Glyphosate under K-REACH
C3H8NO5P · 草甘膦
Status: Registered. Glyphosate is registered under K-REACH. **Korean Rural Development Administration (RDA) registers glyphosate as agricultural pesticide active ingredient under Korean Pesticide Control Act** (verify against current RDA + Korea Pesticide Information Service https://psis.rda.go.kr/ before relying). **IARC Group 2A Monograph Volume 112 (2015)** classification overlay (sourced to https://monographs.iarc.who.int/). NO active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin glyphosate currently (verify against current Korean Trade Commission AD case list at https://www.ktc.go.kr/ before relying). KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies for Chinese-origin imports (subject to RDA Pesticide Registration overlay). **Korea is structurally a net-importer of glyphosate** for agricultural / golf-course / public-space use sectors.
K-REACH treats glyphosate as a registered substance with **RDA Pesticide Registration overlay (Korean Pesticide Control Act)**. KCFTA preferential zero-duty subject to RDA registration overlay. NO active Korean AD/CVD. **Korea structurally net-importer**; Chinese-origin import dependency dominant. **Glyphosate distinguishing pattern across all 5 regimes**: N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine systemic broad-spectrum herbicide (Roundup); EPSP synthase inhibitor in shikimate pathway; glyphosate-tolerant GM crops (Roundup Ready soybean + corn + cotton + canola) drove post-1996 use explosion; **multi-jurisdiction political controversy reflects substantive scientific divergence on cancer-classification: IARC Group 2A Monograph Volume 112 (2015) finding (sourced) vs EPA Interim Registration Review Decision 2020 not-likely-to-be-carcinogenic (vacated by Ninth Circuit June 2022 NRDC v. EPA, remanded) vs EFSA + ECHA + EU Member State assessments resulting in EU CLP NON-classification as carcinogen / mutagen vs Cal Prop 65 listing 7 July 2017 as carcinogen (sourced to OEHHA, subject to NAWG v. Becerra First Amendment compelled-speech litigation) vs APVMA review not-unacceptable-risk-when-used-per-label**; **EU active-substance authorisation renewed 10 years via Commission Implementing Reg (EU) 2023/2660 of 28 November 2023, effective 16 December 2023, expiring 15 December 2033 (sourced to EUR-Lex)**; **US Bayer-Monsanto Roundup litigation $10.9 billion 2020 to 2021 settlement programs plus continuing trial-court verdicts (verify exact current settlement totals before relying)**; ag-chem registration overlay across US (EPA FIFRA) + EU (PPP Reg 1107/2009 + Member State product authorisations) + Australia (APVMA) + Korea (RDA Korean Pesticide Control Act) + China (MARA Regulations on Pesticide Administration); Eye Dam. 1 + Aquatic Chronic 2 only at EU CLP harmonised level + IARC 2A overlay; NOT regulated as dangerous goods at solid form; **China is the dominant global producer (~60% global capacity)** (Zhejiang Wynca Hangzhou + Hubei Sanonda Jingzhou + Sichuan Hebang + Anhui Zealous + Jiangsu Good Harvest-Weien Yangzhou + Sichuan Leshan Fuhua + Hubei Tianyaorui); **Chinese phosphorus chain (yellow P + glycine + iminodiacetic acid) is the structural feedstock pivot**; major non-Chinese producers Bayer Crop Science (USA Soda Springs ID + Camacari Brazil + Antwerp Belgium) + Syngenta (Switzerland Munchwilen + India + China) + Nufarm (Australia + Brazil) + Adama (Israel + China).
Listing and threshold
| Substance | Glyphosate (CAS 1071-83-6), C3H8NO5P |
|---|---|
| Regime | Korea Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals (Act No. 11789, "K-REACH" amended 2018) |
| Jurisdiction | Republic of Korea |
| Status | Registered |
| Tonnage threshold | K-REACH registration required for existing chemicals manufactured or imported >1 tonne/year (verified per Korean Ministry of Environment / NIER guidance, https://chemical.chemlinked.com/chempedia/k-reach; threshold for new substances was reduced from 0.1 t/y to 1 t/y effective 1 January 2025 per K-REACH 2025 amendment) |
Classifications under this regime
- Korean GHS classification: Eye Dam. 1 + Aquatic Chronic 2 (verify against current MoE / NIER GHS before relying)
- **IARC Group 2A Monograph Volume 112 (2015)** (verify against https://monographs.iarc.who.int/)
- **Korean RDA Pesticide Registration required for placing on market as agricultural pesticide active ingredient** (verify against https://psis.rda.go.kr/ before relying)
- NOT on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list at glyphosate level (verify against the current TCCA Toxic Chemicals list at https://www.nics.go.kr/ before relying)
- Korean Customs Service (KCS) HS code: 293299
- Korean MoEL OEL: not specifically established for glyphosate (verify against current MoEL Industrial Safety + Health Act OEL list at https://www.moel.go.kr/ before relying)
Restrictions and conditions of use
- **RDA Pesticide Registration required** (verify against https://psis.rda.go.kr/)
- No TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit required at glyphosate level
- KOSHA MSDS in Korean required at workplace (Eye Dam. 1 + Aquatic Chronic 2 + IARC 2A reference)
- NO active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin glyphosate currently
- KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies (HS 293299) subject to RDA Pesticide Registration overlay
Importer obligations
Korean importer of record must hold K-REACH registration + **RDA Pesticide Registration per Korean Pesticide Control Act**. **Korea is structurally a net-importer of glyphosate**; Chinese-origin import dependency dominant.
Required documents
- K-REACH registration number on Korean side
- **RDA Pesticide Registration certificate per Korean Pesticide Control Act**
- Korean MSDS (Eye Dam. 1 + Aquatic Chronic 2 + IARC 2A reference)
- KCS declaration with HS 293299
- China-Korea FTA Form CO
Common compliance traps
The pitfalls that have bitten importers on this lane in the past. None of these is theoretical.
- **RDA Pesticide Registration required per Korean Pesticide Control Act**
- **IARC Group 2A Monograph Volume 112 (2015) overlay**
- KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies subject to RDA registration overlay
- NO active Korean AD/CVD case
- NOT on TCCA Toxic Chemicals list at glyphosate level
- Korea structurally net-importer; Chinese-origin import dependency dominant
Where to read next
For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for glyphosate, see the CAS 1071-83-6 sourcing reference.
For grade-by-grade buying notes, freight maths, supplier-tier pricing, and a worked landed-cost example, the glyphosate cornerstone hub covers the full sourcing chain.
For the structure and history of K-REACH, see the K-REACH glossary entry.
Need cross-jurisdiction compliance support on this substance? Run it through the REACH / TSCA / IECSC / AICIS / K-REACH checker, or send us the substance and the destination and we will quote FOB China and CIF / DDP landed including the regulatory work on the destination side.
Read next
Cross-jurisdiction profile and sourcing references
Regulatory
Glyphosate under REACH
European Union listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
Regulatory
Glyphosate under TSCA
United States of America listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
Regulatory
Glyphosate under IECSC
People's Republic of China listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
Regulatory
Glyphosate under AICIS
Australia listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
Glossary
K-REACH, K-REACH
South Korean Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals, the Korean equivalent of EU REACH. Requires registration of substances manufactured in or imported into Korea above 1 tonne per year. Administered by the Ministry of Environment through NIER. Includes phase-in registration tiers, joint submission requirements, and a designated 'Only Representative' mechanism for non-Korean manufacturers.
Referenced in
4 pages across the Sourzi moat
This term shows up in 4 regulatory pages. Sample backlinks per content type below.
Free download
Free PDF: the same MSDS verification template the Sourzi team uses to cross-reference factory documents against TSCA, REACH, AICIS, and CDR before booking.