European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines Re-Certifies Uniqema’s Pricerine™ 9095 Glycerine for Pharmaceutical Use

The only high purity glycerine with a quality certificate of suitability granted by the EDQM

Gouda, The Netherlands (30 August 2005) - The European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines (EDQM) has again certified Uniqema’s Pricerine™ 9095 high purity glycerine as acceptable for use in pharmaceutical products. A revised “Certificate of Suitability” has been issued, allowing buyers of Pricerine 9095 to validate the chemical purity of the vegetable based product easily and efficiently. In following basic protocols outlined in the European Pharmacopoeia, Glycerol Monograph 0496, buyers are assured that the purity of Pricerine 9095 is correct and suitable for use as an active pharmaceutical ingredient in therapeutic products designed for such applications as ophthalmic surgery, the management of acute glaucoma and other vital medicinal applications.

According to Dr. Miquel Mir, Healthcare Technical Service Manager in Europe, Uniqema is at the forefront of the industry when it comes to high purity glycerine manufacture. “As one of the world’s largest producers of glycerine, Uniqema has invested a great deal of time and effort in producing products such as Pricerine 9095 to very high standards of quality," he said. “Given our reputation for producing a wide range of high quality glycerine products, it was only natural that we support our pharmaceutical customers in Europe with a Quality Certificate of Suitability, one that enables buyers to rapidly register their medicinal products containing Pricerine 9095 as the active ingredient” he added.

“Uniqema was the first manufacturer of glycerine to obtain the “Certificate of Suitability” five years ago and with the renewal by the EDQM today we remain the only producer of glycerine to hold such a certificate,” he said. “Certificates of Suitability are essential when substances are used as active pharmaceutical ingredients for medicinal products here in Europe,” he added.

Uniqema

Uniqema is a global business of ICI offering a unique range of oleochemicals, surfactants and functional ingredients for use in every-day products that improve the quality of life. Worldwide, Uniqema has around 3,000 employees, 14 manufacturing sites and sells products in over 100 countries. Global headquarters for Uniqema is in The Netherlands; Americas headquarters in the US, New Castle, Delaware and Asia Pacific's headquarters is in Klang. A broad technology platform enables the responsible manufacture of high quality products. Uniqema is a provider of effects and solutions for market sectors including health care, personal care, lubricants, crop protection, polymers, polymer additives, oilfield chemicals, textiles and industrial cleaning. Uniqema’s technology platforms include esterification, alkoxylation, oligomerization, phosphation, biotransformation, polymerization, carbohydrate chemistry and silicones. Uniqema’s combination of applications expertise, dedicated market teams and scientific resources has created a powerful business designed to deliver efficient and reliable service around the globe. More information on Uniqema activities can be found at: www.uniqema.com.

Uniqema and other trademarks mentioned in this press release are trademarks of the ICI Group of Companies.

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