CAS 64-19-7 · K-REACH · Republic of Korea

Acetic acid under K-REACH

CH3COOH · 醋酸

Status: Registered. Acetic acid is registered under K-REACH and listed as a Priority Existing Chemical (PEC). Korean GHS classification matches REACH (Skin Corr. 1A + Flam. Liq. 3 + Acute Tox. 4 inhalation). NOT on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list (lighter than phenol batch 13 + formaldehyde batch 18). NOT on Korean Drug Management Act precursor list (acetic anhydride downstream IS scheduled but acetic acid is not). NO active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin acetic acid. Korea has substantial domestic acetic acid production (LG Chem Yeosu, Lotte Chemical Yeosu) via Cativa-process methanol carbonylation; structurally balanced. KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies for Chinese-origin imports.

K-REACH treats acetic acid as a routine PEC-registered substance with no TCCA overlay (lighter than phenol batch 13 + formaldehyde batch 18). NOT on Korean Drug Management Act precursor list (acetic anhydride downstream IS but acetic acid is not). Korea has **substantial domestic acetic acid production at Yeosu** (LG Chem Yeosu, Lotte Chemical Yeosu) via Cativa-process methanol carbonylation; structurally balanced. NO active Korean AD/CVD case. KCFTA preferential zero-duty supports Chinese-origin supplemental supply but Korean Yeosu domestic supply is the structural market reference. Korean downstream consumers: Hyosung Chemicals (VAM, polyester chain), LG Chem (acetate esters), Lotte Chemical (acetic anhydride for cellulose acetate), SK Chemicals (PTA chain via VAM crossover). **Acetic acid distinguishing pattern across all 5 regimes**: methanol-carbonylation chain (Cativa process uses iridium catalyst with ruthenium promoter; the older Monsanto process which Cativa replaced used rhodium catalyst; the broader rhodium / iridium PGM cycle exposure applies to both technologies; verified against https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cativa_process) (~80% of global production); methanol feedstock cost (batch 3) flow through dominant; active US AD case number unverified at audit (verify access.trade.gov), see status note only major trade-policy stack; coal-route vs gas-route carbon-intensity divergence in China.

Listing and threshold

Substance Acetic acid (CAS 64-19-7), CH3COOH
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: Flam. Liq. 3 (H226), Skin Corr. 1A (H314), Acute Tox. 4 inhalation (H332)
  • Signal word: DANGER. GHS pictograms: GHS02 + GHS05 + GHS07
  • Korea Occupational Safety and Health Act (KOSHA) workplace exposure standard: 10 ppm 8-hr TWA, 15 ppm STEL
  • NOT on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list
  • NOT on Korean Drug Management Act precursor list
  • Korean Customs Service (KCS) HS code: 291521
  • Listed in K-REACH database under "general industrial use, corrosive substance"
  • NOT classified as carcinogen, mutagen, or reproductive toxicant under Korean GHS
  • Korean Food Standards Codex Article 4 permits acetic acid as food additive E 260

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 required at workplace
  • Korea Customs Service requires K-REACH registration number on import declaration
  • NO active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin acetic acid currently
  • KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies to Chinese-origin acetic acid (HS 291521); verify producer-specific eligibility (Form CO certified by Chinese authority)
  • Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) Food Codex applies for food-grade lots

Importer obligations

The Korean importer of record must hold K-REACH registration in their own name or rely on an Only Representative (OR). For acetic acid this is a routine PEC registration with no TCCA overlay. Korea has substantial domestic acetic acid production at Yeosu (LG Chem Yeosu, Lotte Chemical Yeosu) via Cativa-process methanol carbonylation; supplemental imports flow during plant outages and grade-specific applications. Korean downstream consumers: Hyosung Chemicals (VAM, polyester chain), LG Chem (acetate esters), Lotte Chemical (acetic anhydride for cellulose acetate), SK Chemicals (PTA chain via VAM crossover). **KCFTA preferential zero-duty makes Chinese-origin competitive but Korean Yeosu domestic supply is the structural market reference.**

Required documents

  • K-REACH registration number on Korean side (registrant or OR-appointed)
  • Korean-language MSDS compliant with Korean GHS reflecting H226 / H314 / H332 classification
  • Korean Customs Service (KCS) declaration with HS code 291521
  • China-Korea FTA Form CO certificate of origin for preferential treatment
  • Industrial-grade specification certificate (minimum 99.0% purity)
  • KFDA Food Codex conformity declaration for food-grade lots

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
  • Korea has substantial domestic acetic acid production at Yeosu (LG Chem Yeosu, Lotte Chemical Yeosu) via Cativa-process methanol carbonylation; supplemental imports flow during plant outages
  • KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies but verify producer-specific eligibility (Form CO certified by Chinese authority)
  • No active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese acetic acid currently
  • NOT on TCCA Toxic Chemicals list (lighter than phenol batch 13 + formaldehyde batch 18)
  • Korean downstream consumers: Hyosung Chemicals (VAM, polyester chain), LG Chem (acetate esters), Lotte Chemical (acetic anhydride for cellulose acetate), SK Chemicals (PTA chain via VAM crossover)
  • Korean Cativa-process domestic supply is the structural market reference; Chinese-origin imports compete on price + grade
  • US AD case status on Chinese-origin acetic acid unverified at audit (verify access.trade.gov) on Chinese acetic acid does NOT affect Korean lane (Korean-specific market dynamics independent)

Where to read next

For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for acetic acid, see the CAS 64-19-7 sourcing reference.

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

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