The situation regarding Chromium Consortia is as follows:

There are three families of products:

- Chrome Alloys: Ferrochromium and Ferrosilicochromium

Following a joint effort of the Chrome alloy Consortium, Eurométaux, Eurofer, Euroalliages and other organisations, a meeting with the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) took place on 7th September 2009 to discuss the registration of alloys. The purpose of this meeting was to clarify the specific nature of alloys with the Agency and the approaches followed by the industry for the registration of their products. Regarding the registration dossier a steering group meeting was organised with FIOH and KTH to discuss the Chemical Safety Assessments of FeCr and FeSiCr. This meeting took place in Stokholm, Sweden on 8th September 2009. On behalf of the Chrome Alloys Consortium, Keller and Heckman contacted IPIA which is managing the iron platform to discuss data sharing on the iron dossier. The discussion to join the iron platform or request access to data is pending on the completion of data gap analysis.
Still on behalf of the Chrome Alloys Consortium, Keller and Heckman was involved in discussion with Eurofer and ISSF to discuss data sharing. A draft data sharing agreement was proposed by Eurofer in collaboration with ISSF. This agreement is based on a reciprocal and license free exchange of studies. Negotiations to be finalized shortly.
Data sharing is also being discussed with the Chrome Chemicals working group.
The website for Chrome Alloys and Chrome Metal Consortia is now online at www.reach-chrome.com
Through this website the Consortia will be able to communicate with SIEF Members via group specific mailing and enquiries. Questionnaires will be sent shortly to SIEF Members.
The contact person is Ms. Anne-Laure Saint-Girons: saint-girons@khlaw.be

- Chrome Metal

The Consortium is now composed of 5 companies,  LSM and Delachaux, lead companies, have been joined by 3 new members.
The Chrome Metal Agreement is now available, please contact Ms. Anne-Laure Saint-Girons from Keller and Heckman to get a copy of this document.
At the previous Consortium meeting it was agreed that the chrome metal team would follow precisely the same approach as the Chrome Alloy Consortium, namely that KTH would carry out the necessary in vitro studies including T/DP testing and FIOH would prepare the CSA and the registration dossier. A small group within the Consortium is actively working on the technical aspects of the preparation of the registration dossier and the outsourcing of testing. A work plan is being put in place for registration. Update on further developments to be sent shortly. Similarly to Chrome Alloys, the website is now online at www.reach-chrome.com
The contact person is  Mr. Jean-François Chamaly from Delachaux.

- Chrome Chemicals

The Consortium agreement has been signed by the founding Members. For every substance included in the Consortium a lead registrant has been identified and communicated to ECHA.
The lead registrants have contacted all pre-registrants to find out about their level of interest and form the SIEF.
TSG Europe is creating a website with all relevant data to be launched shortly .
The contact person is Mr. Louis Wyness: louis.wyness@tsgeurope.com

Any enquiry should be sent to the ICDA Secretariat which will forward them to the relevant group.