BASF signs Responsible Care® Global Charter

* Company plans to improve its environment, health and safety performance even further in the future

01/30/06, BASF has signed the chemical industry’s Responsible Care Global Charter. The move commits the company to taking an active part in expanding the global activities of the voluntary Responsible Care initiative. The Charter’s objective is to continue to improve performance in the fields of environment, health and safety. The Charter was drawn up by the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA); BASF has played a significant role since its inception.

“Our commitment to sustainable development is an integral part of our corporate strategy. As The Chemical Company, it is only natural for us to continuously expand our activities in this field and set a good example,” said Eggert Voscherau, Vice Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors and Chairman of the Sustainability Council of BASF.

The Responsible Care Global Charter contains several principles regarding the development of Responsible Care at a national and international level. One of these is a stronger commitment to product stewardship, aimed at the long-term improvement of risk assessment, risk management and information on products and their safe handling. In the area of social responsibility, dialogue with chemical industry stakeholders is to be enhanced.

As the world’s leading chemical company, BASF will use its existing activities as best practices in implementing the Charter’s principles, and plans to play a leading role in Responsible Care in the future. The company committed itself to voluntary environmental and safety targets in 2003. These include compiling complete data sets for all chemical substances that BASF handles worldwide in volumes exceeding one metric ton per year. By the end of 2004, more than 96% of data sets in Germany had been completed. For several years, BASF has also set benchmarks for stakeholder dialogue. At all its big production sites, the company has established stakeholder forums to ensure an ongoing dialogue between BASF and the social groups in the communities in which its sites are located.

The Responsible Care Global Charter will be presented to the public at the United Nations-sponsored International Conference for Chemical Management to be held in Dubai on February 5, 2006.

Responsible Care is an initiative by the global chemical industry aimed at achieving continuous improvements in performance in the fields of environment, health and safety. It was launched by the Canadian Chemical Producers Association in 1985 and quickly spread throughout the world. In 1992, the German chemical industry association (VCI) – and hence BASF as a VCI member – joined the Responsible Care initiative. Responsible Care is implemented by chemical companies in 52 countries.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. As a reliable partner to virtually all industries, BASF’s intelligent solutions and high-value products help its customers to be more successful. BASF develops new technologies and uses them to open up additional market opportunities. It combines economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility, thus contributing to a better future. In 2004, BASF had approximately 82,000 employees and posted sales of more than €37 billion. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA), New York (BF) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

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Ulla Spengler

BASF

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