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Dow Microbial Control, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW), has announced European Union regulatory approval of its antifouling active substance DCOIT (4,5-Dichloro-2-octyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one), an innovative technology used in paints and coatings to prevent the settlement of unwanted organisms on the surface of structures immersed in water.

The European Commission has approved DCOIT for use in coating formulations that fall under the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) “Product Type 21,” which encompasses antifouling products. From an environmental point of view, this is one of the most challenging product types for which to gain approval, and DCOIT is only the second active substance to be given EU market clearance in this category.

Antifouling products are used to control the unwanted growth and settlement of fouling organisms — such as microbes and higher forms of plant or animal species — on marine vessels, aquaculture equipment or other structures used in water. Such biofouling reduces a ship’s operating efficiency, thereby wasting money and harming the environment through increased fuel consumption and emissions as well as the spreading of marine invasive species.

“We are pleased that Dow Microbial Control’s technology has been embraced by a regulatory body and in a product category that is respected for having some of the most stringent environmental standards in the world,” said Mark Henning, Global Business Director for Dow Microbial Control. “This landmark EU approval confirms an excellent environmental profile for DCOIT as an antifouling agent for commercial fleets, superyachts, nets and other marine structures.”

DCOIT has been used safely around the world as an active substance in antifouling products under the trademark SEA-NINE™ since the early 1990s. SEA-NINE™ won the prestigious US EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award in the category of Designing Safer Chemical Products. This award recognizes and promotes fundamental breakthroughs in chemistry that prevent pollution and have broad applicability in the industry.

“SEA-NINE™ is exemplary of Dow Microbial Control’s commitment to providing top-performing products while also leading customers to a more sustainable future,” said Rick Strittmatter, Global Research & Development Director for Dow Microbial Control. “Smart business practices and responsible environmental decisions are no longer an either-or proposition. Dow makes it possible to have both.”

For information on how Dow is leading efforts for sustainability across various industries, visit www.dow.com/microbial/.

About Dow Microbial Control
Dow Microbial Control innovates with science and technology to provide long-term viable and sustainable microbial control. Our comprehensive global offering provides customers with solutions to optimize formulations, including a high performing and technically supported selection of registered actives and products. With world-class people organization-wide and a broad portfolio of microbial control technologies, Dow Microbial Control can help solve most any microbial control problem. From specialty and highly regulated to non-regulated, the company has the experience and the essentials for more sustainable microbial control protection for products and processes. Visit www.DowMicrobialControl.com.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2013, Dow had annual sales of more than $57 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 products are manufactured at 201 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

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