(1) Reasons for Proposal

The Safety Management of Household Chemical Products and Biocides Act was enacted (Act no. 15511; promulgated on March 20, 2018; to be enforced on January 1, 2019) to prevent safety accidents caused by household chemical products and biocides, and to ensure the safe use of household chemical products and biocides by all members of the public. Accordingly, this enactment prescribes matters delegated by the Act and Presidential Decree to the Ordinance of the Ministry of Environment, and matters necessary for the enforcement thereof.

(2) Major Provisions

A. Risk assessment standards and procedure (Article 4 to Article 5)

Prescribe such matters as the order and priority of risk assessments and information related to chemicals that shall be considered. Specify that a risk assessment plan shall be formulated every year, and that risk assessments shall be conducted according to such plan.

B. Procedures, etc., for controlling household chemical products subject to safety assurance (Article 6 to Article 10)

Prescribe the detailed procedures for obtaining assurance of compliance with safety standards for household chemical products subject to safety assurance; and for post-assurance reporting. Prescribe the detailed procedures for obtaining approval from the Minister of Environment for household chemical products subject to safety assurance for which safety standards have not been announced.

C. Procedures for approval application and assessment, etc., for biocidal substances (Article 12 to Article 17)

Prescribe detailed procedures for the approval, approval for or report on change, and material equivalence recognition, of biocidal substances. List 15 types of biocidal products that may contain biocidal substances.

D. Requirements for safety containers, packaging, and manufacturing/storage facilities of biocidal products (Article 24 to Article 25)

Prescribe the requirements for the safety container and packaging (including child-resistant packaging) of biocidal products. Prescribe the manufacturing/storage facility requirements for persons who have obtained a biocidal product approval.

E. Procedure, etc., for approval application and assessment for biocidal products (Article 26 to Article 31)

Prescribe detailed procedures for the approval, approval for or report on change, and product similarity recognition, of biocidal products.

F. Labeling of biocidal products and biocide-treated products (Article 32 to Article 33)

Add matters to be indicated on the labels of biocidal products, and prescribe requirements for the labeling of biocidal products and biocide-treated products.

G. Disclosure of information on biocidal substances and biocidal products (Article 34)

Allow information on biocidal substances and biocidal products concerning physical/chemical or biological properties, classification and labeling, effectiveness/efficacy, etc., to be disclosed through a website, etc.

H. Restrictions on labeling/advertising (Article 41)

Prescribe that the labeling and advertising of household chemical products subject to safety assurance and biocidal products shall not include such expressions as “harmless,” “non-toxic,” “environmentally friendly,” “human/animal-friendly,” or similar terms.