On 15 May 2024, ECHA launched an 8 week public consultation for 12 applications for Authorisation for the following substance:

1. https://substances.hive.yordasgroup.com/r/ID000001 Chromium trioxide

   - Formulation of mixtures (containing chromium trioxide)

   - Chromium trioxide based functional chrome plating of components which through their function in the respective application contribute to the overall safety of the (public) transportation industry (aerospace/aeronautic, automotive, marine and rail) and are bound to sector-specific approval procedures

   - Chromium trioxide based functional chrome plating of components which in their application must be completely inert (no transfer of coating or substrate material to contact material) due to contact with products such as chemicals, medicine, food, etc. and are therefore strictly regulated and bound to sector-specific approval procedures

   - Chromium trioxide based functional chrome plating of axially/rotationally symmetrical components with simple surface geometry which in their application must withstand harsh environmental conditions (mechanical and/or thermal loads and/or aggressive chemical environment) and are bound to sector-specific approval procedures

   - Chromium trioxide based functional chrome plating of complex shaped components (incl. 3 dimensional/complex shaped components having no axis of symmetry and components with one axis of symmetry but complex surface geometry) with various dimensions (length x width x height; weight) which require the application of (individually manufactured) auxiliary anodes/cathodes to achieve homogenous chrome coating on surface to be plated

   - Chromium trioxide based functional chrome plating of components with various dimensions and simple geometries the surfaces of which can be coated with a homogenous chrome coating applying a basic combination of main anode and cathode (no auxiliary anode required)

   - Chromium trioxide-based pre-treatment covering functional cleaning, pickling/etching, deoxidising, desmutting and stripping (inorganic/organic coatings) of components applied in the aeronautics and aerospace industries

   - Chromium trioxide-based main treatment covering chemical conversion coating (CCC) (also referred to as chromating, chromate conversion and alodining) and passivation (of stainless steel) of components applied in the aeronautics and aerospace industries

   - Chromium trioxide-based main treatment covering chromic acid anodizing (CAA) of components applied in the aeronautics and aerospace industries

   - Chromium trioxide-based main treatment covering slurry coating (sacrificial coatings and slurry (diffusion) coatings) (also referred to as paint or primer coatings) of components applied in the aeronautics and aerospace industries

   - Chromium trioxide-based post treatment covering sealing after anodizing, passivation of (non-Al) metallic coatings on steel (such as cadmium coatings, zinc coatings, zinc-nickel coatings, etc.) and rinsing after phosphating of components applied in the aeronautics and aerospace industries

   - Chromium trioxide-based surface treatment (except passivation of tin-plated steel (electrolytic tin plating - ETP)) for applications in building, automotive, metal manufacturing and finishing, and general engineering industry sectors, unrelated to functional chrome plating

Information concerning exposure scenarios, possible alternatives identified by the applicants, together with socio-economic information, is available on ECHA’s website. The deadline for submitting comments is 10 July 2024.