The company says it is the first to have a broadband filter with particle sizes smaller than 100 nanometers approved for use in cosmetics under the new EU Cosmetics Regulation.
According to Dirk Mampe, head of business management for personal care specialties Europe, the approval of 'Tinosorb A2B' has been a lengthy process.
"All new UV filters are subject to a thorough evaluation process," he explains.
BASF submitted a comprehensive dossier with complex toxicity studies on the filter to the EU Commission, which then had to be assessed by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS).
The evaluation and approval process is then completed as soon as the respective UV filter has been added to the so-called positive list.
'First of micronized UV filters'
According to BASF, Tinosorb A2B protects the skin against UV wavelengths ranging from 290 to 340 nanometers, thereby being the first of a new generation of finely-ground (micronized) UV filters.
“It equally protects against UVB and UVAII radiation, making it an important contribution to preventing skin cancer and light-induced skin ageing," says mampe.
The head of business management says this complements conventional oil-soluble UV filters by closing the current gap between UVA and UVB absorbers, thus enabling a balanced protection across the entire spectrum of solar UV radiation.
As a result, a lower UV filter concentration is necessary than with conventional ingredients.
"The absorption spectrum of a micronized UV filter depends on its particle size. With particle sizes of about 100 nanometers, optimum SPF performance can be achieved due to better skin coverage," he concludes.
EU now requires all new nanoscale material to be declared
The new EU Cosmetics Regulation stipulates that the European Commission must be notified of all ingredients containing nanoscale material.
This also applies to ingredients that have already been approved.
BASF has also submitted registration dossiers for its' other UV filters including; Z-Cote, Z-Cote HP1 and Tinosorb M.