CAS 78-93-3 · K-REACH · Republic of Korea

Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK, butan-2-one) under K-REACH

C4H8O · 丁酮 / 甲乙酮

Status: Registered. MEK is registered under K-REACH and listed as a Priority Existing Chemical (PEC). Korean GHS classification matches REACH (Flam. Liq. 2 plus Eye Irrit. 2 plus STOT SE 3). NOT on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list. **Korean Drug Management Act Class III precursor scheduling** (parallel to acetone batch 15 pattern; methamphetamine precursor concern). NO active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin MEK (verify against the Korea Trade Commission portal before invoicing). Korea has substantial domestic MEK production (LG Chem Yeosu, Lotte Chemical Yeosu); structurally balanced. KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies for Chinese-origin imports.

K-REACH treats MEK as a routine PEC-registered substance with no TCCA overlay but **Korean Drug Management Act Class III precursor scheduling** is the dominant retail-distribution overhead (parallel to acetone batch 15 pattern). Korea has **substantial domestic MEK production at Yeosu** (LG Chem, Lotte Chemical); structurally balanced. NO active Korean AD/CVD case. KCFTA preferential zero-duty supports Chinese-origin supplemental supply. **MEK distinguishing pattern across all 5 regimes**: industrial-solvent workhorse (~90 percent of demand) + 2-butanol dehydrogenation production route (~70 percent globally) plus n-butane / butene oxidation (~30 percent) + light occupational hazard (Flam. Liq. 2 plus Eye Irrit. 2 plus STOT SE 3 narcotic only) + EU Drug Precursors Reg 273/2004 Cat 3 + DEA List II CMEA 2005 + Australian Drug Control Act Cat III + Korean Drug Management Act Class III + China Easily-Made Drugs Cat 3 + lube-oil dewaxing legacy MEK-process + 13% China VAT export rebate.

Listing and threshold

Substance Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK, butan-2-one) (CAS 78-93-3), C4H8O
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. 2 (H225), Eye Irrit. 2 (H319), STOT SE 3 (H336)
  • Signal word: DANGER. GHS pictograms: GHS02 plus GHS07
  • Korea Occupational Safety and Health Act (KOSHA) workplace exposure standard: 200 ppm 8-hr TWA
  • NOT on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list
  • **Korean Drug Management Act Class III precursor list**
  • Korean Customs Service (KCS) HS code: 291412
  • IARC: Group 3

Restrictions and conditions of use

  • No TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit required
  • **Korean Drug Management Act Class III precursor compliance** for retail-distribution chain
  • 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 MEK currently
  • KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies to Chinese-origin MEK (HS 291412)

Importer obligations

The Korean importer of record must hold K-REACH registration. **Korean Drug Management Act Class III precursor compliance** for retail-distribution chain (parallel to acetone batch 15 pattern). Korea has substantial domestic MEK production at Yeosu (LG Chem, Lotte Chemical); supplemental imports flow during plant outages. Korean downstream consumers: KCC Corporation (paints), Hyosung Chemicals, Korean printing plus magnetic-tape coating industry, Korean automotive paint sector.

Required documents

  • K-REACH registration number on Korean side (registrant or OR-appointed)
  • Korean-language MSDS compliant with Korean GHS reflecting H225 / H319 / H336 classification
  • Korean Customs Service (KCS) declaration with HS code 291412
  • **Korean Drug Management Act Class III precursor declaration** for retail-distribution chain
  • China-Korea FTA Form CO certificate of origin for preferential treatment
  • Industrial-grade specification certificate

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
  • **Korean Drug Management Act Class III precursor compliance** for retail-distribution chain
  • Korea has substantial domestic MEK production at Yeosu (LG Chem, Lotte Chemical); structurally balanced
  • KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies; verify producer-specific eligibility
  • NO active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese MEK currently
  • NOT on TCCA Toxic Chemicals list

Where to read next

For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for methyl ethyl ketone (mek, butan-2-one), see the CAS 78-93-3 sourcing reference.

For grade-by-grade buying notes, freight maths, supplier-tier pricing, and a worked landed-cost example, the methyl ethyl ketone (mek, butan-2-one) 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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