BASF calls for risk-based chemical regulations at F+L Week 2025

At F+L Week 2025 in Bali, Indonesia, Dr. Kai Pahnke, head of Product Stewardship & Regulatory Solutions for Performance Chemicals Asia Pacific at BASF, addressed the growing complexity of chemical regulations.

Countries such as China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines have followed a more classical inventory-style approach to chemical legislation.  These nations maintain a list of approved chemicals—if a chemical is on the list, it can be imported and used. If it is not on the list, a notification process for new substances is required. 

From inventory-based to more hazard-focused chemical regulations

Pahnke highlighted a shift from classic inventory-based chemical regulations to more hazard-focused, REACH-like legislation. REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals. It is a regulation of the European Union (EU) that aims to ensure a high level of protection for human health and the environment from risks posed by chemicals.

Europe was the first region to adopt REACH, and now other countries–such as Korea and Taiwan, are following suit. In these regions, every local chemical producer or the first importer of a chemical substance must register each substance used in a product.

The number of chemical regulations will continue to grow, warned Pahnke. “They will not go away—they will increase over time,” he said. He pointed to emerging regulations in countries like Vietnam, where a new chemical law is expected to be announced soon, and Thailand, which already has an inventory in place but has yet to enforce it. In India, discussions have been ongoing for years, but the final regulations are still pending. Pahnke provided guidance on how companies can navigate these complex and evolving regulatory environments.

A risk-based approach to chemical regulations

A major shift in chemical regulations, according to Pahnke, is the growing trend toward hazard-based evaluations. Increasingly, regulators are scrutinizing data and studies, adopting a more stringent approach to identifying hazardous chemicals. In this framework, chemicals deemed hazardous are prohibited from use, even in closed applications where the risk of harm seems minimal. Pahnke explained how these regulatory measures are impacting sustainability and innovation in the fuels and lubes industry.  

Pahnke advocated for a risk-based approach to chemical regulation, one that considers both the intrinsic properties of chemicals and their practical applications. While some chemicals may possess hazardous properties, they are often essential for product performance and innovation. He emphasised that the chemical industry has the competence and expertise to manage these substances responsibly and is committed to supporting sustainability goals.

Pahnke cited the example of two lubricant additives that are currently under significant regulatory pressure: substituted diphenylamine-based antioxidants and metal deactivators. Both are highly efficient, cost-competitive, and widely used in their respective applications, but there are no immediate drop-in alternatives, at least none in the required volumes. Pahnke noted that the EU is reclassifying these substances and potentially moving toward a ban on their use in consumer applications.