On December 20, 2024, the South Korean Ministry of Environment (MoE) announced the approval of the first 15 biocidal products under the Consumer Chemical Products and Biocides Safety Act (K-BPR). 

Background on the approval of biocidal substances and products

• The K-BPR requires all biocidal substances and products to be tested for safety, and effectiveness, before being placed on the Korean market.  

• To date, 56 biocidal substances have been approved and 15 biocidal products using these approved substances were approved for the first time, on December 20, 2024.  

Approval requirements for relevant products 

• In addition to these 15 biocidal products, products containing fungicides, pesticides, acaricides, and acaricide types must be approved as biocidal products by December 2025. 

• If they are not approved, they will be banned from distribution and sale from July 1, 2026. 

Sequential evaluation plans

• The MoE and National Institute of Chemical Safety (NICS) plan to sequentially evaluate the safety and efficacy of 10 types of biocidal substances and products based on the deadlines under the K-BPR Act.