South Korea consults on labelling of biocidal and household chemical products
South Korea, May 2025 - Ministry of Environment (MOE) has opened a public consultation on proposed amendments to the country’s labelling requirements for biocidal products, signaling a significant compliance update for manufacturers and importers. Launched on 30 May 2025, the consultation runs through 17 June 2025 and applies broadly across the biocides market.
Broader scope, tighter label rules
The draft amendments would affect all biocidal product categories, including disinfectants, insecticides, rodenticides, repellents, wood preservatives, material and surface treatment preservatives, antifouling agents, and preservation products for textiles, leather, construction materials, and equipment.
Under the proposal, biocidal product labels must continue to meet GHS requirements, while also complying with enhanced consumer product labelling rules. For newly marketed biocidal products, companies would be required to disclose:
All chemical substances (ingredients) in the product and their concentrations by weight (%)
Precautionary statements and first-aid instructions
Ingredient names that exactly match those registered in Korea’s Chemical Substance Information System (NCIS)
Where a product triggers seven or more precautionary statements, companies may select a minimum of six, prioritizing those reflecting the highest severity.
In addition, products must display their biocidal approval number—issued upon registration—clearly on the bottom or side of the label.
New rules on layout and grouping
The draft regulation also prescribes how information must be grouped and positioned on labels and packaging. Key product information—such as product name, ingredients, efficacy, target pests, users, and directions for use—must be displayed together, though order may vary. Hazard-related content, including risks, precautionary statements, first aid, and storage and disposal instructions, must also be grouped together.
Child protection warnings must appear on the same side as trademarks or logos, while net weight, package capacity, manufacturer or importer details, and manufacturing or expiry dates may be placed anywhere on the label.
Small labels, special rules
Recognizing space constraints, the MOE proposes revised requirements for small-format labels:
For labels 50–100 cm², mandatory information would include product type, ingredients, child-resistant warnings, hazard pictograms and statements, the biocidal approval number, product name, and the phrase “Be sure to check enclosed documents.”
For labels under 50 cm², chemicals other than the active biocidal ingredient may be disclosed in accompanying documents or on outer packaging instead of the main label.
The draft also standardizes biocidal product type codes, requiring an additional leading zero (e.g., 009 instead of 09) to align with the country’s 15 product type classifications.
Parallel consultation on household chemicals
Separately, the MOE has launched an early May consultation covering household chemical products, formally notifying the World Trade Organization (WTO). This proposal would introduce new precautionary statements for combustion-related products such as air fresheners and scented candles, mandate specific warnings for supplementary humidifiers, and establish labelling standards for products meeting child-protective packaging conditions.
The draft also updates regulatory language to clarify that tattoo inks fall under the authority of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If finalized, these household chemical labelling changes would take effect in July 2026.
What this means for industry
While the proposed amendments aim to bring greater clarity and consistency to Korea’s chemical labelling framework, they are likely to increase compliance costs, particularly for companies needing to redesign labels and manage expanded disclosure obligations. The requirement to list ingredient concentrations may raise concerns around confidential business information and trade secrets, especially for formulated products.
How to submit comments
Stakeholders are invited to submit comments by email:
Biocidal products: namjkim05@korea.kr
Household chemical products: Ihb0502@korea.kr
With the consultation clock ticking, companies operating in or supplying to the Korean market should assess the proposed changes closely and consider engaging before the 17 June 2025 deadline.