BASF, a major producer of nutraceutical ingredients and other specialty chemicals, has declared force majeure for the delivery of select vitamins A and E, carotenoids, and aroma products until further notice. The news comes after a fire that shut down the company’s production plant in Ludwigshafen, Germany on July 29.
 
The force majeure declaration is intended to free both BASF and its customers from contractual obligations as a result of the fire, which has brought production of the aforementioned products to a halt, as repairs of the facility get underway.
 
The selected aroma ingredients include ionones, pyranol, DL-menthol, rose oxides, ethylinalool, nerolidol, and isophytol R.
 
According to the company, the fire was started by an explosion in the southern part of the factory site, due to an organic solvent leak. Fifteen employees were “slightly injured,” and were able to leave the on-site medical center the evening that the fire occurred. Additionally, there was “no contamination of air, water, or soil,” and no product residues were detected by environmental monitoring vehicles.
 
BASF reports that it will remain in close contact with its customers to provide updates on the supply of affected products. The company will provide additional updates on a dedicated website.