Ethyl acetate under K-REACH
C4H8O2 · 乙酸乙酯
Status: Registered. Ethyl acetate is registered under K-REACH and listed as a Priority Existing Chemical (PEC). Korean GHS classification matches REACH (Flam. Liq. 2 + Eye Irrit. 2 + STOT SE 3). NOT on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list. NOT on Korean Drug Management Act precursor list. NO active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin ethyl acetate. Korea has substantial domestic ethyl acetate production (LG Chem Yeosu, Lotte Chemical Yeosu); structurally balanced or modestly net-importer. KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies for Chinese-origin imports.
K-REACH treats ethyl acetate as a routine PEC-registered substance with no TCCA overlay (lighter than phenol batch 13 + formaldehyde batch 18 + benzene batch 22). NOT on Korean Drug Management Act precursor list. Korea has **substantial domestic ethyl acetate production at Yeosu** (LG Chem Yeosu, Lotte Chemical Yeosu) integrated with Cativa-process acetic acid (batch 19) capacity; structurally balanced or modestly net-importer. NO active Korean AD/CVD case. KCFTA preferential zero-duty supports Chinese-origin supplemental supply. Korean downstream consumers: KCC Corporation (paints), Hyosung Chemicals, Samsung SDI, Korean food + flavour + fragrance + cosmetic industries. **Ethyl acetate distinguishing pattern across all 5 regimes**: acetate ester family with acetic acid (batch 19) downstream esterification chain (CH3COOH + EtOH → CH3COOEt + H2O); light occupational hazard (Flam. Liq. 2 + Eye Irrit. 2 + STOT SE 3 only); food + cosmetic + pharmaceutical + ink solvent dominance; Brazilian + Indian ethanol-route producers compete on sugarcane / molasses ethanol cost advantage in third-market lanes.
Listing and threshold
| Substance | Ethyl acetate (CAS 141-78-6), C4H8O2 |
|---|---|
| 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 + GHS07
- Korea Occupational Safety and Health Act (KOSHA) workplace exposure standard: 200 ppm 8-hr TWA, 400 ppm STEL
- NOT on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list
- NOT on Korean Drug Management Act precursor list
- Korean Customs Service (KCS) HS code: 291531
- Listed in K-REACH database under "general industrial use, flammable liquid"
- Korean Food Standards Codex Article 4 permits ethyl acetate as food additive E 1518
Restrictions and conditions of use
- No TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit required
- No Chemical Accident Prevention Plan (CAPP) required
- No Korean Drug Management Act precursor obligations
- 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 ethyl acetate currently
- KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies to Chinese-origin ethyl acetate (HS 291531)
Importer obligations
The Korean importer of record must hold K-REACH registration in their own name or rely on an Only Representative (OR). For ethyl acetate this is a routine PEC registration with no TCCA overlay. Korea has substantial domestic ethyl acetate production at Yeosu (LG Chem Yeosu, Lotte Chemical Yeosu) integrated with Cativa-process acetic acid (batch 19) capacity; supplemental imports flow during plant outages. Korean downstream consumers: KCC Corporation (paints), Hyosung Chemicals (BPA / BPS chain), Samsung SDI (battery-grade pharmaceutical-grade demand), Korean food + flavour + fragrance + cosmetic industries.
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 291531
- China-Korea FTA Form CO certificate of origin for preferential treatment
- Industrial-grade specification certificate (minimum 99.5% purity)
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; SDS in English-only is rejected at workplace inspection
- Korea has substantial domestic ethyl acetate production at Yeosu (LG Chem, Lotte Chemical) integrated with Cativa-process acetic acid (batch 19) capacity
- KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies; verify producer-specific eligibility
- No active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese ethyl acetate currently
- NOT on TCCA Toxic Chemicals list
- NOT on Korean Drug Management Act precursor list
- Korean downstream consumers: KCC Corporation (paints), Hyosung Chemicals (BPA / BPS chain), Samsung SDI (battery-grade), Korean food + flavour + fragrance + cosmetic industries
- **Acetic acid (batch 19) feedstock cost flow-through is dominant**: Korean LG Chem Yeosu + Lotte Chemical Yeosu integrated chain captures the value structurally
Where to read next
For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for ethyl acetate, see the CAS 141-78-6 sourcing reference.
For grade-by-grade buying notes, freight maths, supplier-tier pricing, and a worked landed-cost example, the ethyl acetate 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
Regulatory
Ethyl acetate under REACH
European Union listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
Regulatory
Ethyl acetate under TSCA
United States of America listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
Regulatory
Ethyl acetate under IECSC
People's Republic of China listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
Regulatory
Ethyl acetate under AICIS
Australia listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
Glossary
K-REACH, K-REACH
South Korean Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals, the Korean equivalent of EU REACH. Requires registration of substances manufactured in or imported into Korea above 1 tonne per year. Administered by the Ministry of Environment through NIER. Includes phase-in registration tiers, joint submission requirements, and a designated 'Only Representative' mechanism for non-Korean manufacturers.
Referenced in
5 pages across the Sourzi moat
This term shows up in 4 regulatory pages, 1 topic clusters. Sample backlinks per content type below.
Free download
Free PDF: the same MSDS verification template the Sourzi team uses to cross-reference factory documents against TSCA, REACH, AICIS, and CDR before booking.