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From Restriction to Prohibition: South Korea Announces Major Revisions to Chrysotile GHS Classification

from CIRS by

On March 19, 2025, South Korea’s National Institute of Chemical Safety (NICS) issued Notice No. 2025-7, announcing significant amendments to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). In alignment with updated requirements under the Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals (K-REACH) and the Chemical Substances Control Act, chrysotile-previously classified as a restricted substance-has now been upgraded to a prohibited substance. This marks a comprehensive tightening of South Korea’s regulatory controls on chrysotile-related materials. Chrysotile is the most common type of asbestos.

Chrysotile,Prohibited,GHS,Korea,Chemicals,Classification,Revision

Under the revised Designation of Restricted and Prohibited Substances (Notice No. 2024-253) released by the Ministry of Environment on December 5, 2024, chrysotile has been removed from the restricted substances list (KE No. 06-5-7) and integrated into the prohibited substances list (KE No. 06-4-27). Consequently, the GHS inventory has been updated as follows:

Unique Number

Chemical Name

CAS NO.

Hazard Classification (Code)

Label Elements (Code)

M-factor

UN NO.

Category

Classification

Pictogram

Signal Word

H Code

06-4-2

7

Chrysotile

12001-29-5

Carcinogenicity (3.6)

Specific Target Organ Toxicity- Repeated Exposure (3.9)

1

1

GHS08

Danger

H350

H372

-

2590

The updated entry 06-4-27 now includes: crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite asbestos, actinolite asbestos, tremolite asbestos, and chrysotile. From the date of the announcement, the manufacture, import, sale, storage, transport, and use of the above substances are completely banned within South Korea. Existing stocks must be professionally encapsulated or rendered harmless in accordance with the Hazardous Chemicals Safety Management Act.

This revision aligns with global consensus on the hazards of chrysotile. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified chrysotile fibers as a cause of fatal diseases such as lung cancer and mesothelioma, prompting over 60 countries to impose full bans. South Korea’s MOE emphasized that previous “restricted use” policies for chrysotile contained industrial exemption loopholes. The upgrade to “prohibited” status aims to eliminate residual risks in sectors like construction and automotive parts manufacturing.

About CIRS

CIRS Group is a leading provider of comprehensive regulatory compliance services and solutions for chemicals, cosmetics, food and food-related products, agrochemicals, and medical devices. Its chemical team consists of experts with extensive knowledge in chemistry, toxicology, environmental science, and related fields. They are well-versed in various international regulations, including but not limited to CSCL, EU REACH, CLP, GHS, TSCA, and K-REACH. 

CIRS operates a subsidiary in South Korea. By leveraging the expertise of CIRS Korea and the international team, CIRS can provide enterprise various South Korean chemical services, including but not limited to:

 

If you need any assistance or have any questions, please get in touch with us via service@cirs-group.com.

 

  

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