Criticism of the BASF AG

Lobbyist on the staff of a German federal ministry

The critical German television programme “Monitor” brought to light that, from 2004 to 2005, a BASF staffer was employed as an “external staff member” in the German Federal Ministry of Economics in a team responsible for applying the proposed new EU chemical guidelines called “REACH” (registration, evaluation, authorization of chemicals). The REACH guidelines represented a serious problem for the BASF, since it proposed to compel the chemical industry to test a wide variety of substances in common use that had never been tested for possible dangerous side effects.

The BASF introduced its staffer with the clear intention of impeding the REACH provisions, since the more tests required, the greater the cost to the firm. In the end the European chemical lobby was able to water down significantly the provisions of the REACH, to the detriment of consumer interests.

Phthalates

“Phthalates, common plasticizing agents that are hazardous to health, are found in rain gear, T-shirts, cosmetics, contact lenses, shower curtains, infusion tubes and paints. Via breathing, eating, and skin contact, they enter the body. Measurements on specimens of mother milk have revealed levels of 160 microgram of the BASF phthalate DEHP per kilogram body weight. Thus a three month old baby takes up four times as much DEHP as the Federal Institute of Risk Estimation regards as acceptable.”

Quotation from the Greenpeace Online Report
“BASF makes money with health hazards”