EPA approves Ecolab's foot & mouth disinfectant solution

The EPA has granted approval of a product from Ecolab Inc., that will help all livestock producers and owners in the United States protect their livestock against potential infection by Foot & Mouth disease. The recent outbreak of the disease has severely damaged the agricultural industry of several European and South American countries. Attempts are being made to limit its spread throughout other parts of the world.

The product, Oxy-Sept®333 (EPA Reg. No. 1677-129), is an antimicrobial disinfectant used in housing facilities and other sources of cross contamination. Formulated for rapid soil penetration and disinfecting properties, its effectiveness is based on a stabilized peroxyacetic acid formulation.

``As a technology, peroxyacetic acid has been known for its effective disinfecting and sanitizing applications for some time. Ecolab expanded the applications of this material into several areas in the food safety arena,'' says Chris Sigurdson, Agri Senior Marketing Manager, Ecolab. ``It is already used in processing plants to protect vegetables, dairy products, red meat, and beverages. This new approval takes our program to the next level by offering a new biosecurity solution for food animal producers.''

Oxy-Sept 333 is an effective disinfectant against bacteria and viruses. It controls a wide range of pathogens, including: Salmonella chloraesius and enteriditis, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli, as well as viruses such as several types of Influenza A (H10N7), Newcastle Disease virus, Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), and now Foot & Mouth disease (Aphthovirus).

``In the past, food animal producers and livestock owners have concentrated their disease-prevention efforts around animal vaccination and treatment, which are of course crucial elements of disease control. But without a solid environmental sanitation program in place, we're potentially leaving too many open doors for disease transmission,'' Sigurdson added.

For more information on Oxy-Sept 333, contact Ecolab at 1-800-392-3392 (U.S.). More information regarding these issues is available at www.ecolab.com.

Ecolab Inc. is the leading global developer and marketer of premium cleaning, sanitizing, pest elimination, maintenance and repair products and services for the hospitality, institutional and industrial markets. The Food & Beverage Division of Ecolab is the leading provider of critical environment sanitation systems and products to the food processing, dairy agricultural and pharmaceutical markets. For the year ended December 31, 2000, Ecolab reported sales of $2.3 billion; including European joint venture sales, Ecolab global sales coverage was $3.1 billion.

Ecolab news releases and other investor information are available on the Internet at www.ecolab.com and by telephone at 1-800-FACT-ECL.

Source: Ecolab Inc.