CAS 75-01-4 · K-REACH · Republic of Korea

Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM, chloroethene) under K-REACH

C2H3Cl · 氯乙烯

Status: Registered. VCM is registered under K-REACH and listed as a Priority Existing Chemical (PEC). **VCM IS on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list** (Carc 1A + Muta 1B harmonised classification): TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit at destination facility required. NOT on Korean Drug Management Act precursor list. NO active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin VCM. Korea has substantial domestic VCM production (LG Chem, Hanwha Solutions, Lotte Chemical chlor-alkali integrated VCM-PVC capacity); structurally balanced. KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies for Chinese-origin imports (rare due to bulk-trade limitation).

K-REACH treats VCM as a routine PEC-registered substance but **TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit at destination facility is the dominant practitioner overhead**. Korea has substantial domestic VCM production at chlor-alkali integrated VCM-PVC complexes. **VCM distinguishing pattern across all 5 regimes**: PVC batch 10 polymer primary downstream chain (>95 percent of VCM demand globally) + EDC batch 76 thermal cracking production route (~95 percent globally) + calcium-carbide-acetylene-mercury-catalyst legacy route (~5 percent globally, predominantly Chinese inland coal cluster, Minamata Convention restricts) + Carc 1A (H350) + Muta 1B + Flam. Gas 1A + Press. Gas + IARC Group 1 carcinogen (initial Volume 7 1974 per secondary sources, prior draft cited Volume 19 1979; reaffirmed Volume 97 2008 and Volume 100F 2012; verify against https://monographs.iarc.who.int/list-of-classifications) + REACH SVHC candidate-list status disputed (prior draft cited SVHC since 13 January 2010 per V2 audit but cross-jurisdiction brief flags NOT on SVHC; verify against https://echa.europa.eu/candidate-list-table) + REACH Annex XVII status disputed (verify entries 28-30 carcinogen list and entry 5 against https://echa.europa.eu/substances-restricted-under-reach) (NOT on Annex XIV; intermediate-use derogation) + OSHA Vinyl Chloride Standard 29 CFR 1910.1017 PEL 1 ppm + Cal Prop 65 carcinogen 27 February 1987 + EPA RMP 10,000 lb threshold + EPA TSCA Section 6 high-priority designation December 2023 + China Highly Toxic Chemicals Catalog + Korea TCCA + Australia SUSMP Schedule 7 + 0% China VAT export rebate + VCM structurally NOT internationally traded as bulk.

Listing and threshold

Substance Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM, chloroethene) (CAS 75-01-4), C2H3Cl
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: Carc. 1A (H350), Muta. 1B (H340), Flam. Gas 1A (H220), Press. Gas, STOT RE 2 (H373)
  • Signal word: DANGER. GHS pictograms: GHS02 + GHS04 + GHS08
  • KOSHA workplace exposure standard: 1 ppm 8-hr TWA
  • **Listed in Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list**
  • NOT on Korean Drug Management Act precursor list
  • Korean Customs Service (KCS) HS code: 290321
  • **IARC: Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans); initial Monograph Volume 7 (1974) per secondary sources, prior draft cited Volume 19 (1979); reaffirmed Volume 97 (2008) and Volume 100F (2012); verify against https://monographs.iarc.who.int/list-of-classifications**

Restrictions and conditions of use

  • **TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit at destination facility required**
  • Chemical Accident Prevention Plan (CAPP) may be required
  • KOSHA MSDS in Korean required at workplace
  • NO active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese VCM currently
  • KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies (HS 290321)
  • Female-of-child-bearing-age workplace protection planning for Carc 1A + Muta 1B substances

Importer obligations

Korean importer of record must hold K-REACH registration. **TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit at destination facility is the dominant practitioner-facing overhead**. **VCM is structurally NOT internationally traded as bulk**; intra-complex captive consumption dominates. Korea has substantial domestic VCM production at chlor-alkali integrated VCM-PVC complexes (LG Chem, Hanwha Solutions, Lotte Chemical).

Required documents

  • K-REACH registration number on Korean side
  • Korean MSDS reflecting H220 / H340 / H350 / H373
  • KCS declaration with HS 290321
  • **TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit** at destination facility
  • China-Korea FTA Form CO

Common compliance traps

The pitfalls that have bitten importers on this lane in the past. None of these is theoretical.

  • **TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit at destination facility**
  • Carc 1A + Muta 1B + IARC Group 1 drives heaviest workplace surveillance
  • KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies
  • NO active Korean AD/CVD case
  • **VCM is structurally NOT internationally traded as bulk**
  • Korean female-of-child-bearing-age workplace protection planning

Where to read next

For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for vinyl chloride monomer (vcm, chloroethene), see the CAS 75-01-4 sourcing reference.

For grade-by-grade buying notes, freight maths, supplier-tier pricing, and a worked landed-cost example, the vinyl chloride monomer (vcm, chloroethene) 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

Referenced in

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