South Korea Updates MSDS Requirements Under MoEL Notice

South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor (MoEL) has introduced revised requirements for the preparation of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) through Notice No. 2025-50, strengthening chemical regulatory disclosure obligations under the country’s occupational and environmental safety framework.

The revised standards officially took effect on August 7, 2025, and include new obligations related to the Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals (K-REACH).

Key Change: K-REACH Information Now Mandatory in Section 15

The most significant amendment requires companies to include K-REACH regulatory information within Section 15 (Regulatory Status) of the MSDS.

Previously, Section 15 covered regulatory controls under laws such as:

  • Occupational Safety and Health Act
  • Chemicals Control Act
  • Dangerous Substances Safety Management Act
  • Wastes Control Act

Other domestic and foreign regulations

Under the revised format, companies must now specifically disclose:

  • Control status under the Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals (K-REACH)
  • This addition is intended to improve communication regarding substances with unconfirmed or evolving hazard profiles regulated under South Korea’s chemical management system.

Transition Timeline for Industry

The revised requirements introduce a phased implementation schedule:

  • MSDS prepared before June 30, 2026 may continue using the previous format
  • From July 1, 2026, all newly prepared or revised MSDS documents must follow the updated structure

This transition period gives manufacturers, importers, and downstream users additional time to update internal compliance systems.

Compliance Implications for Companies

To comply with the amended standards, companies operating in South Korea or exporting chemicals into the Korean market may need to:

  • Review and reorganize MSDS preparation procedures
  • Update regulatory tracking systems for K-REACH obligations
  • Revise existing MSDS templates and databases
  • Monitor whether substances require new MSDS preparation or amendments

The revision is expected to particularly affect:

  • Chemical manufacturers
  • Industrial importers
  • Raw material suppliers
  • Electronics and specialty chemical sectors
  • Companies managing multilingual global SDS systems

Regulatory Significance

The amendment reflects South Korea’s continued efforts to strengthen chemical hazard communication and align workplace safety disclosures with broader environmental chemical regulations.

By incorporating K-REACH information directly into MSDS documentation, regulators aim to improve transparency regarding chemical registration and hazard management obligations across the supply chain.

FAQ’s

  • What is changing in South Korea’s MSDS requirements?
  • Companies must now include K-REACH regulatory information in Section 15 of Material Safety Data Sheets.
  • When do the revised rules become mandatory?
  • The revised format becomes mandatory for newly prepared or updated MSDS from July 1, 2026.
  • Why is the K-REACH addition important?
  • It improves communication of chemical regulatory status and supports better hazard transparency under South Korea’s chemical management system.
  • Which industries are most affected?
  • Chemical manufacturers, importers, industrial suppliers, and companies managing regulated substances in South Korea.

Source:Thailand EV Label Rule

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