Brenntag AG : Brenntag considers allegation of potential breach of monitoring obligation in the PIP incident as unfounded

01/13/2012 Brenntag considers allegation of potential breach of monitoring obligation in the PIP incident as unfounded

Brenntag is not aware of the composition of the implant filling called the "PIP mix" in the media. It is still unclear to this day to what extent the products delivered by Brenntag have been at all used in the implants.

If the silicone oils delivered under the product name of Baysilone are part of the PIP breast implants, they could only have made their way into the implant through intentional criminal and improper use by the French manufacturer Poly Implant Prothèse (PIP), as the oils had been clearly classified as intended for industrial use only.

Silicone oils can be sold without restrictions - for suppliers there is no legal requirement to monitor subsequent use. Monitoring by suppliers is also unusual because the confidentiality of proprietary formulations and production processes is common practice across many sectors.

PIP introduced itself as a broadly positioned healthcare provider that also manufactures and sells various medical devices globally in addition to implants. As far as we are aware, the product range included scab and prosthesis cushions, for instance. As a result, there was no evidence suggesting that the products delivered by Brenntag could be intended for use in the human body.

In addition, medical device manufacturers are subject to government supervision. Brenntag could therefore assume that PIP, a leading certified provider of medical devices, would be supervised accordingly by the French health authorities. As far as we are aware, the French health authority Afssaps never found fault with PIP and its products during the entire delivery period.

About Brenntag:

Brenntag is the global market leader in full-line chemical distribution. Linking chemical manufacturers and chemical users, Brenntag provides business-to-business distribution solutions for industrial and specialty chemicals globally. With over 10,000 products and a world-class supplier base, Brenntag offers one-stop-shop solutions to about 160,000 customers. The value-added services include just-in-time delivery, product mixing, formulation, repackaging, inventory management, drum return handling as well as extensive technical support. Headquartered in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, the company operates a global network with more than 400 locations in nearly 70 countries. In 2010 the company realized global sales of EUR 7.6 billion (USD 10.1 billion) with more than 12,000 employees.

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