2023–2024 Global Chemical Regulatory Updates: K-REACH, UK REACH, KKDIK, China, US TSCA, And Beyond

Introduction

Global chemical regulations are rapidly evolving, reflecting advances in science, harmonization of international standards, and cross-border safety management. This blog provides a comprehensive overview of the 2023–2024 updates across major jurisdictions:

• South Korea (K-REACH & K-OSHA)
• Turkey (KKDIK)
• China (MEE, IECSC, triethanolamine guidance)
• European Union (ECHA SVHC updates)
• United States (TSCA, PBT, PFAS, CBI, SNURs)
• New Zealand
• Latin America (Chile, Colombia, Brazil)
• United Kingdom (UK REACH & ATRm)

This guidance is exclusively prepared by Maven Regulatory Solutions for regulatory affairs teams, manufacturers, and importers seeking strategic compliance advice and actionable insights.

South Korea — K-REACH Updates (2023–2024)

Pre-Registrations and Key Statistics (as of 31 Dec 2023):

 Phase-In Registration Deadlines:

2024–2025 K-REACH Amendments:

• New Chemical Notification Threshold: <0.1 t/y → <1 t/y, with public disclosure & authority review
• Three “Differentiated Management” Categories:
  • Human acute hazard
  • Human chronic hazard
  • Environmental hazard (aquatic focus)
• Export Exemption Revision: Quantity released to Korean market must be registered; export-exempt quantity requires approval

South Korea — K-OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health)

MSDS Trade-Secret Protection and CBI Submission:

MSDS Submission Deadlines (CBI for Existing Products):

Turkey — KKDIK

Registration Highlights:

• Optional importer info; CSR can be submitted in English with Turkish translation within 1 year
• Registrant Identity & Registration Number may be claimed as CBI
• Online KKS system using IUCLID format

Deadline Table (Amended 23 Dec 2023):

China — MEE, IECSC & Triethanolamine

2023 New Pollutants List (Effective 1 Mar 2023):

• Total 14 controlled pollutants: 10 POPs, 2 toxic/harmful, 1 endocrine disruptor, antibiotics
• Strict manufacturing, processing, use, import/export restrictions
• IECSC Inventory: ~50,000 chemicals
• Comparison: US TSCA ~86,000, EU EINECS/ELINCS/NLP ~100,000+
• New-Use Management: All IECSC-listed substances with non-permitted uses require registration based on actual import/production volume

Triethanolamine Notice (25 Jan 2024, effective 1 Feb 2024):

• Low-concentration mixtures (detergents, inks, cosmetics, disinfectants) exempt from dual-use import/export licensing

European Union — ECHA SVHC Updates

• Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs, 14 Jun 2023): 235 substances
• New additions highlight chemical hazard evolution and prioritization for restriction

United States — TSCA

New Zealand

• NZ EPA recognizes AU, CA, EU, UK, US for chemical assessments
• New Pathways (Effective 1 Oct 2023):
  • Rapid approval if previously approved internationally
  • Hazard classification alignment with recognized regulators

Latin America

United Kingdom — UK REACH ATRm

• Alternative Transitional Registration model reduces cost and data requirements
• Focused on risk-based chemical management

Key Measures:

• • Refined use/exposure info
  • Reduced hazard data requirements for transitional registrations
  • Potential £2B cost reduction accessing EU data
  • Enhanced regulator powers
  • Fee structure review & restriction process revisions
• Consultation: Early 2024

Global Summary Table (Key Deadlines)

Conclusion

Staying ahead of global chemical regulatory updates is critical for manufacturers, importers, and downstream users. From K-REACH tonnage bands to UK REACH ATRm, KKDIK deadlines, China IECSC requirements, US TSCA reporting, and EU SVHCs, organizations must proactively manage compliance, chemical safety, and international market access.

Maven Regulatory Solutions offers:

• Dossier preparation & submission support (IUCLID/KKS)
• Toxicological Risk Assessment (TRA)
• Regulatory intelligence & enforcement monitoring
• Export exemption and CBI compliance guidance