Issue 39/2012 - Cobalt is temporarily exempted from REACH authorization

Cobalt substances are temporarily exempt from REACH authorization

Recently, the European Commission notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of its proposal
to add a part of the substance to the REACH authorized list.
Eight of these substances have been included in the European Chemicals Agency's (ECHA) Third Recommended Authorization List: trichloroethylene, chromium trioxide, chromium trioxide-derived acids and oligomers, sodium dichromate, potassium dichromate, ammonium dichromate, potassium chromate and sodium
chromate.
However, all cobalt substances on the ECHA Recommended List are not included in this proposal: cobalt(II) sulfate, cobalt(II) dinitrate, cobalt(II) diacetate, cobalt(II) carbonate and cobalt
chloride.

The Cobalt Development Institute understands this, but requests ECHA to prepare a proposal for Annex XV restrictions on REACH to control the use of cobalt in surface treatment in order to effectively control the risk
to human health.
(Li Weisong)