Topics
South Korea
May 26, 2026
Amendment clarifies terms; prohibits use of DEHP and DEHA in PVC materials; defines criteria for use of post-consumer recycled polypropylene for closed loop recycling
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 2, 2026
Ministry of Food and Drug Safety proposes amendments to food contact regulation; one proposal is to allow use of recycled polypropylene, limit use of certain plasticizers in PVC; second proposal subjects rubber and silicone products for children to stricter chemical migration limits; government also taking steps to curb plastic pollution via bans on free plastic cups and label on bottled water
Reading time: 2 minutes
October 8, 2025
South Korea’s Ministry of Environment amends Enforcement Decree of the Resource Recycling Act to require 10% recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for plastic beverage bottles made by high-volume fillers and manufacturers starting January 1, 2026; Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry outlines plastic beverage bottle design requirements for certification under Plastic Resource Recycling Promotion Act of 2022 starting January 24, 2026, including minimum 15% recycled PET content
Reading time: 3 minutes
January 14, 2025
South Korean study assesses link between microplastics in blood and plastic container use as well as blood coagulation disruptions; finds mostly polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene microplastics in blood; links higher microplastic levels to use of plastic containers, impaired blood clotting and increased inflammation, suggesting potential cardiovascular risks
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 21, 2022
Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) amends Food Sanitation Act to include process for manufacturers to receive authorization to use recycled materials in food contact applications
Topics: recycling, South Korea
Reading time: 1 minute
February 28, 2022
South Korean Ministry of Environment announces disposable cups from chain cafes and fast-food restaurants will have 300 KRW deposit beginning June 10, 2022; applies to chains with more than 100 branches, 38,000 stores total; plan includes production standards for plastic and paper cups to ensure recyclability; part of South Korea’s 2050 carbon neutrality goal
Reading time: 2 minutes
November 30, 2021
Ministry of Food and Drug Safety publishes notice containing revisions to national food contact material regulations; adds polyketones as additional raw materials, groups synthetic resins into categories, issues updated standards on recycled synthetic resins including for polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Topics: regulation, South Korea
Reading time: 1 minute
October 4, 2021
South Korea updates Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers, and Packages; releases 2021 Food and Drug Safety White Paper; China updates precision level on food packaging migration requirements; Taiwan to monitor the use of nitrogen in food packaging; Hong Kong statutory authority encourages stricter standards for silicone food contact articles
Reading time: 3 minutes
June 18, 2020
Notification from South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announces revisions in standards including migration and testing requirements; allows chemically recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) resins to be used in non-food contact parts of food contact materials (FCM)
Topics: regulation, South Korea
Reading time: 1 minute
