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Government tosses strict regulations, eases garbage bag production, distribution

Published: 03 Apr. 2026, 15:55 Updated: 03 Apr. 2026, 18:38

A notice on limited purchases of standard plastic garbage bags is seen at a large supermarket in Seoul on March 27. [NEWS1]

The government will temporarily ease regulations on the production and distribution of standard plastic garbage bags and packaging materials. As instability in the supply of petrochemical raw materials, such as naphtha, intensifies due to the prolonged Iran war, the government has stepped in to relax regulations to prevent supply disruptions.

Relevant ministries announced a set of regulatory improvement measures to "ease supply chain bottlenecks" at a joint briefing on Friday.

“To address supply chain difficulties, we will temporarily defer or relax approval and review procedures required when companies import alternative items or switch production,” First Vice Minister of Finance and Economy Lee Hyoung-il said during the briefing. “By shortening the legislative revision process, eight of the 13 measures will take effect immediately.”

For standard plastic garbage bags, for which panic buying has continued, the government will shorten the quality inspection period from 10 days to within one day to ensure faster supply. It also plans to establish a coordination system among local governments to redistribute inventory from areas with sufficient stock to those facing shortages.

The government said the national average stock of garbage bags exceeds three months. It said bulk buying has disrupted supply.

“Considering overall stock levels and raw material reserves, supply capacity is sufficient,” said Kim Sung-whan, Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment, who inspected a production site on Friday. “Even if temporary shortages occur in some areas, we will address them through interregional redistribution.”

Workers are seen at a plastics factory manufacturing standard plastic garbage bags in Seo District, Incheon, on April 3. [NEWS1]

For packaging materials used in items such as instant noodle wrappers and hygiene products, labeling regulations will be eased. Under current rules, mandatory information such as expiration dates must be printed using ink or engraving. The government will allow sticker labeling when alternative materials are used.

For medical supplies such as IV fluids, sanitary pads and syringes, the approval process for changes in packaging materials — which normally takes one to two months — will be shortened.

The government will introduce a fast-track review system by assigning review personnel first. It will replace on-site Good Manufacturing Practice inspections with document reviews for facilities affected by packaging changes.

Workers are seen at a plastics factory manufacturing standard plastic garbage bags in Seo District, Incheon, on April 3. [YONHAP]

For chemical substances such as paint materials facing supply concerns, the standard three-month hazard testing requirement for new imports will be replaced by submission of a testing plan. This will shorten import timelines.

For key imports such as crude oil and naphtha, customs clearance procedures will be completed before arrival and unloading so that materials can be used immediately. Current procedures tend to delay use even after arrival.

For imports from the Middle East, increased shipping costs due to detours around the Strait of Hormuz will be excluded from tariff calculations. In addition, special customs measures will apply to “return cargo” originally bound for the Middle East, including reduced inspections and minimized fines.

“We will operate a standing regulatory improvement system to monitor supply chain bottlenecks,” Lee said. “If companies report difficulties through relevant ministries, we will support regulatory relief.”

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY NAM SOO-HYOUN [[email protected]]