Science & Technology
Digital Angel Meets Growing EU Demand for Electronic ID Tags
SO. ST. PAUL, Minn.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Digital Angel (NASDAQ: DIGA), an advanced technology company in the field of animal identification and emergency identification solutions, announced today that it is experiencing significantly higher demand for electronic and visual identification tags in several European Union countries as a result of recent animal health and food safety regulations. The Company has begun shipping, the Duflex® FT, its new fold-over tag with specific retention and read rates, to help its European partners comply with this new legislation.
aOur products have been well-received in Europe; more importantly, this interest has translated into a significant increase in orders particularly for our new tag, the Duflex FT, which just started shipping to the EU. We have tested the Duflex FT in pilot trials over the last two years and the outcome is clear: the Duflex FT has proven to be a reliable, cost effective solution to trace livestock from farm to fork,a said Dan Ellsworth, Vice President of Sales and Marketing,
EU Market Highlights Include:
- Countryside Services Ltd., a subsidiary of Ulster Farmers' Union in Northern Ireland, placed its first order of 500,000 electronic and visual identification tags for distribution in Ireland and the U.K.;
- Sales in the U.K. have more than doubled year-over-year from the first half of 2009;
- Sales of electronic identification tags have increased dramatically in the Netherlands;
- First half 2010 revenues doubled year-over-year in Holland;
Under regulation from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), all sheep born on or after December 31 2009 in the United Kingdom must have two identifiers, one electronic and one visual. Similar regulation has also been passed in the Netherlands. The legislation was drafted, in part, to facilitate the early identification of health and safety problems through improved livestock traceability both within EU countries and across Member State borders.
aTraceability is key to the identification of risks in livestock, particularly in the EU where travel and trade are less restricted between member countries. With 35 million sheep in the UK alone, knowing the history of a particular herd is critical not only for the farmer but for the food consumer as well. National borders will not stop the spread of an emerging disease threat to a herd; only knowing awhen and wherea™ livestock came from will,a Ellsworth concluded.
About Destron Fearing and Digital Angel
Destron Fearing is a subsidiary of Digital Angel (NASDAQ: DIGA), an advanced technology company in the field of animal identification and emergency identification solutions. Digital Angel's products are utilized around the world in such applications as pet identification, using its patented, FDA-approved implantable microchip; livestock identification and herd management using visual and radio frequency identification (RFID) ear tags; and global positioning systems (GPS) search and rescue beacons for army, navy and air force applications worldwide. For further information please visit [ www.destronfearing.com ] and [ www.digitalangel.com ].
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains certain "forward-looking" statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Forward-looking statements included in this press release include, without limitation, those concerning expectations regarding the expected benefits of the technology and impact of the new orders on the Company's financial results. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Additional information about these and other factors that could affect the Company's businesses is set forth in the Company's Form 10-K under the caption "Risk Factors" filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on April 1, 2010, and subsequent filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this statement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.
