Sejong, June 27 - Starting from June 1, the Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Wha-jin) will enforce the partial revision of the Enforcement Decree of the Drinking Water Management Act. This revision enhances the reliability and safety of drinking water quality testing results.

This revision aims to improve the "management regulations" targeting drinking water-related businesses¹ and inspection agencies². It aims to enable clearer application of laws and regulations in the field. The key provisions are as follows.

Firstly, the Ministry clarified the specific items to be ed during the review of permit s for water-related businesses. In the "comprehensive review of environmental impact assessments," it was specifically outlined that certain components be included. These include not only ①Technical evaluation opinions, but also ②Water Supply and Waterworks Installation Act, as well as other relevant laws and regulations, and ③Existing temporary permit conditions. The Ministry also stipulated that when drinking water-related businesses report closures, suspensions, or minor changes, they must submit the report within 14 days from the date the change occurred. Additionally, the Ministry relaxed the regulations to allowdrinking water importers and sellers to share offices with other businesses. However, this allowance is subject to the condition that it "does not hinder their business activities."

The Ministry also revised the regulations concerning compliance requirements and administrative sanctions for drinking water inspection agencies. The Ministry enhanced the content of on-site records for sample collection and transportation processes by introducing a new format called the "Sample Collection Record Book." This format incorporates the existing forms that are currently used. The criteria for imposing administrative sanctions³, such as disciplinary actions, were clearly defined in cases where false test reports are issued for samples that are neither collected nor tested directly.

With the establishment of these administrative sanction criteria, the Ministry aims to prevent instances of issuing false reports for items not directly tested in water quality testing.

¹(Businesses) Refers to manufacturing, import, and retail businesses of drinking spring water and drinking saline groundwater. Businesses also include the manufacturing business of water treatment agents, and the manufacturing, import, and retail businesses of water purifiers.

²(Inspection Agencies) Refers to drinking water quality testing agencies, water treatment agent testing agencies, and water purifier performance testing agencies.

³ For the first violation, the business will be suspended for three months. For the second violation, the business will be suspended for six months. For the third violation, the agency will lose its designationas an inspection agency.

Contact: Kang Myung-hwa, Deputy Director

Soil and Groundwater Division / +82-(0)44-201-7184