EPA Approves Texas Section 18 Emergency Exemption For DuPont™ Dermacor™ Rice Seed Treatment

The Section 18 Emergency Exemption Allows Use of Dermacor™ X-100 as a Dry Rice Seed Treatment to Control Rice Water Weevil Larvae

WILMINGTON, Del., Feb. 28, 2008 -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved a Section 18 Emergency Exemption for use of DuPont™ Dermacor™ X-100 seed treatment for the control of rice water weevil larvae in the state of Texas. The rice water weevil is the most widespread and most damaging early-season rice insect pest in Texas, according to M.O. Way, Ph.D., research/extension entomologist, Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center.

The Section 18 Emergency Exemption was granted based on several factors, including severity of the rice water weevil infestations, inadequacy of insecticides currently registered for use and the efficacy of Dermacor™ X-100.

Dermacor™ X-100 has been evaluated for efficacy against the rice water weevil in Louisiana and Texas for the past three years and in Arkansas, Mississippi and Missouri throughout 2007.

This Emergency Exemption was coordinated between the Texas Department of Agriculture and Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center. All treatment applications must be made by commercial seed applicators certified by DuPont Crop Protection.

“We have multiple years of experiments which show Dermacor™ X-100 rice seed treatment to be very effective against rice water weevil,” Way said. “Our experiments were performed in drill-seeded rice which is the most common method of planting in Texas. This product will be an excellent pest management tool for our rice farmers.”

“We’re pleased that the new Dermacor™ X-100 seed treatment can help Texas’ rice producers protect yield reductions due to damage from rice water weevil,” said Lars Swanson, DuPont Crop Protection portfolio manager. “This Section 18 is a good step forward for rice growers who have to deal with this costly problem, and we hope it will be followed with a federal registration in the near future. DuPont offers many solutions to protect crops from damaging insects and continues to invest in sustainable offerings.”

X-100 is the first product offering from the DuPont™ Dermacor™ line of seed treatments and is powered by a new active ingredient, DuPont™ Rynaxypyr®. Rynaxypyr® is highly potent on target species at low use rates, delivering excellent crop protection as a result of rapid feeding cessation. With a novel mode of action and an outstanding environmental and toxicological profile, Rynaxypyr® products are an excellent fit in integrated pest management programs. Federal registration is anticipated this spring for DuPont™ Altacor® and DuPont™ Coragen®, two new insecticides also powered by Rynaxypyr®. Altacor® is expected to be registered for use on pome fruits, stone fruits, grapes and other crops. Coragen® is expected to be registered for use on leafy vegetables, brassica vegetables, cucurbits and fruiting vegetables.

DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.

Forward-Looking Statements:   

This news release contains forward-looking statements based on management’s current expectations, estimates and projections.  All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the company’s strategy for growth, product development, market position, expected expenditures and financial results are forward-looking statements.  Some of the forward-looking statements may be identified by words like “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “intends,” “projects,” “indicates,” and similar expressions.  These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions.  Many factors, including those discussed more fully elsewhere in this release and in DuPont’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly its latest annual report on Form 10-K, as well as others, could cause results to differ materially from those stated.  These factors include, but are not limited to changes in the laws, regulations, policies and economic conditions of countries in which the company does business; competitive pressures; successful integration of structural changes, including acquisitions, divestitures and alliances; research and development of new products, including regulatory approval and market acceptance, and seasonality of sales of agricultural products.

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2/28/08

NOTE: Dermacor™ X-100 is not registered for sale or use in the United States and may only be used in accordance with the specific provisions, restrictions, and limitations in the Section 18 label in approved states. The label must be in possession of the user at the time of application. For more information on where to purchase Dermacor™ X-100, call 1-888-6DuPont (638-7668) or contact your local DuPont representative.

The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, The miracles of science™, Rynaxypyr®, Altacor®, Coragen® and Dermacor™ are registered trademarks or trademarks of DuPont or its affiliates.