Briefing on Chemicals Control Act Amendments and Joint Response Plan
for 96 Workplaces in Gwangju and Jeonnam on the 28th
The Yeongsangang River Basin Environmental Office announced on the 27th that it will hold a meeting on the 28th aimed at strengthening chemical safety capabilities for workplaces participating in the chemical safety community in the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions.
The chemical safety community is a voluntary cooperative body formed by large companies and nearby small and medium-sized enterprises. Currently, 18 communities comprising 96 companies are participating.
During this meeting, key amendments to the Chemicals Control Act and the joint emergency response plan will be introduced. The agenda also includes sharing case studies and listening to on-site challenges. The joint emergency response plan is a cooperative system designed for multiple workplaces on the same site to jointly respond to chemical accidents.
According to the revised regulations, which will take effect on August 7, the registration threshold for new chemicals will be raised from 0.1 tons per year to 1 ton per year. Substances under 1 ton will have their information disclosed to the public, and a legal basis will be established for the government to review submitted reports. Substances without hazard information will be regarded as hazardous, thereby strengthening the management responsibilities of business operators.
Additionally, toxic substances will be classified into three categories: substances with acute human toxicity, substances with chronic human toxicity, and substances with ecological toxicity. Management measures tailored to each characteristic will be applied. Substances that are subject to authorization, restriction, or prohibition will be excluded from the definition of hazardous chemicals and will be designated and managed separately.
The inspection and diagnostic obligations for handling facilities will be applied differentially depending on the amount or risk level of chemicals handled. For small quantities, the requirement will shift from authorization to notification.
Commissioner Kim Youngwoo stated, "Cooperation among communities and voluntary safety management are essential for joint response to chemical accidents," adding, "We will continue to communicate in order to resolve the on-site difficulties faced by companies."
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