements. Compare to the substances disclosed in September 2020, the total number of active substances increased from 115 to 130 and 24 substances have been excluded due to the absence of evaluation report issued by the US or EU authorities or voluntarily withdrawn/absence of application plan for substance approval.

On Nov 27, 2019, the South Korean Ministry of Environment announced an amendment to the “Designation of Household Chemical Products Subject to Safety Verification and Safety and Labeling Standards”. The main contents in this amendment are to prohibit microbead from household cleaning products, the production and importation of humidifier liquid that added with chemicals and natural extract substance as well as the air filter uses of 5 respiratory-inhibitive substances including Polyhexamethyleneguanidine (PHMG), ethoxyethylguanidine chloride (PGH), poly (hexamethylene biguanide) hydrochloride (PHMB), methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and 5-chloromethylisothiazolinone (CMIT). Red seal ink pads, correction liquid/tape and Fog fluid for performance use are newly designated as the product subject to safety verification and the total number of product items has increased from 35 to 38 and their safety standards are as follows: Item Prohibited Substance Restrictive Substance and Limit Red seal ink pads Arsenic, Cadmium Mercury 500 mg / kg, Lead 500 mg / kg Correction fluids and tapes Benzene, Tetrachloroethylene (TCE)   Fog fluid for performance / Ethylene Glycol 10%, Diethylene Glycol 10% The uses of water-insoluble solid plastics up to 5 micrometers in cleansers, removers, laundry detergents, bleaches and fabric softeners shall be prohibited. In addition, mercury was designated as the prohibited substance in 4 types of biocidal products including fungicides, algaecides, insect repellents and wood preservatives and the tolerance limit will be 1 mg/kg. The designation of household chemical products subject to safety verification and safety and labeling standards is an important component of Korean biocide regulation, “Law 15511-Act on the

On March 20, 2018, the South Korean government officially promulgated law No. 15511 (K-BPR), which will be officially put into effect on January 1, 2019, with a sub-decree to be issued in December. On September 3, 2018, the Ministry of Environment (MoE) of South Korea held a seminar to assist with the interpretation of K-BPR and to discuss implementation details. The first Biocidal Substance Information Exchange Forum (Biocidal SIEF) was officially held on September 20-21, 2018. Biocidal SIEF is a voluntary organization of manufacturers and importers in Korea which participate in the regulatory implementation. The seminar and SIEF outlined the main K-BPR concerns put forward by companies, and MoE provided valuable answers.