FLORHAM PARK, NJ--(Marketwired - Sep 17, 2014) -  As a member of the Public Access to Sun Screens (PASS) Coalition, BASF (LSE: BFA) supports the Sunscreen Innovation Act, which today was approved by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), led by Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Ranking Republican Lamar Alexander (R-TN). The legislation reforms the current sunscreen approval process of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by creating a timely and transparent process by which FDA will evaluate applications for new, safe and effective sunscreen ingredients, which are regulated as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Enactment of this bill into law will help provide Americans access to the latest sunscreen ingredients, some of which have been widely available for 15 years in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

"BASF commends the Senate HELP committee and Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) for their leadership and support on moving Sunscreen Innovation Act forward. Today's vote represents a significant step towards ensuring the timely review of new sun protection ingredients by the FDA. BASF encourages the full Senate to consider the Act as soon as possible, and looks forward to continuing to focus on innovation and the development of new UV filters that will provide US consumers with a wider array of safe and effective sunscreen products," said Dirk Buengel, Senior Vice President Care Chemicals for BASF in North America.

The PASS Coalition is a multi-stakeholder coalition of health organizations, sunscreen ingredient companies, dermatologists and concerned citizens who worked collaboratively with the FDA, the White House, Congress, health providers, consumer organizations and sunscreen manufacturers to establish a framework for approval of the next generation of UV actives for Over-the-Counter (OTC) sunscreens.

If enacted into law, the Sunscreen Innovation Act can lead to FDA approval of BASF UV filters for OTC sunscreen products in the U.S., which include the Tinosorb and Uvinul lines of filters which are currently being sold in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Tinosorb® M is a BASF sunscreen active ingredient which provides exceptional UVA and UVB coverage. Tinosorb M combines the properties of both organic and inorganic sunscreen filters. It has high UV absorption like a soluble organic sunscreen active and the insolubility, low penetration and light scattering properties of an inorganic sunscreen active.

Tinosorb® S is a highly efficient broad spectrum UV absorber. Due to its high efficiency, a reduced amount is needed to achieve UV protection allowing the ability to produce products which are cost effective and aesthetically superior.

Uvinul® T 150 UV filter provides extremely strong absorbance in the UVB spectrum for highly effective protection from sunburn. It is photostable and causes no degradation when used in combination with other UV filters. Since chemists and formulators can use less of this active ingredient due to powerful synergies with other UV filters, the potential for irritation when applied to the skin is minimized.

About BASF Care Chemicals
 BASF Care Chemicals division offers a broad range of ingredients for hygiene, personal care, home care, industrial & institutional cleaning, and technical applications. We are the global leading supplier for the cosmetics industry as well as the detergents and cleaners industry and support our customers with innovative and sustainable products, solutions and concepts. The division's high-performance product portfolio includes surfactants, emulsifiers, polymers, emollients, chelating agents, cosmetic active ingredients, pigments and UV filters. Superabsorbent polymers developed for the full spectrum of hygiene applications complete the range. We have production and development sites in all regions and are expanding our presence in emerging markets. We are where our customers need us around the world.

About BASF
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has nearly 17,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $19.3 billion in 2013. For more information about BASF's North American operations, visit www.basf.us.

At BASF, we create chemistry -- and have been doing so for 150 years. Our portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. As the world's leading chemical company, we combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of about EUR 74 billion in 2013 and over 112,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.