News
KIST Europe and KIT Determine Joint Responses to EU Chemical Regulations (2016.07.04)
- Date : 2016-11-09
- Views : 4586
-
Writer
Public Relations Team
-
Att.
KIST Europe and KIT Determine Joint Responses to EU Chemical Regulations
- MOU for joint research on chemical hazard assessments and support for businesses -
On July 4, the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Europe (KIST Europe) and the Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT) signed an MOU for mutual collaboration in taking proactive measures to meet EU chemical regulations and provide support for Korean businesses.
KIST Europe is an overseas branch of KIST that was established in Saarbr?cken, Germany, in 1996. It serves as a bridge for cooperative research between Korea and the EU while also helping Korean businesses advance into the European market. Through its vast experience and know-how regarding EU chemical regulations, KIST Europe is developing strategies to comply with EU REACH and similar regulations, as well as to provide practical support for Korean companies doing business in Europe.
Through this MOU, KIST Europe and KIT established a comprehensive cooperative relationship for conducting R&D related to the chemical hazard assessments required for implementation of EU REACH, other similar regulations, and the Act on the Registration and Evaluation, Etc. of Chemical Substances; as well as joint research in support of Korean businesses.
According to EU REACH―which took effect in 2008―companies that export over 1 metric ton of chemical substances per year to the EU must register with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) the substance’s physical and chemical characteristics, toxicology results, and hazard assessment results. However, due to a lack of understanding and experience regarding the regulations, many Korean companies face challenges in dealing with such things as the non-tariff barrier when advancing into the European market. Therefore, strategic and technological support is needed to secure their competitive edge and increase exports to the EU.
Furthermore, the Act on the Registration and Evaluation, Etc. of Chemical Substances and the Toxic Chemicals Control Act took effect on January 1, 2015, targeting all chemical substances produced in Korea or imported from other nations. This has resulted in an ever-growing demand from Korean companies for new technologies that will help address these regulations.
Since May 2013, KIST Europe and KIT have, for the first time in Korea, jointly supported small and medium-sized companies in registering their chemical substances in accordance with EU REACH. KIT, through its collaboration with Korean R&D institutes, helps reduce costs by conducting test analyses and coming up with proactive responses for Korean exporters to use in responding to EU REACH.
KIST Europe Director Kuiwon Choi said, “Through collaborative research, KIST Europe and KIT are laying a foundation for responding to global environmental regulations and thereby supporting Korean companies in resolving non-tariff barriers that prevent them from advancing into overseas markets. The result is an enhancement of these companies’ global competitiveness.”