Country focus: South Korea South Korea reaches out for regulations

摘要

South Korea's paint and coatings sector displayed sturdy stability in 2012, weathering an ongoing global economic slowdown that has affected growth rates in Asia, as well as Europe and North America. However, the industry is worried about a new environmental law that has been inspired by the European Union's (EU) REACH legislation. South Korea's parliament, on April 30, passed new chemical control legislation modelled on the European Union's REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) system. The newly enacted law is called K-REACH. Like the European law, it insists that companies, handling and making chemicals, must register these substances with the government - and the first registration deadline is not far off -January 1, 2015.