The Ministry of the Environment (MOE) published an amended version of the Act for the Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals (K-REACH) enforcement decree and enforcement rules, which have both entered into force. The amendments include some exemptions from reporting for new chemicals, and an extended 14-day grace period for substances used only for research and development (R&D) purposes. The final amendments do not include a proposal to remove a provision that states quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) data can be used only for substances imported or manufactured in volumes below ten tonnes per year. This means these restrictions are still in place. To help small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) with their increasing obligations, the enforcement decree stipulates that MOE will provide:
- Administrative, technical, and financial support;
- Education and promotion of related law; and
- Research support in finding alternative technologies to hazardous chemicals.