| INDIANAPOLIS - August 25, 2002 - In early August, Dow AgroSciences was asked by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for details on the company's compliance with the terms of a research permit for 19 acres of crop trials under which we planted about a tenth of an acre of biotechnology-enhanced Bt corn in Hawaii. Upon investigation, we found that in our management of the site we deviated from the terms of the permit, though the changes we made were intended to be more stringent than the permit conditions and to further minimize the potential for pollen to leave the area.
While we do not believe that pollen containment procedures were compromised, we are very concerned to find that changes in our management of the site occurred without our having kept EPA appropriately in the loop. Our paramount concern at the site continues to be protection of human health and the environment and maintenance of the highest standards of stewardship. We are committed both to resolving the concerns that have been raised and to making changes in our policies and procedures to prevent similar things happening again. We are cooperating with EPA in this matter and hope to see the issues that have been raised resolved on an expedited basis.
|