Medium-sized Business Community "Need for Grace Period in Installing Nonpoint Pollution Reduction Facilities for Dyeing Companies"

Korea Federation of SMEs and Ministry of Environment Hold the '38th SME Environmental Policy Council'

The Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business (Kbiz) announced on the 20th that it held the "38th Small and Medium Enterprise Environmental Policy Council" with the Ministry of Environment.

The Small and Medium Enterprise Environmental Policy Council is a consultative body jointly formed and operated by Kbiz and the Ministry of Environment, serving as a communication channel to identify and improve environmental regulations and difficulties. At the meeting, co-chairpersons Jeong Yun-mo, full-time vice chairman of Kbiz, and Lee Byung-hwa, vice minister of the Ministry of Environment, along with representatives of eight SME industry associations, discussed current issues related to the environmental industry.

At the meeting, Kim Shin-gil, chairman of the Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Cooperative, requested the allocation of a new budget for the electric agricultural machinery distribution project. Chairman Kim stated, “In line with the global trend toward carbon neutrality, Korea has been providing subsidies for the purchase of electric vehicles and electric construction machinery for over 10 years, but there is still no budget support for electric agricultural machinery,” adding, “It is necessary to allocate a support budget for the introduction of electric agricultural machinery that can reduce fine dust and exhaust emissions in rural areas, protect the health of farmers, and effectively reduce damage to crops.”

Han Sang-woong, chairman of the Korea Fashion Color Industry Cooperative Federation, requested consideration for granting a grace period and allocating support funds for the installation of non-point pollution source reduction facilities for small dyeing companies subject to the Environmental Pollution Facilities Act. Non-point pollution sources refer to sources that discharge water pollutants from unspecified locations indiscriminately. Chairman Han stated, “According to the Water Environment Conservation Act, businesses that cause pollution from non-point sources or install wastewater discharge facilities are obligated to install non-point pollution source reduction facilities. However, currently, small dyeing companies are struggling to afford the installation costs due to a prolonged domestic and international downturn in the textile industry,” adding, “Considering this situation, it is necessary to provide a sufficient grace period and government budget support for facility installation.”

Jeong Yun-mo, full-time vice chairman of Kbiz, said, “Thanks to the Ministry of Environment’s proactive administration, including the first revision of the Chemical Substances Control Act and the Chemical Control Act in nine years and the expansion of SME exemption criteria for waste disposal charges, many environmental issues have been resolved this year,” adding, “We will continue to actively communicate with the Ministry of Environment to jointly develop regulatory rationalization measures that companies can feel.”

Lee Byung-hwa, vice minister of the Ministry of Environment, said, “The Small and Medium Enterprise Environmental Policy Council, as the most representative communication channel with SMEs, has already reached its 20th year this year,” adding, “We will continue to cooperate with Kbiz to improve unreasonable regulations and help SMEs comply well with rapidly changing environmental laws.”