South Korea: the First MSDS Submission Deadline is Approaching

The latest OSHA amendments were published in 2019 by the Ministry of Employment of Labor (MoEL). Under the requirements of the 2019 OSHA Amendments, chemical manufacturers and importers in South Korea are obligated to prepare safety data sheets complying with Korean GHS standards for chemicals meet GHS hazard criteria, and submit the safety data sheets to the MoEL before manufacturing or importing.

The amendments have set transitional periods for enterprises that previously prepared an SDS in accordance with Article 41(1) or (6) of the former K-OSHA Act. Those meeting the exception may submit the SDS to MoEL within specified deadlines based on manufacture or importation volumes. Details are as follows:

• ≥ 1000tpa : Before 16 Jan. 2022;
• 100-1000tpa: Before 16 Jan. 2023;
• 10-100tpa: Before 16 Jan. 2024;
• 1-10tpa: Before 16 Jan. 2025;
• <1tpa: Before 16 Jan. 2026;

Manufacturers and importers in South Korea may login the Korea MSDS System  (https://msds.kosha.or.kr), and submit the Korean MSDS online. Then they will receive a MSDS No. issued by the Korean authority. Overseas enterprises are cannot submit MSDS directly. They shall entrust a Korea-based Only Representative (OR) in South Korea to submit MSDS on their behalf.

The MSDS No. shall be marked on the top of the first page of every MSDS documents. In case the major information in the MSDS, such as the product information, hazard category and the supplier are changed, the MSDS submitted shall be amended accordingly.

The first submission deadline for Korean MSDS is now approaching. CIRS warmly reminds that enterprises exporting chemicals meet hazard criteria to South Korea shall pay attention to the updates to chemical regulations in South Korea and submit the MSDS in time to avoid incompliance situations.

If you have any needs or questions, please contact us at service@cirs-group.com.

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