ECHA suspends processing chromates applications
In January 2026 ECHA communicated
to ADCR that they will suspend processing of the Review Reports ADCR submitted to ECHA in 2024 (see table of Tranche 2 submissions on ADCR and Chromates Reauthorisation). ADCR Tranche 2 Review Reports covered three substances and four uses. The reason for ECHA’s suspension is directly related to the ongoing restriction process of Cr(VI) substances under REACH.
For all Review Reports submitted by ADCR, the use can continue under transitional measures according to REACH Article 61.1, until the future Cr(VI) restriction enters into force, or until the European Commission makes a different decision.
Other news items:
On 19 January 2026 Defra granted Decisions for the three initial applications (AFA059, AFA061 and AFA063) which we published as news on 3 February. The granted review period for these three applications is 12 years. The Decisions are available on Authorisation decisions: UK REACH - GOV.UK . The Defra Decision come with a series of conditions that users of chromates should be fulfilling and these measures will apply from the 19 August 2026. To support the sharing of these GB obligations the ADCR Service Team prepared Formal Communication Letters that were shared with the Authorisation Holders for disseminating to their downstream users. These ADCR formal Communication letters have now been added to ADCR Guidance and Support , the letters set out the Authorisation conditions and monitoring arrangements as well for existing stock and REACH Article 66 obligations. For the four review report applications AFA058, AFA060, AFA062 and AFA064, Defra is expecting to make their decisions later in March 2026. As these applications are all review reports the use can continue until Defra makes its decision. The ADCR Service Team will update guidance documents on the ADCR website to cover the obligations of the Defra ADCR Authorisation decisions. The guidance is intended for Downstream Users of soluble chromates in GB. ADCR will also hold a webinar later in spring 2026 (April/May) to present the UK decisions and conditions.