Brussels — Two independent bodies have agreed with BASF's risk assessments of foam produced from contaminated TDI produced between August and September 2017.
One independent evaluation was organised by EuroPUR, the European flexible foam Association, and was carried out by Thomas Schupp a professor of the University of Applied Sciences of Munster, Germany.
The conclusions of professor Schupp’s ‘comprehensive risk evaluation support those all risk assessments performed by BASF,’ said EuroPUR.
‘These worst-case risk evaluations will be supplemented with a qualitative report based on test results received from the affected companies. All documents will be provided to companies which were supplied with contaminated TDI,’ EuroPUR added.
Separately tests by the Bavarian state office for health and food safety also supported the conclusions of BASF's risk assessment, EuroPUR said.
More details have emerged about BASF’s response to the situation. The firm confirmed that it warned ‘most affected customers’ by telephone on 4 October, and sent letters to all the affected customers on 5 October 2017. It delayed making a public statement until 11 October ‘as we wanted to have a fact-based discussion with the customers who were directly impacted,’ the firm added.
In response for more clarity from foamers, BASF added that ‘compensation topics will be clarified with our customers. Recall of furniture products already in retail outlets, if any, is a matter for the manufacturers.’