G/TBT/N/KOR/857  
9 September 2019  
(19-5739) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  REPUBLIC OF KOREA   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Environment (ME)  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
Resource Recycling Division  
Building #6, Government Complex -Sejong  
11 Doum 6 -ro, Sejong  Special Self -Governing City  
30103, Rep. of Korea  
Tel: 82 -44-201-7381  
Fax: 82 -44-201-7394 
E-mail:theacme@korea.kr   
Website: http://www.me.go.kr  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Packaging 
as paper packs, glass bottles, cans, plastics  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Sub Act on the 
Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources  
1. Draft partial amendment of the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Promotion of 
Saving and Recycling of Resources (19 pages, in Korea)  
2. Draft partial amendment of the Enforcement Rule of the Act on the Promotion of Saving 
and Recycling of Resources (31 pages, in Korean)  
6. Description of content:   
1. The Republic of Korea has amended the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling 
of Resources as of 24 December 2018, which will come into force on 25  December  2019. 
The amended Act requires that mate rials and structures of packaging be graded and 
evaluated according to their recyclability. Once the grades are determined, they should 
also be marked on the labels of products, which is to promote the production of easily 
recyclable packaging. The grades should be labelled on each product, but they have 
nothing to do with sales ban.  
2. The Amendment of sub -Act in August 2019 is for the enforcement procedures defined 
in the higher Act (Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources).  G/TBT/N/KOR/857  
 
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  3. A grace p eriod will be granted after the entry into force of the amended Act in 
consideration of industry's preparation period. Nine months will be granted for grading 
and evaluation and up to 15 months for labeling, which adds up to a total of 2 years for 
the enti re grace period.  
4. In addition, a ban will be imposed on PVC plastics and colored PET bottles, which have 
extremely negative impact on recycling process. However, if such packaging does not 
have substitutes available on the market or are closely related t o people's diet and 
medicines, they will be exempt from the ban. Colored PET bottles will be banned only for 
mineral water and drinks . 
5. In principle, a year is given to manufacturers to improve their products' recyclability. 
In case there have been chang es in manufacturing process or for similar reasons, a 3 -year 
improvement period is given, and if no improvement is made within this period, either 
the use of such product is banned or a fine is imposed.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Promotion of the production of easily recyclable packaging  
8. Relevant documents:   
• Ministry of Environment Public Notice No.2019 -645, 646 (29 August 2019)  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  December 2019  
Proposed date of entry into force:  25 December 2019  
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Division  
Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS)  
93 Isu -ro Maengdong -myeon Eumseong -gun Chungcheongbuk -do  
27737 Republic of Korea  
Tel : (+82) 43 870 5525  
Fax: (+82) 43 870 5682  
E-mail: tbt@kats.go.kr  
Website: http://www.knowtbt.kr  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2019/TBT/KOR/19_490 3_00_x.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2019/TBT/KOR/19_4903_01_x.pdf