[Background]
1. To prevent accidents similar to the humidifier disinfectant incident, the "Act on the Safety Management of Household Chemical Products and Biocidal Products" (hereinafter referred to as the Chemical Products Safety Act), implemented since 2019, is approaching the expiration of the approval grace period for biocidal products (December 31, 2025). Therefore, some improvements are needed in the current labeling regulations for biocidal products regarding specific labeling methods.
2. Due to content redundancy and disorderly presentation of labeling information on biocidal products, there is a concern that the readability of the labeling will be low, leading to consumer inconvenience and confusion. Therefore, government intervention is needed to provide standards and methods for intuitive and efficient communication of product information and safe usage during product purchase and handling.
[Regulatory Content]
- Introduction of specific labeling methods for the exterior labeling of biocidal products.
① Improving Readability of Labeling Information for General Consumers
- Emphasize the labeling of "Biocidal Products" and product types (e.g., Biocidal Product (Disinfectant)).
- Items such as 'dosage and usage', 'precautions', and 'emergency measures', which need to be checked immediately when using the product, should be highlighted differently from other items for better visibility.
*This can be done by using bold text in a box of a different color (e.g., yellow box), underlining, or changing the font color to increase readability and intuitive information delivery.
-Separate 'emergency treatment' and 'storage and disposal methods' from the existing 'product safety and hazard' category to clearly list them as separate items.
-Improve the arrangement of labeling items, which were previously listed without criteria, by grouping related items together and allowing for flexible placement based on the label area or layout.
**Examples: △ Approval information, usage information, safety and hazard information → grouped together △ Child protection packaging → main label area △ Others → flexible placement
② Enhancing Understanding of Labeling Methods for Manufacturers and Importers and Improving Delivery Efficiency
- Consolidate items and terms that may be excessively subdivided or redundant.
**Examples: △ ‘Manufacturer’, ‘Address’, ‘Contact Info’ → Manufacturer/Importer Information, △ ‘Biocidal Substances’, ‘Nanomaterials’, ‘Other Chemicals’ → Chemicals Used in the Product, △ ‘Standard Dosage’, ‘Usage Instructions’ → Dosage and Usage.
- Adjust labeling items for small or low-capacity products according to the size of the label area on the product and the attached documents (or packaging).
**However, previously recommended phrases (e.g., “Please refer to the attached document”) must be made mandatory.
- For combined products that are both 'Biocidal Products' and 'Safety-Confirmed Household Chemical Products', ensure that the same labeling information is not repeated.
③ Other Matters
- Allow containers, packaging, and attached documents with previously labeled information to be used until stock is depleted (transitional provision, Article 2 of the notification).
- Adjust the approval number format (expand product type digits from 4 to 5 and reduce serial number digits from 4 to 3) to ensure flexibility as product types increase.
**Example: (Existing) XXXX-XXXX (4-4) → (Revised) XXXXX-XXX (5-3) (Total of 8 digits remains the same).
- Encourage the use of electronic labels (e.g., QR codes) for providing additional safety usage information.
