Known as K-BPR, the new law grants a grace period of three to 10 years to biocidesalready placed on the Korean market, depending on biocidal ingredient category. Disinfectants, algaecides and insecticide are offered a three-year grace period. Biocides used as preservatives are given eight years, while preservatives for material and equipment and anti-fouling agents for vessels and underwater facilities get 10 years of extra time. To take the grace period, biocides manufacturers and distributors should notify the Ministry of Environment by June 30.

Jim Eggenschwiler, an international trade attorney and director of global trade at United States law firm Redstone Group, said the new act applies to any lubricant products containing a biocidal ingredient. He told Lube Report, Many products in the lubricants industry utilize biocidal ingredients to preserve product content during storage, and to prevent fouling of the product under certain conditions. K-BPR applies to any biocide, pesticide, fungicide, or anti-microbial ingredient used in a product, including but not limited to preservatives and anti-fouling agents.

Failure to pre-register any of these ingredients that have been placed on the Korean market prior to Jan. 1, 2019, will close market eligibility for producers and distributors seeking to place these products in Korea after June 30, 2019. If preregistered, qualified products will enjoy a grace period for continued market eligibility while delaying new registration of the biocide.

The law specifically defines products with biocides used for collateral purpose as biocide-treated products. Manufacturers and suppliers of biocide-treated products must use approved biocidal products.

A Korean association of lubricant suppliers contended, however, that the regulations have little direct impact on lubes.

For our industry, the thing relevant to this law would be additives in lubricants, said Korea Lubricating Oil Industry Association executive Lim Jongchan. But they are used in too small a quantity to be subject to the law. And the approval and registration work of chemicals are performed by additive suppliers on behalf of blenders. We haven’t received any inquiries or request for help on this. The associationrepresents lubricants suppliers in the country and collects waste oil and packages for recycling.

Also known as K-BPR, the act was introduced to protect people and the environment from exposure to hazardous chemicals. This legislation came in the wake of a humidifier tragedy that has killed more than 100 people. The loss of life from the humidifier biocide was first reported in 2011. A government investigation established two biocidal actives in humidifier disinfectants,PHMG and PGH, as the cause of fatal lung damage.

K-BPR also covers consumer chemical products. The consumer chemical product part of the law was transferred from South Koreas Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals – known as K-REACH – to widen the scope of application from household products to products used in public facilities and offices, Jeong Hwanjin, a ministry of environment official, told Lube Report.

The ministry of environment designated 35 kinds of consumer chemical products – including anti-rust additives, detergents, disinfectants and adhesives – to get safety confirmation tests every three years.