CAS 141-43-5 · K-REACH · Republic of Korea

Monoethanolamine (MEA) under K-REACH

C2H7NO · 乙醇胺

Status: Registered. Monoethanolamine is registered under K-REACH. NOT on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list at MEA level (verify against the current TCCA Toxic Chemicals list at https://www.nics.go.kr/ before relying). NO active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin monoethanolamine. NOT scheduled under Korean Act on Control of Narcotics at MEA level (verify against https://www.mfds.go.kr/ before relying). KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies for Chinese-origin imports. **Korea is a significant MEA consumer market** (Korean refineries + LNG terminals + petrochemicals) with significant Chinese-origin import dependency; some Korean domestic production at Lotte Chemical (Yeosu) + LG Chem (Yeosu).

K-REACH treats monoethanolamine as a routine registered substance with no TCCA overlay. KCFTA preferential zero-duty. NO active Korean AD/CVD. Korea has both domestic production (Lotte Chemical Yeosu + LG Chem Yeosu) and Chinese-origin import dependency. **MEA distinguishing pattern across all 5 regimes**: Production via ammonia + ethylene oxide yielding MEA + DEA + TEA in adjustable ratio (alkanolamine chain head); gas-treatment / amine-scrubbing ~40 to 50% (H2S + CO2 removal natural gas + refinery + biogas in MDEA-blended formulations) + emerging carbon-capture absorbent (post-combustion CO2 capture from coal + gas-fired power and industrial flue gas) + surfactant feedstock (alkanolamides + betaines + ethanolamine soaps) + detergent + cosmetics + personal care + cement-grinding aid + agrochemical intermediate + polyurethane catalyst + corrosion inhibitor downstream chains; mid hazard profile (Skin Corr. 1B + Eye Dam. 1 + STOT RE 2 + Acute Tox. 4 oral / dermal / inhalation); IARC not classified; UN 2491 Class 8 PG III corrosive liquid across all transport regimes (ADR + DOT + GB + ADG + KCS); OSHA / MoEL / Safe Work Australia OEL all 3 ppm 8-hr TWA + 6 ppm STEL; **NOT on EU Drug Precursors Reg 273/2004 + Reg 2015/1011 + NOT on US DEA schedules + NOT on China State Council 易制毒化学品管理条例 + NOT on Australian Drug Precursor list + NOT on Korean Act on Control of Narcotics at MEA level**; major non-Chinese producers BASF (Germany Antwerp + Ludwigshafen) + Helm Iberica (Spain Tarragona) + AkzoNobel / Nouryon (Sweden Stenungsund) + Dow Chemical (USA Plaquemine LA + Seadrift TX) + INEOS (USA Plaquemine LA) + Mitsubishi Chemical (Japan Yokkaichi) + Lotte Chemical (Korea Yeosu) + LG Chem (Korea Yeosu); **China major MEA producer + exporter** (SINOPEC Maoming Petrochemical Guangdong + SINOPEC Jinling Petrochemical Nanjing + Jinghong Energy Inner Mongolia + Jiangsu Yida Chemical Yangzhou + Shandong Lianhuan Chemical + Maoming Tianyuan).

Listing and threshold

Substance Monoethanolamine (MEA) (CAS 141-43-5), C2H7NO
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: Skin Corr. 1B + Eye Dam. 1 + STOT RE 2 + Acute Tox. 4 oral / dermal / inhalation (verify against current MoE / NIER GHS before relying)
  • NOT on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list at MEA level (verify against the current TCCA Toxic Chemicals list at https://www.nics.go.kr/ before relying)
  • NOT scheduled under Korean Act on Control of Narcotics at MEA level (verify against https://www.mfds.go.kr/ before relying)
  • Korean Customs Service (KCS) HS code: 292211
  • Korean MoEL OEL: 3 ppm 8-hr TWA + 6 ppm STEL typically (verify against current MoEL Industrial Safety + Health Act OEL list at https://www.moel.go.kr/ before relying)
  • Korean DOT-equivalent UN 2491 Class 8 PG III corrosive liquid
  • IARC: Not classified

Restrictions and conditions of use

  • No TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit required at MEA level
  • KOSHA MSDS in Korean required at workplace (Skin Corr. 1B + Eye Dam. 1 + STOT RE 2 + Acute Tox. 4)
  • NO active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin monoethanolamine
  • KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies (HS 292211)

Importer obligations

Korean importer of record must hold K-REACH registration. Korea is a significant MEA consumer market with both domestic production (Lotte Chemical Yeosu + LG Chem Yeosu) and Chinese-origin import dependency.

Required documents

  • K-REACH registration number on Korean side
  • Korean MSDS (Skin Corr. 1B + Eye Dam. 1 + STOT RE 2 + Acute Tox. 4)
  • KCS declaration with HS 292211
  • China-Korea FTA Form CO
  • Korean DOT-equivalent UN 2491 Class 8 PG III corrosive liquid documentation

Common compliance traps

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

  • NOT on TCCA Toxic Chemicals list at MEA level
  • NOT scheduled under Korean Act on Control of Narcotics at MEA level
  • KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies
  • NO active Korean AD/CVD case
  • Korean MoEL OEL 3 ppm 8-hr TWA + 6 ppm STEL
  • **Korean refineries + LNG terminals + petrochemicals + emerging carbon-capture downstream**

Where to read next

For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for monoethanolamine (mea), see the CAS 141-43-5 sourcing reference.

For grade-by-grade buying notes, freight maths, supplier-tier pricing, and a worked landed-cost example, the monoethanolamine (mea) 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

Referenced in

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