CAS 108-95-2 · K-REACH · Republic of Korea

Phenol under K-REACH

C6H5OH · 苯酚

Status: Registered. Phenol is registered under K-REACH and listed as a Priority Existing Chemical (PEC). Korean GHS classification matches REACH (Skin Corr. 1B, Acute Tox. 3 oral / dermal / inhalation, Mut. 2, STOT RE 2). **Phenol IS on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list** (Skin Corr. 1B + Acute Tox. 3 inhalation classification); TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit IS required for handling at the destination facility, in addition to K-REACH chemical registration. Korea has substantial domestic phenol capacity (Kumho P&B Chemicals, LG Chem) and is structurally a balanced market.

K-REACH treats phenol as a routine PEC-registered substance, but the **TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit at the destination facility** is the dominant K-REACH-overlay compliance requirement (similar pattern to sulfuric acid batch 2). K-REACH chemical registration alone is insufficient; the destination handling facility must hold the TCCA permit. Chemical Accident Prevention Plan (CAPP) requirement is more demanding than the equivalent in other regimes. Korea has substantial domestic phenol capacity at Kumho P&B Chemicals (Yeosu) and LG Chem (Yeosu, Daesan); imports compete with domestic supply on price and grade segmentation. KCFTA preferential zero-duty supports Chinese-origin supply. Korean downstream demand: BPA for polycarbonate (Lotte Chemical, LG Chem) supplying electronics and automotive sectors; phenolic resin (Kolon Industries, Kangnam Chemical); caprolactam upstream (Capro Corporation Ulsan) for nylon-6 (Hyosung).

Listing and threshold

Substance Phenol (CAS 108-95-2), C6H5OH
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). TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit required regardless of volume

Classifications under this regime

  • Korean GHS classification: Skin Corr. 1B (H314), Acute Tox. 3 oral / dermal / inhalation (H301 / H311 / H331), Mut. 2 (H341), STOT RE 2 (H373)
  • Signal word: DANGER. GHS pictograms: GHS05, GHS06, GHS08
  • Korea Occupational Safety and Health Act (KOSHA) workplace exposure standard: 5 ppm (19 mg/m³) 8-hour TWA with SKIN absorption notation
  • **Listed on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list** (Skin Corr. 1B + Acute Tox. 3 inhalation)
  • NOT on Korea Drug Management Act precursor list
  • Korean Customs Service (KCS) HS code: 29071100
  • Listed in K-REACH database with TCCA Toxic Chemicals overlay
  • IARC Group 3 (not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity)

Restrictions and conditions of use

  • **TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit (유독물질 영업허가) IS required** at the destination facility for handling, distribution, and use of phenol
  • Chemical Accident Prevention Plan (CAPP, 화학물질사고예방관리계획) IS required for facilities holding above declared threshold quantities
  • Korea Industrial Safety and Health Act (KOSHA) MSDS in Korean required at workplace; SKIN notation drives engineered-controls and PPE
  • Korea Customs Service requires K-REACH registration number on import declaration
  • No active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin phenol currently
  • KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies to Chinese-origin phenol (HS 29071100); verify producer-specific eligibility (Form CO certified by Chinese authority)
  • Korean Cosmetic Act prohibits phenol in cosmetic products (similar to EU Cosmetic Products Regulation)
  • MFDS pharmaceutical and food-contact applications require MFDS notification (separate from K-REACH chemical registration)

Importer obligations

The Korean importer of record must hold K-REACH registration in their own name or rely on an Only Representative (OR). **Critically**, the destination handling facility must additionally hold a **TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit** (유독물질 영업허가) for phenol, which is a parallel regulatory layer that K-REACH registration does NOT satisfy. This dual-layer requirement (K-REACH + TCCA) is structurally similar to the sulfuric acid pattern (2nd batch) where Korean buyers must hold the TCCA permit at the destination facility, not just K-REACH. Korea has substantial domestic phenol capacity at Kumho P&B Chemicals (Yeosu) and LG Chem (Yeosu, Daesan); imports compete with domestic on price and grade segmentation. KCFTA preferential zero-duty supports Chinese-origin supply.

Required documents

  • K-REACH registration number on Korean side (registrant or OR-appointed)
  • **TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit (유독물질 영업허가) at the destination facility**
  • Korean-language MSDS compliant with Korean GHS reflecting H301 / H311 / H314 / H331 / H341 / H373 classification with SKIN notation
  • Chemical Accident Prevention Plan (CAPP) where facility above threshold quantities
  • Korean Customs Service (KCS) declaration with HS code 29071100
  • China-Korea FTA Form CO certificate of origin for preferential treatment
  • MFDS pharmaceutical / food-contact notification (where relevant downstream application)

Common compliance traps

The pitfalls that have bitten importers on this lane in the past. None of these is theoretical.

  • Korean GHS hazard-statement codes use H-codes mapped to Korean translations; SDS in English-only is rejected at workplace inspection
  • **TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit at the destination facility is the dominant K-REACH-overlay compliance requirement**. K-REACH chemical registration alone is insufficient; the destination handling facility must hold the TCCA permit (similar pattern to sulfuric acid batch 2). This is a parallel regulatory layer not present in REACH / TSCA / IECSC / AICIS
  • KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies but verify producer-specific eligibility (Form CO certified by Chinese authority)
  • Korea has substantial domestic phenol capacity at Kumho P&B Chemicals (Yeosu) and LG Chem (Yeosu, Daesan); imports compete with domestic supply on price and grade segmentation
  • Korean phenol demand: BPA (LG Chem, SK Discovery, Mitsui-LG) for polycarbonate (Lotte Chemical, LG Chem) export to electronics and automotive sectors; phenolic resin (Kolon Industries, Kangnam Chemical); caprolactam upstream (Capro Corporation Ulsan) for nylon-6 (Hyosung, Kolon Industries)
  • Chemical Accident Prevention Plan (CAPP) requirement is more demanding than the equivalent in other regimes; Korean MEE-equivalent emergency-response and offsite-consequence-analysis filing required
  • Mut. 2 classification drives Korean Toxic Chemicals review; future TCCA reclassification to higher hazard category remains possible

Where to read next

For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for phenol, see the CAS 108-95-2 sourcing reference.

For grade-by-grade buying notes, freight maths, supplier-tier pricing, and a worked landed-cost example, the phenol 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.

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Cross-jurisdiction profile and sourcing references

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