"active substance" means any chemical substance, natural substance, or microbe used to remove, render harmless, or inhibit any harmful organism
"Biocidal product" means any product with the main purpose of removal, etc. of harmful organisms
"Treated article" means any product in which a biocidal product has been used for an ancillary purpose of removal, etc. of harmful organisms other than the main function of the product
"Existing active substance" refers to a substance contained in biocidal products or treated articles that were distributed in South Korea before December 31, 2018.
Existing active substances that have been reported are designated and announced as biocidal substances subject to an approval grace period based on their hazard and risk assessment (Article 18, Paragraph 3 of the Act)
The approval grace period is determined within a maximum of 10 years, taking into account factors such as hazard, risk, and biocidal product type (Enforcement Decree, Article 14)
If designated as an existing biocidal substance subject to an approval grace period, manufacturing or importation is allowed during the approval grace period without obtaining substance approval.
Key Amendments
Additional designation of existing biocidal substances subject to an approval grace period: 3 cases
Additional designation of approved biocidal substances: 6 cases
Following the partial amendment to the designation of existing biocidal substances subject to the approval grace period announced on February 3, 2025, the reported existing biocidal substances have been additionally designated as biocidal substances subject to the approval grace period.
Effective Date: February 3, 2025
Regulatory Overview
"active substance" means any chemical substance, natural substance, or microbe used to remove, render harmless, or inhibit any harmful organism
"Biocidal product" means any product with the main purpose of removal, etc. of harmful organisms
"Treated article" means any product in which a biocidal product has been used for an ancillary purpose of removal, etc. of harmful organisms other than the main function of the product
"Existing active substance" refers to a substance contained in biocidal products or treated articles that were distributed in South Korea before December 31, 2018.
Existing active substances that have been reported are designated and announced as biocidal substances subject to an approval grace period based on their hazard and risk assessment (Article 18, Paragraph 3 of the Act)
The approval grace period is determined within a maximum of 10 years, taking into account factors such as hazard, risk, and biocidal product type (Enforcement Decree, Article 14)
If designated as an existing biocidal substance subject to an approval grace period, manufacturing or importation is allowed during the approval grace period without obtaining substance approval.
Key Amendments
Additional designation of existing biocidal substances subject to an approval grace period: 3 cases
Additional designation of approved biocidal substances: 6 cases
Official Amendment Document: