Evaluation of Material and Structure
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Information on the System

About the Packaging Material and Structure Evaluation System

A system implemented to induce producers obligated to recycle to voluntarily improve of the materials and structures of packaging materials by inducing consumers to purchase certain products and imposing differentiated charges in order to ultimately facilitate the recycling of packaging materials
[Basis: Amendment and promulgation of the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources (entered into force on Dec. 25, 2019)]

Application Targets

Producers obligated to recycle under Article 16 (1) of the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources

Evaluation Targets

Packaging materials produced by producers obligated to recycle
Basis: Article 18 subparagraphs 1 through 3 of the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources]

Evaluation and Labeling Process

1. Self-evaluation by a producer obligated to recycle → 2. Evaluation checked by the KECO →

3. Labeling of evaluation results

Self-Evaluation by Producer Obligated to Recycle

Perform a visual analysis, instrumental analysis, or tests, in accordance with attached Table 2 (Method of Judging the Material and Structure of Packaging Material and Ease of Recycling) of the Standards for Grade Assessment of the Ease of Recycling Packaging Materials (Ministry of Environment Notice), and rate the ease of recycling according to attached Table 1

Evaluation Checked by the KECO

Application period : After performing the self-evaluation, producers obligated to recycle must submit a packaging material and structure evaluation application to the Chairperson of the KECO before selling products using the packaging material they have manufactured or imported

List of Application Documents
- Packaging material and structure evaluation application form (Form 1 of the Enforcement Rule of the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources)
- Results of the self-evaluation of the packaging material and structure (Form 1 of the Operating Guidelines on the Evaluation, etc. of Packaging Materials and Structures)
- Evidentiary documents concerning the self-evaluation results (except in cases where a “poor recyclability” was the result)

Processing period : 10 days

Submitted to : KECO via the computer system t(www.iepr.or.kr)

Labeling of Ease of Recycling (Evaluation Result)

Packaging material rated as “poor recyclability,” except for packaging materials that do not require a separate disposal label (each item under Article 16 Subparagraph 1 of the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources)
(optional for the producer obligated to recycle, in case the ease of recycling is average or better)
Film/sheet-type packaging materials made of PVC or PVDC, among packaging materials that do not require a separate disposal label, require the labeling of ease of recycling [Basis: Notice of the Labeling Standards for Packaging Material and Structural Grade (Draft) No. 2019-646]

Grade Assessment and Labeling Procedures

Transition Period

A 9-month transition period (Dec. 25, 2019 to Sep. 24, 2020) after the Act regarding the grade assessment (ease of recycling) comes into force, in consideration of the number of enterprises and their products and packaging materials that need to be evaluated
Producers obligated to recycle who launched a product whose packaging material and structure were not checked by the KECO after the transition period (Sep. 4, 2020) will be fined

Packaging Materials Subject to Improvement and Exceptions

Category Material and structure of products and packaging materials subject to improvement (prohibited use) Exceptions (products and packaging materials that can be used)*
PVC
(incl. PVCD)		 · All packaging materials excluding exceptions
  - Laminated using PVC material, or shrink wrap or coated packaging (Incl. labels attached to the container of the product) 		· When applied (coated) to the lid that is detachable from the body
· Shrink wrapped medicinal products, quasi-drugs and health functional foods
· Compressed packaged medicinal products, quasi-drugs and health functional foods and edible oils
· Hams and sausages (including fish sausages) that can be distributed and sold at room temperature after high-temperature heating sterilization
· Food packaging wrap used for packaging livestock and marine products
· Products recognized by the Minister of Environment as exceptions
Drinking spring water and beverages* · Colored PET bottles
· Hot melt, alkaline inseparable bonds (adhesives)		 · Colorless PET bottles
· Hot melt, alkaline separable bonds (adhesives)*
· Products recognized by the Minister of Environment as exceptions
* Drinking spring water: Water falling under Article 3 Subparagraph 3 of the 「Drinking Water Management Act」 that is physically treated, etc. to be made suitable as drinking spring water
* Beverages: 9. Beverages in the codes of food in 「Food Criteria and Standards」 No. 2019-31 (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Apr. 26, 2019)
* Hot melt, alkaline separable bonds (adhesives): Adhesives that get separated when reacted with sodium hydroxide (2%) at a certain temperature (80℃) during the recycling process

Enforcement Date

Dec. 25, 2019

Improvement Order

Grant an opportunity for producers obligated to recycle to submit an opinion prior to the issuance of an improvement order (within 10 days of notification) and then notify them to make improvements within 1 year (up to 3 years)
* If it is difficult to make improvements within 1 year due to a need to change the manufacturing process, etc., the improvement period may be extended for 2 more years.

Order to Suspend Manufacture, Import, and/or Sales

If a producer obligated to recycle does not adhere to the order to make improvements, he/she will be issued a suspension order
(Penalty surcharge in place of the suspension order) A penalty surcharge is imposed in place of a suspension order if it is deemed that the failure to comply with the order was due to technical limitations and suspension of sales will have a substantial impact on the public interest such as public health, etc.
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