The European Commission plans to propose a ban on the use of the biocide dimethylfumarate (DMF) in all consumer products sold in the European Union (EU). The EU’s biocidal products directive (BPD) already prohibits the use of DMF on goods made in the region; the ban would expand the restriction to imports. DMF-containing products currently on the market would be recalled and withdrawn “without delay” under the proposal, the commission says. DMF is used to prevent mold that may deteriorate leather, furniture, or footwear in humid climates.
The proposal follows reports of severe allergic reactions to the biocide in Finland, France, Poland, Sweden, and the U.K. France already has a ban in place on the sale of seating and footwear containing DMF, and Belgium has a six-month ban in place on all products containing DMF, the commission says. Spain is considering a ban, it adds.
Separately, suppliers say that some regulations, including the EU’s BPD, will further consolidate parts of the biocide market. “Within [Lonza’s] Hygiene and Preservation business, we continue to see potential in markets where local regulations are creating a demand for more sophisticated technologies,” Jeanne Thoma, head/Microbial Control Business Unit at Lonza, told CW recently. The unit includes Lonza’s Hygiene and Preservation business, which provides active ingredients and formulated products, as well as analytical and regulatory services.
“The regulatory environment, which creates a market for our technologies, also makes it very difficult to introduce new active ingredients,” Thoma says. “Therefore, our efforts for innovation must focus on all aspects of our business from sourcing and manufacturing to finished formulations and other product and service offerings.”
The recession is another factor that is expected to affect the antimicrobial market. “We expect 2009 to be a challenging year,” Thoma says. However, “headwinds in our traditional markets of Europe and North America will be balanced with opportunities in China, India, Russia, and South America.”
The “unprecedented” volatility in the raw material market last year helped Lonza identify “some gaps in our supply chain processes, from our forecasting tools to our ability to quickly and effectively pass along price adjustments to our customers,” Thoma says. The company says it has addressed the most critical of the gaps and launched a global supply chain initiative to improve processes and reduce costs. It did not elaborate further on the initiative.
Meanwhile, Troy (Florham Park, NJ) recently announced price increases of 5%-18% for certain preservatives, effective January 30 or as contracts allow. Troy cites higher raw material and regulatory compliance costs, which have not been offset by lower energy, freight, and petroleum-related raw material costs. —ESTHER D’AMICO
AND REBECCA COONS
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