Sejong, June 10 - The Ministry of Environment (ME, Minister Han Wha-jin) announced that it would swiftly resolve the chemical and waste regulatory overlaps by actively accepting the industries' opinions. On June 8, the minister visited Sunglim Oil & Chemical Co., Ltd., located in Sihwa Industrial Complex in Ansan, Gyeonggi-do. During her visit, she unveiled a plan to reduce overlapping regulations both mentioned in the Chemical Substances Control Act ("Chemicals Act") and the Wastes Control Act ("Wastes Act").

The designated waste management companies were subject both to the Chemicals Act and the Wastes Act when they processed hazardous chemical substances. There have been constant complaints about the issues. The government was continuously asked to reduce the overlapping regulations. Typical wastes containing hazardous chemical substances include waste acids, waste alkalis, and waste toxic substances. These are mostly categorized as designated wastes subject to compliance with the Chemicals Act and the Wastes Act. Due to the uneven mixture characteristics and frequent property changes of wastes, it was impossible to apply the Chemical Act, which regulates chemicals based on the ingredients and contents of hazardous chemical substances.

Minister Han proposed an alternative to reduce regulatory overlap and secure the safety of chemical substances after sharing the company's suggestions and experts' opinions. The Ministry of Environment plans to revise the applicable statutes within this year. It has decided to apply only the Wastes Act while a waste management company store, transport, and handle "waste containing hazardous chemical substances." The Chemical Act will continue to apply in cases where a waste management company (a) produces or supplies hazardous chemical substances through recycling or (b) requires any action against a chemical accident. Once the direction for system improvement, the Ministry of Environment will seek ways to reduce the overlapping regulations by utilizing proactive governance1 to ensure that no confusion arises in the field even before the amendment.

The Minister and Vice Minister of Environment will improve the irrational regulations as quickly as possible by "efforts to solve the current regulatory issues," in which they visit an industrial site in person to propose practical solutions. In addition, the ministry will discuss regularly innovative strategies to reduce environmental regulations during the monthly meeting convened by the Minister of Environment. The first meeting was held on June 9 in Sejong. The ministry and its seventeen affiliated organizations attended the meeting to discuss the way how to improve environmental regulations. The meeting attendees also discussed a plan to establish a working group for reducing environmental regulations and a "direct communication channel for industries."

Minister Han Wha-jin stressed, "The Yun administration's regulatory reform is a voyage to find ways to boost corporate creativity and productivity while strengthening environmental values such as carbon neutrality and a circular economy." She added, "All members of the Ministry of Environment will put forth the efforts to listen to and resolve the difficulties of the industrial sector. I will also visit the field in person to contribute to solving the current issues."

1 The approach of the Ministry of Environment for soliciting third-party expert advice from the Proactive Governance Committee when active decision-making is hampered by regulations or unclear legislation

Contact: NA Wook-jong, Deputy Director

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