ZVO Continues European Dialogue on Chromium(VI)

The discussion on chromium(VI) regulations took place in collaboration with ZVO’s partner association, VECCO (European Association for Hard Chromium Plating), and the Austrian Surface Technology Association (AOT). The goal was to highlight the significant impact of the proposed restriction on the European surface treatment industry as well as on numerous downstream industries, and to directly incorporate the perspectives of the affected companies into the political decision-making process. The discussion focused in particular on the currently proposed occupational exposure limit. The ZVO and VECCO made it clear that, from a practical standpoint, the requirements under discussion are neither technically nor economically feasible. Implementation would present numerous hard chrome plating companies with virtually insurmountable challenges and entail significant risks for industrial supply chains in Europe.

Hard Chrome Plating as an Indispensable Key Technology

The associations emphasized that hard chrome plating is an indispensable key technology for numerous applications in the fields of mechanical engineering, the automotive industry, aerospace, energy technology, and the defense industry. A regulatory approach that cannot be implemented in industrial practice would not lead to a sustainable improvement in health or environmental protection, but would rather encourage the relocation of production to third countries. As a result, value creation, expertise, and jobs would leave Europe, while the relevant applications would continue to be manufactured outside Europe. Against this backdrop, ZVO and VECCO appealed to the Austrian Ministry of Economic Affairs to incorporate the industry’s practical experience into its national position and to advocate for balanced and proportionate regulation in the ongoing European decision-making process as well as in the Council of the European Union. The officials responsible showed great interest in the technical and economic context of the arguments presented. The intensive discussion made it clear that the impacts of the proposed regulations on industrial value chains are being carefully analyzed. The Ministry pledged to carefully review the arguments presented and to incorporate them into its further position-setting.

ZVO Advocates for Balanced Chromium(VI) Regulation

For the ZVO, direct dialogue with member states is a key component of its political advocacy. Particularly in the ongoing European proceedings, the positions taken by national governments are of crucial importance. The goal remains to achieve regulations that ensure a high level of health and environmental protection while remaining technically feasible and not jeopardizing the competitiveness of European industry. The ZVO will consistently continue its dialogue with the European institutions, the member states, and its partner associations, and will continue to advocate for a science-based, practical, and industrially balanced framework for chromium(VI) regulation.