Written on 05.04.2013 - Industry
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KOREA (SOUTH): Chemical accidents face tough sanctions

The government said Thursday (4 Apr. 2013) that it will introduce a “three strikes and you’re out” regulation on chemical accidents, urging companies to tighten their safety control of toxic substances.

In a report to President Park Geun-hye, the Ministry of Environment said that it will order the shutdown of a company in the case it has three chemical accidents.

“The biggest cause of chemical accidents is clumsy management. We will sternly deal with those accidents by shutting down companies which have three accidents in three to five years,” said Seo Young-taek, an official of the ministry.

Seo said repeated chemical accidents that occurred earlier this year made the ministry launch such a strict regulation. A series of chemical accidents by large companies set off alarm bells at the country’s ability to manage toxic substances.

The environment ministry said it will revise related laws by the end of this month. The new rules are expected to go into effect at the end of next year.

Source: Daily "The Korea Times", Seoul; 4 Apr 2013

(Syed Rashid Ali, Karachi, Pakistan)