Korea and GHS
While the adoption of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for the classification and labeling of chemical hazards in many countries and regions has resulted in only criteria to be used for hazard classification, or in some cases an ‘advisory’ list of official classifications, some countries, such as the Republic of Korea have published an official list of hazard classifications that must be assigned to any chemical substance manufactured or imported into Korea.
NIER Updates
Korea’s National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) recently published several updates to its official list of GHS classifications, which include the addition of 38 new chemical substances to the list, as well as updates to the previous classification of three substances already on the list.
Implications for Manufacturers and Importers to Korea
If you manufacture or import chemical substances to Korea, you must now use the official hazard classifications adopted by NIER, even if those classifications conflict with the classification assigned under another jurisdiction’s criteria (e.g. US OSHA, EU CLP, etc.). As a result, manufacturers and importers may be required to reclassify their substances and mixtures, resulting in revisions to both Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and product labeling.
Whether you’re looking for guidance on how to prepare SDS for your shipments to Korea or other global markets, or you simply need assistance with other chemical compliance matters, Global Safety Management and its team of experts is here to help. Questions? Contact us today!
