Page 190 - CW E-Magazine (16-4-2024)

Special Report

‘toxic substances’ are divided into (4) There will be a change in regu- accidents where they have informa-
three different groups based on toxicity latory bodies for K-REACH and tion on chemical substances distributed
characteristics, namely acute toxicity K-CCA. While MoE is responsible for in Korea. Some of the responsibilities
for human health, chronic toxicity for developing and implementing policies, will be transferred to NIER for evalu-
human health and ecotoxicity. the National Institute of Environmental ation of testing facilities, development
Research (NIER) plays a crucial role in of alternative testing methods, risk
Such classifi cation will allow a providing scientifi c data and expertise assessment and socio-economic analysis,
more targeted risk assessment and man- to support environmental policy and and management of substances subject
agement strategy by the responsible autho- management. Under K-REACH, NIER to permission, restricted substances and
rity. For acute toxic substances for took on the important role of imple- prohibited substances.
human health the focus will be on the menting and overseeing the chemical
prevention of chemical accidents, while registration and notifi cation process and Key messages
for chronic toxic substances for human managing the protection of confi dential These revisions represent a com-
health the focus will be on the reduc- business information related to hazar- prehensive overhaul of the regulatory
tion of long-term exposure. Substances dous substances. And under K-CCA, framework, introducing new require-
which are toxic to the environment will NIER has the authority to legislate the ments for registration, evaluation, and
be managed by focusing on the reduc- labelling of hazardous substances. This risk management of chemical substances.
tion of environmental release. work will be transferred to the National Furthermore, it aligns South Korea’s
Institute of Chemical Safety (NICS). chemical regulations more closely with
Companies will need to update label- NICS focuses mainly on chemical acci- international standards, facilitating trade
ling and Safety Datasheets (SDS) dent prevention and response; as such while bolstering efforts to address
accordingly and pay attention to the it has a role in facility management emerging risks posed by hazardous
further amendment plan for new facility under K-CCA. In order to ensure con- substances. However, obligations under
standards that will be set under K-CCA, sistency in these tasks and to facilitate K-REACH and K-BPR to register
taking into account the characteristics the use of resources already available, existing substances in line with the
for each group. MoE decided to establish a single point tonnage band related deadlines remain
of contact for all types of chemical unchanged.
(3) Chemical substances without
hazard data are assumed to be hazar- ABout tHe AutHors
dous chemicals until the hazard is classi- Yoojin Kim has fi ve years of experience in scientifi c
fi ed. This is to prevent any health/ and policy research, and approval related to biocides
environmental risks. Hazard data should and consumer chemical product. As a certifi ed industrial
be made available to the supply chain hygienist, she has been involved in projects from various
and in this case it is foreseen to state workplaces and multi-purpose facilities. Since working
‘reason for non-classifi cation’. This at Ramboll Korea she has been involved in various Pro-
approach is in line with the precautionary duct Stewardship such as K-REACH and K-BPR, ESG,
principle, ‘no data, no market’, which Due Diligence, toxicity test monitoring, regulatory
prioritises taking preventive action reviews of various countries and SDS management.
in the face of uncertainty to avoid
potential harm. This change will require Willi Muenninghoff has over 30 years’ experience in the
additional efforts when placing a ‘sub- chemical industry. In his long carrier he has hold positions in
stance without hazard data’ on the R&D, Technical Customer Service and Business Develop-
market to prove that the substance will be ment. At the same time as the EU REACH white book was
safe for users. However, MoE has not published, he moved into Product Compliance in 2006.
yet decided which data will be accepted
as evidence. Industry will not be able Willi has been involved in all sorts of Product Steward-
to make decisions until MoE announces ship topics on an international scale, such as REACH,
the type and quality of data required to GHS, Biocides, Transport classifi cation, import and export regulations. In 2019,
prove ‘non-classifi cation’ and how this he moved to Seoul, South Korea and took on the Role as APAC Director Health
data should be generated, collected and Science at Ramboll in 2021.
evaluated.

190 Chemical Weekly April 16, 2024

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