"These approvals tell us that the EU recognizes the extensive health and safety data supporting the use of these biotech products," said Dow AgroSciences' President and CEO Antonio Galindez. "These authorizations are essential to ensuring that corn products can be freely traded and that the European livestock industry has continued access to the feed derived from them."

Herculex RW contains the Bt trait (59122) to provide an environmentally improved means of protecting corn plants against attacks by the corn rootworm and reducing the need to use insecticides. Herculex^® I Insect Protection contains the Bt trait (1507) to provide protection against a broad spectrum of insect pests, including corn borer, black cutworm and fall armyworm. The Roundup Ready Corn 2 (NK603) gene for tolerance to glyphosate herbicide allows growers to effectively and efficiently control weeds in their fields, allowing the corn plants to achieve higher yields.

"These approvals show promising movement in the EU for biotech approvals," said Pioneer Hi-Bred President Paul E. Schickler. "We are encouraged by these approvals and urge the Commission and EU Member States to similarly approve biotech crops for cultivation so Europe's farmers have access to the same technologies as other farmers around the world."

Corn products containing these traits (1507x59122 or 59122x1507xNK603) were found by the EU's own independent scientific authority, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), in April 2009, to be as safe for use in food and feed as conventional varieties, and they already have been approved in nine countries around the world. These products now are authorized for import into the EU in accordance with EU regulations, including the appropriate labeling and traceability of the products.

Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, is a top-tier agricultural company providing innovative agrochemical and biotechnology solutions globally. The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, has sales of $4.5 billion. Learn more at www.dowagro.com.

Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, is the world's leading developer and supplier of advanced plant genetics, providing high-quality seeds to farmers in more than 90 countries. Pioneer provides agronomic support and services to help increase farmer productivity and profitability and strives to develop sustainable agricultural systems for people everywhere. Science with Service Delivering Success(™).

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 90 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.