Chromium(VI): CETS and ECHA in technical exchange
Representatives of the European surface association CETS visited the European Chemicals Agency ECHA in Helsinki on November 13, 2023. The reason for this was the mandate recently issued by the EU Commission to ECHA to develop restriction options for chromium trioxide. The aim is to transfer the substance from Annex 14 of REACH (substances subject to authorization) to Annex 17 (restricted substances).
ECHA was represented at the meeting in Helsinki by three persons from the Risk Management Unit who are essential for the restriction and who are to transfer the experience from the authorization in order to avoid known problems. CETS was represented by Jaakko Kapanen, Finland, Vice-President of CETS, Dr. Markus Dahlhaus, Germany, Plating on Plastics Association (POP) FGK, and Dr. Malte-Matthias Zimmer, Germany, President of CETS and ZVO Head of Environmental and Chemicals Policy.
The meeting came about as a result of an agreement in February 2023 with Dr. Sharon McGuinness, Executive Director of ECHA. It had been agreed to exchange information on newly emerging relevant topics. It took place in a very open and friendly environment. Many aspects of the upcoming challenge were seen in a similar light. ECHA will now carry out initial preparatory work on a proposal that will result in a "call for evidence". The offer of CETS to be available at short notice at any time to discuss open questions was positively received. The participants agreed that this task offers great potential for improvement for authorities and industry. They also agreed that an analysis of the causes of the exclusive failure of the authorization approach for chromium trioxide is necessary. Neither side saw a fundamental problem with the authorization process or the ECHA's procedures. The CETS Executive Committee will continue to monitor the issue and follow it as closely as possible.