The Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Wha-jin) announced on July 28 a joint plan with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the Ministry of Employment and Labor to establish and disclose 'Air Disinfection Eradication and Safety Management Enhancement Plan.'

The Ministry of Environment and other related ministries formed an interagency task force from May 31 this year to analyze the limitations and issues of the current disinfection-related regulations and discussed measures and solutions. 

The safety management enhancement plan includes tasks such as △ thorough product safety verification before market release, △ strengthening the establishment and communication of product safety information, △ establishment of a comprehensive process history management system and reinforcement of after-sales management, △ strengthening the proper use and management of disinfectants, and others. The main contents are as follows. 

First, the Ministry actively pursues thorough safety verification of disinfectant products for epidemic prevention before their market release. In January 2019, the Ministry introduced the 'Biocidal Product Approval and Management System,' which requires rigorous safety verification and re-approval for existing disinfectant products that were previously permitted or approved, in accordance with the 'Act on the Safety Management of Household Chemical Products and Biocides.' Accordingly, the Ministry plans to conduct thorough verification of all test data submitted by companies during the approval application for disinfectant products. The Ministry will conduct meticulous and detailed verification and approval evaluations based on the purpose, users, and formulation of the disinfectants.

Second, the Ministry will enhance the dissemination of safety information for disinfectant products, making it more explicit and ensuring a strengthened information delivery system to enable users to use the products safely. The Ministry will include detailed information, such as specific surface usage distance, surface disinfection methods, and prohibited equipment for use, in the product approval notifications. Furthermore, the Ministry plans to incorporate this information into the disinfection guidelines of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. 

Moreover, the Ministry will make it mandatory for products approved for surface disinfection use to display a "Prohibited for Air Disinfection" label on their packaging to prevent their misuse as air disinfectants. The Ministry has also implemented the use of QR codes on disinfectant products, allowing users, including disinfection service providers, to easily access and verify the correct product usage information. The Ministry plans to collaborate with consumer organizations to produce safety usage promotional videos and informative brochures (leaflets). These materials will be targeted towards sensitive facilities such as kindergartens, schools, and elderly care centers, aiming to promote and educate the proper use of disinfectant products among vulnerable groups.

Third, the Ministry will establish a comprehensive process history management system for epidemic prevention disinfectant products and strengthen post-management measures. The Ministry will enhance the existing chemical product management system (chemp.me.go.kr) to enable tracking and management of the entire process history, from product approval to manufacturing, import, distribution, and usage for epidemic prevention disinfectant products. 

Through this improvement, the Ministry will be able to periodically track and compare the manufacturing, import, distribution, and usage quantities of the products, ensuring thorough monitoring and verification of the entire process history of epidemic prevention disinfectant products. Moreover, to eradicate the distribution of illegal disinfectant products through online platforms, the Ministry will expand the current online market surveillance efforts.

Fourth, the Ministry will establish and strengthen a management system to ensure proper usage of disinfectant products. To prevent confusion at disinfection sites, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency will improve the standards and methods of disinfection based on the purpose and type of disinfection. To enhance the professionalism of disinfection service providers and workers, the mandatory education system for disinfection businesses will be changed from 'education after reporting' to 'education before reporting.' Additionally, specialized training will be provided to non-regular disinfection workers. Furthermore, the obligation to create and maintain a disinfection record log will be expanded to include not only existing disinfection service providers but also local governments and residential property management companies. They will be required to report these records periodically to the relevant public health centers to strengthen management and supervision over their disinfection practices. On the other hand, the Ministry of Employment and Labor will guide disinfection service providers on how to prepare safety measures and comply with them regarding hazardous and risky factors. Itwill provide instructions on risk assessment methods and utilize the 'Major Disaster Siren (Open Chatroom)' system to disseminate correct disinfection standards and safety protocols, strengthening safety management for workers in the disinfection field.

Hwang Gye-yeong, Director of the Environmental Health Bureau of the Ministry of Environment, stated, "To ensure proper and safe disinfection, we will thoroughly verify the safety of products before their release and establish clear guidelines for their proper use. We aim to strengthen safety management throughout the entire process of disinfectant products."

He added, "We will continuously collaborate with relevant ministries to ensure the management and supervision of product sales, distribution, and usage history, as well as to expand monitoring of illegal products and assess the appropriate implementation of disinfection practices on actual disinfection sites."

Contact: Ki Dae-jeong, Senior Deputy Director

Chemical Products and Biocides Division / +82-(0)44-201-6828