REACH-like Regulations

Since the implementation of EU-REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals), several countries have developed REACH-like regulations, which are similar in structure and objectives to the EU-REACH regulation. These regulations aim to ensure the safe use of chemicals and protect human health and the environment from potential risks associated with chemical substances. Examples of such REACH-like regulations are South Korea’s K-REACH, Türkiye’s KKDIK, and India’s ICMSR.

The legal framework of K-REACH is the Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemical Substances (ARECS). K-REACH came into place on 1 January 2015 and requires manufacturers and importers of chemicals in Korea to register their substances with the Ministry of Environment (MOE) and to provide information about their properties, uses, and potential risks. The regulation also provides for the evaluation of registered substances and the authorization or restriction of substances that pose a risk to human health or the environment.

Türkiye’s KKDIK (Bylaw on Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) came into force on 23 June 2017. KKDIK regulates chemicals that are manufactured in and imported into Türkiye. The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change (MoEUCC) is responsible for accepting and evaluating registrations, authorizing and restricting chemicals as well as monitoring the compliance status of manufacturers and importers.

India released the fifth draft of the Indian Chemical (Management and Safety) Rules (ICMSR) on 24 August 2020. The ICMSR will establish a procedure for substance notification, registration, and restriction of substances, as well as introducing labelling and packaging requirements for substances. Once enforced, the ICMSR will serve as the foundation for chemical management in India.