Do you have information on alternatives to uses of chromium trioxide?

ECHA has launched a public consultation on two applications for authorisation covering three uses of chromium trioxide (EC 215-607-8; CAS 1333-82-0) in the electroplating sector. More information about the uses that authorisation is applied for, including the description of the function of the substance, exposure scenarios, possible alternatives identified by the applicants, together with socio-economic information, is available on ECHA's website. Comments can be submitted until 7 January 2016 (23:59 Helsinki time).

Applications for authorisation - current consultations

Infographic: see how risk management processes are interconnected

An infographic outlining how various authorities' activities and regulatory processes are interconnected is available on ECHA's website. It illustrates the different steps substances can go through during the regulatory risk management process and shows the different lists in which substances can be found, for example the Community rolling action plan and Authorisation List. You can navigate easily from the infographic to the relevant pages on ECHA's website to learn more about the activities.

Infographic on the Substances of potential concern web page

Guidance on substance identification for essential oils translated

The English version of the guidance prepared by the European industry associations for essential oils was published in August. It has now been translated into seven EU languages: Bulgarian, German, Spanish, French, Croatian, Italian and Portuguese. The limited number of language versions is due to the limited number of Member States producing essential oil.

Sector-specific support for substance identification | News item (11 August)

Further substances assessed by authorities

The Netherlands is carrying out a risk management option analysis (RMOA) for kieselguhr, soda ash flux-calcined (EC 272-489-0; CAS 68855-54-9).

For α,α,α,4-tetrachlorotoluene (EC 226-009-1; CAS 5216-25-1), the Netherlands has scrutinised the PBT assessment carried out under previous EU chemicals legislation and confirmed that, according to their assessment, the substance is not PBT/vPvB (persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic or very persistent and very bioaccumulative).

Check the public activities coordination table (PACT) for monthly updates on which substances are undergoing informal hazard assessment or risk management option analysis by authorities.

Public activities coordination table

Registry of intentions updated

Germany plans to submit a dossier to propose the identification of benzo[def]chrysene (benzo[a]pyrene) (EC 200-028-5; CAS 50-32-8) as a substance of very high concern (SVHC). The expected submission date is 1 February 2016.

Current SVHC intentions

Follow workshop on 'Streamlining applications for authorisation' live

17 November 2015, Brussels

The European Commission and ECHA are organising a workshop to further improve the functioning of the application for authorisation process. The workshop will focus on two aspects: how to make 'fit-for-purpose' applications in general and how to fulfil the information requirements for 'upstream' applications. It is a follow-up to the 'Lessons Learned' conference on applications for authorisation, held in Helsinki on 10-11 February 2015. Follow the workshop live through web-streaming, which will be activated on the day of the event.

Follow live | Event page

Workshop on soil risk assessment – see video on outcomes

The Topical Scientific Workshop on Soil Risk Assessment brought over 200 experts to ECHA on 7 and 8 October to discuss the state of the art on how to assess the impact of chemicals on the soil. You can now watch a full video recording of the event. See also our interviews with a few of the participants on the main outcomes. Read more in ECHA's upcoming Newsletter.

Event page | Video interviews

REACH 2018 webinar: Find your co-registrants and prepare to work together

18 November 2015, 11:00 - 12:00, Helsinki time

Does your company have previous experience of registering chemicals under the REACH Regulation? If not, this webinar is for you. We will show you how to retrieve your pre-registrations in REACH-IT and check if your substance has been already registered. You will learn how to find the companies you need to work with to register jointly. You will also get tips on how to start cooperating in a substance information exchange forum (SIEF). A Q&A session at the end of the webinar will address any outstanding issues related to the topic. This is the second webinar of a series focusing on practical information to successfully register by the deadline of 31 May 2018.

Register | REACH 2018 web pages | REACH 2018 webinar: Know your portfolio and start preparing now