K-REACH in South Korea, the China MEE new chemical rules and Turkey's KKDIK all ask the same question: is this substance registered before it reaches the market? Each regime answers it differently, and none accepts an EU REACH registration as a substitute.
If you import Indian chemicals into any of these three markets, the registration is normally your legal burden, or your local representative's. It is not something a factory in Gujarat can file for you from India alone. The rules below are the broad outline; confirm details with the regulator or a local regulatory consultant.
How does K-REACH work for imported chemicals?
K-REACH is South Korea's Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemical Substances, run by the Ministry of Environment. It covers new substances and a long list of existing substances, and registration depends on annual volume per registrant, starting at around one tonne a year.
Importers in Korea carry the duty to register. An overseas manufacturer can appoint an Only Representative in Korea to register on behalf of its exporters, which protects its customer list and lets one registration cover several importers. Phase-in deadlines for existing substances run in bands by volume, so ask which band your product sits in and whether it is already registered.
What are the China MEE new chemical rules?
China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment runs the registration of new chemical substances under its Order No. 12, in force since January 2021. A substance that is not on the Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances in China is treated as new and must be registered or notified before it is imported or made.
The level of data depends on annual volume, and the lowest volumes need only a simple filing. A substance already on the inventory does not need new-substance registration, though other Chinese rules on hazardous chemicals may still apply. Overseas producers usually work through a Chinese agent or the importer. Check the inventory entry by CAS number first, because that single check decides which route you are on.
What is Turkey KKDIK?
KKDIK is Turkey's REACH-style regulation, run by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change. Non-Turkish manufacturers can appoint a Turkish Only Representative, and registrations are submitted through the ministry's KKS system.
As of October 2026, the published deadlines for full registration were the end of 2026 for the largest volumes and the most hazardous substances, the end of 2028 for the middle band and the end of 2030 for the smallest. A temporary registration step also had dates in 2026, with checks on registration numbers expected to start from 1 October 2026. Deadlines have moved before, so check the ministry's current text before you rely on any date.
What to ask your Indian supplier
Whichever market you serve, put the same questions to every manufacturer before you place an order:
- Is this exact substance, by CAS number, listed on the market's inventory, and what is your evidence?
- Who is the registrant, the importer or an appointed representative, and who pays for the data?
- Will you supply the safety data sheet and test data the regulator's dossier needs, and under what confidentiality terms?
- Does the registration cover the volume you plan to buy in a year, not just the first container?
For the EU and US equivalents, see what EU REACH requires for imported chemicals and how TSCA listing works in the US. The logic is similar, but the paperwork and deadlines are not interchangeable.
How we help
We find and audit chemical manufacturers, check samples and documents, and have lots tested. We cannot register a substance for you, but we can establish early whether a supplier will support your registration with the data it needs. Book a free sourcing review before you commit to an order.