K-BPR Verification for Consumer Chemical Products and Its Impact on Foreign Manufacturers
Consumer Chemical Products and Biocides Safety Control Act, also known as K-BPR, was introduced in 2019 to protect human health and the environment by regulating both biocides and consumer chemical products used in households and workplaces. For companies planning to manufacture and export consumer chemical products into South Korea, understanding and complying K-BPR Safety Verification is essential.
In principle, K-BPR establishes two distinct regulatory frameworks:
- Approval system for biocidal substances and products, and
- Safety verification system for consumer chemical products.
In this article, we will focus on consumer chemical products subject to safety verification, specifically on what foreign manufacturers must know to successfully bring such products into the Korean market and how REACHLaw Korea could provide support along the way.
What is Consumer Chemical Products Subject to Safety Verification?
Consumer Chemical Products are the products used in everyday living spaces such as houses, offices, or public use facilities. After conducting fact-finding survey and risk assessments, the Ministry of Environment officially designates products deemed to be risky as “subject to verification”. These are everyday products such as detergents, fabric softeners, air fresheners, or others that due to their composition or intended use, may cause chemical exposure to users or the environment. Once designated, these products must comply with the following requirements before the products can be placed on the Korean market:
- Conduct safety testing/inspection through a designated laboratory in Korea.
- Submit a testing/inspection report along with other requirements, such as full list of ingredients, specifications on products, etc.,to the Ministry of Environment.
- Comply with labeling standards.
- Renew verification every three years.
What happens if you don’t comply?
For foreign manufacturers, failing to comply would cause logistical problems. Consumer chemical products without safety verification will be denied for entry at Korean Customs. Importer in Korea will be required to return the product to its country of origin. This can result in delays, financial loss, and damage to your market reputation.
Expected challenges for foreign manufacturers
Unlike biocidal substances and products and REACH-like regulations, a foreign manufacturer cannot appoint only representative to receive verification for consumer chemical products. Foreign manufacturers must work directly through their importers as importers need to submit all the required documents to the authority, including the screening of full ingredients information to check if they are subject to regulation. This has left concern for companies outside Korea, particularly those concerned with maintaining confidentiality on ingredients information. While the system allows foreign manufacturers to submit ingredients information via the portal, this does not ensure full confidentiality, as information such as main substances and regulated components must still be shared with importers and designated laboratories. For companies concerned about protecting sensitive business information, this presents a challenge.
How REACHLaw Korea could support overseas manufacturers planning to proceed with safety verification
REACHLaw Korea provides a tailored representative submission service, acting as a trusted partner between the foreign supplier and the Korean authority.
Our service includes:
- Keep the business information confidential
- Communication with the authorities and the designated laboratories on behalf of the foreign manufacturers
- Make sure the client is informed with the latest changes in regulation
If your company is planning to export consumer chemical products to Korea, understanding and meeting the requirements for K-BPR is essential. REACHLaw Korea provides a practical solution that ensures compliance while safeguarding your trade secrets to allow your access in the Korean market.
Please contact us at kreach@reachlaw.fi or sales@reachlaw.fi