ChromeXtend is an initiative launched by K.Walter to secure an authorization from the European Commission that is tailored to the specific requirements of the gravure and embossing industry. The aim is to enable continued long-term use of chromium(VI), beyond 2024, in line with the highest possible safety standards.

We will keep you up to date on how the application is progressing in our helioscope newsletter and on our website. Should you have any specific questions on this matter, please feel free to contact us at any time by emailing chrome@kwalter.de.

The European Commission’s revised application for authorization needs to be voted on again at the REACH Committee’s next meeting. This vote will take place at the meeting on either November 19/20, 2019 or February 3/4, 2020.

The Commission is expected to continue supporting the CTACSub application and agree to the authorization of the uses covered by the application.

Despite the delays in the authorization process, downstream users will still be allowed to utilize chromium trioxide during the defined review period.

K.Walter will naturally keep its customers informed of any relevant changes in the authorization process. If you have any questions, please phone +49 (0)89 78596-0 or send an e-mail to chrome@kwalter.de.

The recent decision by the European Commission with regard to chromium authorization has resulted in the following change:

Although the EU Parliament has approved the draft, the European Commission is still to revise it. We do not anticipate there will be any major changes to the content of the draft. However, the indicated timeline will be extended. It can also be assumed that the review period as a whole will remain unaffected (September 21, 2024).

The next decision is likely to be made during the next REACH Committee meeting in mid-June. Although, on the whole, we can only speculate as to the outcome of this decision, we will nonetheless keep you up to date on developments and document all the necessary steps for you. In the meantime, should you have any questions, you can still reach us on +49 (0)89 78596-0 or by sending an email to chrome@kwalter.de.

Following the decision made by the REACH Committee on February 15, 2019, we are delighted to inform you of the following:

The European Commission has agreed to authorize the use of Cr(VI) for functional hard chrome plating (application 2, incl. “gravure”) for seven years. The authorization period begins on the sunset date of September 21, 2017 and is thus valid till September 21, 2024.

The following action plan (excerpt) has been drawn up in light of this decision: