Nitric acid under K-REACH
HNO3 · 硝酸
Status: Registered. Nitric acid is registered under K-REACH and listed as a Priority Existing Chemical (PEC). **Nitric acid IS on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list**. **Korean Drug Management Act Cat II precursor scheduling**. NO active Korean AD/CVD case (verify against https://access.trade.gov/ and Korea Trade Commission before invoicing). Korea has substantial domestic nitric acid production (Hanwha Solutions Yeosu + Lotte Chemical Daesan + LG Chem Yeosu); verify the current Korean production-versus-consumption balance against KOSIS / KITA before relying on a structural-balance assertion. KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies for Chinese-origin imports.
K-REACH treats nitric acid with **dual-overhead: TCCA Toxic Chemicals + Korean Drug Management Act Cat II precursor compliance**. Korea has substantial domestic nitric acid production. NO active Korean AD/CVD case. **Nitric acid distinguishing pattern across all 5 regimes**: Ostwald process downstream of ammonia batch 37 + ammonium nitrate primary downstream (~75%) + closes ammonia batch 37 + DAP batch 11 + aniline batch 26 + caprolactam batch 14 chains + EU Drug Precursors Cat 3 (alongside acetone batch 15 + sulfuric acid batch 2) + EU Explosives Precursors Reg 2019/1148 + Acute Tox. 1 inhalation H330 + Skin Corr. 1A + Ox. Liq. 2 + China triple-permit chain (Hazardous + Highly Toxic + Easily-Made Drugs Cat 2; HEAVIEST IECSC compliance alongside sulfuric acid batch 2) + DHS CFATS + ATF explosives regulations + Australian Drug Control Act Cat II + Korean Drug Management Act Cat II.
Listing and threshold
| Substance | Nitric acid (CAS 7697-37-2), HNO3 |
|---|---|
| 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: full hazard profile matching REACH
- Signal word: DANGER
- **Listed in Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list**
- **Korean Drug Management Act Cat II precursor list**
- Korean Customs Service (KCS) HS code: 280800
- Korea Occupational Safety and Health Act (KOSHA) workplace exposure standard: 2 ppm 8-hr TWA
Restrictions and conditions of use
- **TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit at destination facility required**
- **Korean Drug Management Act Cat II precursor compliance**
- Chemical Accident Prevention Plan (CAPP) may be required
- NO active Korean AD/CVD case
- KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies
Importer obligations
The Korean importer of record must hold K-REACH registration. **Dual-overhead: TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit + Korean Drug Management Act Cat II precursor compliance**. Korea has substantial domestic nitric acid production (Hanwha Solutions Yeosu + Lotte Chemical Daesan + LG Chem Yeosu).
Required documents
- K-REACH registration number on Korean side
- Korean-language MSDS
- Korean Customs Service (KCS) declaration with HS code 280800
- **TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit** at destination facility
- **Korean Drug Management Act Cat II precursor declaration**
- 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.
- **Dual-overhead: TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit + Korean Drug Management Act Cat II precursor compliance**
- Korea has substantial domestic nitric acid production
- NO active Korean AD/CVD case
- KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies
Where to read next
For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for nitric acid, see the CAS 7697-37-2 sourcing reference.
For grade-by-grade buying notes, freight maths, supplier-tier pricing, and a worked landed-cost example, the nitric acid 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
Nitric acid under REACH
European Union listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
Regulatory
Nitric acid under TSCA
United States of America listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
Regulatory
Nitric acid under IECSC
People's Republic of China listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
Regulatory
Nitric acid 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.