Chromium (VI) Compounds: EU Seeks to Extend Restriction
The EU Commission has asked the ECHA to develop a REACH restriction proposal. The request covers chromium trioxide and chromic acid along with all eleven chromium (VI) compounds currently on the authorization list for substances of very high concern (Annex XIV of REACH).
In addition to chromium trioxide and chromic acid (entries 16 and 17 in Annex XIV of the REACH Regulation), the compounds include:
- Sodium dichromate (18)
- Potassium dichromate (19)
- Ammonium dichromate (20)
- Potassium chromate (21)
- Sodium chromate (22)
- Dichromium tris(chromate) (28)
- Strontium chromate (29)
- Potassium hydroxyocta-oxodizincate-dichromate (30)
- Pentazinc chromate octahydroxide (31)
Substances not yet listed in Annex XIV of REACH, such as barium chromate, could also be integrated into the restriction proposal.
With this step, the EU wants to prevent the industry from switching to these chromium (VI) compounds from the outset, a “regrettable substitution,” and overwhelming the ECHA with a flood of applications for authorization.
ECHA is to submit the restriction proposal by April 11, 2025.
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