Starting July 1, 2026, the sale and distribution of unapproved biocidal products, including disinfectants and insecticides, will be officially banned in South Korea. The Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment announced on June 28 that this measure is part of a broader initiative to reorganize the market, focusing strictly on government-verified, approved products.

Biocidal products, designed to eliminate or control harmful organisms, are required to undergo rigorous evaluation of their safety, efficacy, and performance before they can enter the market. This policy shift follows the government’s commitment to preventing tragedies similar to the 2011 humidifier disinfectant scandal, which led to numerous casualties and heightened public demand for stringent chemical regulation.

In 2019, the government enacted the 'Act on the Safety Management of Consumer Chemical Products and Biocides.' Since then, it has provided a grace period for existing products to undergo the necessary approval process. With the expiration of this grace period for everyday biocidal products like disinfectants and insecticides, products that failed to file for approval by the deadline will be pulled from shelves starting July 1.

However, products that applied for approval within the mandated timeframe and are currently under evaluation will be permitted for continued manufacture, import, and distribution until the end of 2026.

The Ministry also noted that it will phase out marketing and labeling practices that misleadingly categorize general cleaning products as 'biocidal' by using terms such as 'antibacterial,' 'sterilization,' or 'disinfection' without official certification.

“We are committed to correcting misleading advertisements and ensuring that consumers can choose products with confidence,” said Cho Hyun-soo, Director General of Environmental Health at the Ministry.

Consumers are advised to check the product label for an official approval number and the 'Biocidal Product' mark. They can also verify the status of a product through the Chemical Product Safety Portal (me.go.kr) to determine if it is officially approved or currently under evaluation.