On March 27, 2026, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) of South Korea issued Notification No. 2026-24, officially revising the Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers and Packages.
Key Revisions
1. Revised Migration Limits for DEHP and DEHA in Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
To align with general manufacturing standards prohibiting the use of specific plasticizers and to clarify applicable standards, the new version modifies the migration limits for DEHP and DEHA in PVC materials.
| Test Items | Previous Migration Limit | New Migration Limit |
| Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate(DEHP) | ≤1.5 mg/L | Not Detected |
| Di-(2-ethylhexyl)adipate(DEHA) | ≤18 mg/L | ≤18 mg/L(DEHA must not be detected in cling wraps) |
2. Standards for Recognizing Physically Recycled Polypropylene (PP) Materials
The previous standard only recognized safety standards for the use of PET within its section on physically recycled synthetic resins. The new standards expand the scope to include physically recycled Polypropylene (PP).
To prevent contamination during use and disposal processes, the new standards establish stringent preconditions for recycled PP raw materials (e.g., recycled fragments): they must be made of pure PP material, recovered in a closed and controlled system to ensure no exposure to non-food contamination sources, must not have direct printing on the bottle surface (except when using alkali-separable ink), must not use adhesives, and must undergo thorough cleaning to ensure the absence of impurities.
3. Inclusion of a “Terminology Explanation” Section and Reorganization of Article Structure
To resolve discrepancies in interpretation by industry stakeholders and third-party testing institutions, the new standards include a dedicated “Terminology Explanation” section in the general provisions.
The new version provides clear definitions for key terms such as monomer, copolymer, physically recycled synthetic resin raw materials, infant rubber products, and potassium permanganate consumption. Additionally, the overall structure of the articles has been reorganized and streamlined.
Reminder from REACH24H
The revised Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers and Packages will take effect on March 27, 2026, for most of its content (including the addition of terminology explanations and the establishment and improvement of recognition standards for physically recycled PP raw materials).
For the revisions to the migration limits of DEHP and DEHA in PVC materials, the South Korean authorities have provided a 12-month transition period, with formal enforcement starting on March 27, 2027.
REACH24H advises relevant enterprises to conduct compliance risk assessments promptly to align with the new requirements. Companies involved with PVC materials should utilize the transition period effectively to optimize product formulations and replace plasticizers to ensure compliance with the latest market entry thresholds in South Korea.
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