EMD Biosciences Site in San Diego Now ISO 9001:2008 Certified

SAN DIEGO--(Business Wire)--
EMD Chemicals` Biosciences site in San Diego has achieved ISO 9001: 2008
certification, as verified by an independent auditor.

According to the International Organization for Standards (ISO), ISO 9001
"provides the requirements for a quality management system that is a framework
for an organization to control its processes in order to achieve objectives
including customer satisfaction, regulatory compliance and continual
improvement." Certification serves as a means for companies to "increas[e] the
confidence of their business partners, customers and regulators in their
products and services."

"Achieving the globally-recognized ISO 9001: 2008 certification that objectively
verifies our business has good processes in place affirms our commitment to
meeting the highest standards for satisfying customers and bringing innovative
solutions to them," said Fabien Marino, San Diego Site Manager, EMD Chemicals.

EMD Chemicals is the North American affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
The company`s site in San Diego was recently designated as headquarters for
Merck`s global Biosciences business, which features the well-known Calbiochem®
and Novagen® brands supplied to the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and
academic research industries.

EMD Chemicals is in the process of consolidating all its core US capabilities in
Biosciences into the San Diego site by the end of 2009. When the transition is
completed, the company will be better positioned for bringing innovative
solutions to customers and achieving long-term growth by having all Biosciences
support functions - such as research and development, manufacturing, product
management, distribution, quality assurance, and technical and sales support
services - integrated and collaborating in one location.

About EMD Chemicals Inc.

EMD Chemicals represents the North American chemical sector of Merck KGaA,
Darmstadt, Germany. It is an international organization with nearly 1,000
employees and revenues of more than $US 300 million in 2008, providing specialty
chemicals for pharmaceutical, biotech, cosmetic, automotive, plastics and other
industrial applications. With headquarters in Gibbstown, N.J., EMD Chemicals is
also engaged in the development, manufacture and distribution of a broad array
of reagents used for life science research. Its sister company, EMD Crop
BioScience located in Milwaukee, Wis., specializes in plant growth enhancement
products for agricultural applications, including Optimize®. EMD Chemicals is
known in the market by its product brands including Iriodin®, Xirallic®, Rona®,
Calbiochem®, Novabiochem® and Novagen®, among others.

About Merck KGaA

Merck is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company with total revenues of €
7.6 billion in 2008, a history that began in 1668, and a future shaped by 32,800
employees in 59 countries. Its success is characterized by innovations from
entrepreneurial employees. Merck's operating activities come under the umbrella
of Merck KGaA, in which the Merck family holds an approximately 70% interest and
free shareholders own the remaining approximately 30%. In 1917 the U.S.
subsidiary Merck & Co. was expropriated and has been an independent company ever
since.

EMD Chemicals Inc.
David Elliott
Director, Corporate Communications
Phone: +1-856-599-6772 (Office)
+1-856-628-0571 (Cell)
david.elliott@emdchemicals.com
www.emdchemicals.com

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