South Korea Tightens Bottled Water Safety Rules

New rules limit reusable containers to 10 years, cap shelf life at two years, and strengthen storage and inspection standards.

South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment will strengthen safety rules for bottled water from July 31. The revised regulations are intended to prevent quality deterioration during production, distribution and storage, particularly from summer heat, direct sunlight and repeated use of large water containers.

Under the new rules, bottled water should generally be stored indoors, with curtains, blinds or other shielding installed where sunlight may enter through windows. When outdoor storage is unavoidable, businesses must use covers or other measures to block direct sunlight. A two-year grace period will apply to these storage requirments.

Reusable polycarbonate containers holding 10 liters or more will be limited to a service life of 10 years. Containers with foreign substances, odors or visible damage must be discarded immediately, and the manufacturing date must be marked on the bottom. Containers older than 10 years may no longer be used after the rules take effect, while businesses will receive a one-year grace period for the date-labelling requirement.

The ministry will also set a maximum shelf life of two years and clarify the documents and procedures required for extensions. Inspections of companies that violate drinking-water quality standards will be required at least once every quarter, while market sampling tests will be conducted at least four times a year, including during summer. The expanded inspections will also cover large-capacity bottled-water products.