CAS 56-81-5 · K-REACH · Republic of Korea

Glycerol (glycerine, propane-1,2,3-triol) under K-REACH

C3H8O3 · 甘油

Status: Registered. Glycerol is registered under K-REACH and listed as a Priority Existing Chemical (PEC). NOT on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list. NOT on Korean Drug Management Act precursor list. NO active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin glycerol. Korea has substantial domestic glycerol production (LG Chem Yeosu epichlorohydrin-synthesis route, biodiesel-byproduct producers); structurally balanced. KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies for Chinese-origin imports. **Light K-REACH-side regulatory profile alongside sodium chloride batch 16**.

K-REACH treats glycerol as a routine PEC-registered substance with **light K-REACH-side regulatory profile alongside sodium chloride batch 16**: no TCCA overlay, no Drug Management Act overlay. Korea has substantial domestic glycerol production at Yeosu (LG Chem epichlorohydrin-synthesis route + biodiesel-byproduct producers). NO active Korean AD/CVD case. KCFTA preferential zero-duty supports Chinese-origin supplemental supply. **Glycerol distinguishing pattern across all 5 regimes**: closes biodiesel transesterification chain (KOH batch 17 catalyst + methanol batch 3 reactant; ~10% of methanol demand globally + ~25% of KOH demand) + 1 mole glycerol per ~3 moles methyl ester biodiesel + light-hazard food / pharmaceutical / cosmetic + light IARC profile claimed in earlier drafts (verify against https://monographs.iarc.who.int/list-of-classifications before relying) + second light-regulatory profile in dataset alongside sodium chloride batch 16.

Listing and threshold

Substance Glycerol (glycerine, propane-1,2,3-triol) (CAS 56-81-5), C3H8O3
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

  • NOT classified under Korean GHS at industrial-grade
  • Korea Occupational Safety and Health Act (KOSHA) workplace exposure standard: not specifically established
  • NOT on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list
  • NOT on Korean Drug Management Act precursor list
  • Korean Customs Service (KCS) HS codes: 290545 (refined glycerol), 152000 (crude glycerol)
  • IARC: previously cited as Group 3 in earlier dataset drafts; no published IARC Monograph evaluation of glycerol has been verified (verify against https://monographs.iarc.who.int/list-of-classifications before relying)
  • Korean Pharmacopoeia (KP) monograph for pharmaceutical-grade glycerol

Restrictions and conditions of use

  • No TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit required
  • No Chemical Accident Prevention Plan (CAPP) required
  • No Korean Drug Management Act precursor obligations
  • Korea Industrial Safety and Health Act (KOSHA) MSDS in Korean NOT specifically required (no GHS classification)
  • Korea Customs Service requires K-REACH registration number on import declaration
  • NO active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin glycerol currently
  • KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies to Chinese-origin glycerol

Importer obligations

The Korean importer of record must hold K-REACH registration. For glycerol this is a routine PEC registration with no TCCA overlay. Korea has substantial domestic glycerol production (LG Chem Yeosu epichlorohydrin-synthesis route, biodiesel-byproduct producers).

Required documents

  • K-REACH registration number on Korean side (registrant or OR-appointed)
  • Korean Customs Service (KCS) declaration with HS code 290545 or 152000
  • China-Korea FTA Form CO certificate of origin for preferential treatment
  • Industrial-grade or food-grade or pharmaceutical-grade specification certificate
  • Korean Pharmacopoeia (KP) conformity declaration for pharmaceutical-grade lots

Common compliance traps

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

  • Korea has substantial domestic glycerol production (LG Chem Yeosu epichlorohydrin-synthesis route, biodiesel-byproduct producers)
  • KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies; verify producer-specific eligibility
  • NO active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese glycerol currently
  • NOT on TCCA Toxic Chemicals list
  • **Light K-REACH-side regulatory profile alongside sodium chloride batch 16**

Where to read next

For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for glycerol (glycerine, propane-1,2,3-triol), see the CAS 56-81-5 sourcing reference.

For grade-by-grade buying notes, freight maths, supplier-tier pricing, and a worked landed-cost example, the glycerol (glycerine, propane-1,2,3-triol) 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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