OptiBiotix Health Regulatory News (OPTI)

For release: 3 September 2012

NATURENETTING™ A NEW ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY MATERIAL FROM CERES MEDIA INTERNATIONAL PLC

THE ONLY COMPOSTABLE SCREENING MATERIAL CURRENTLY APPROVED AND AVAILABLE COMMERCIALLY

NatureNetting™ is a compostable plant based natural netting with high tensile strength and excellent covering characteristics. The netting can be used for mesh cover or barrier fencing. The availability of this novel material has been enthusiastically received by the organisers of external events, concerts and festivals and for whom the product was principally developed.

NatureNetting™ was developed in response to the demand from clients for an environmentally friendly material that would provide a robust screen yet still allow some visibility for security purposes. It took the technical team at Ceres 5 months to move from concept to a finished product that clients are now ordering. The product has high density mesh and allows water and air to pass through it freely, is stable under all weather conditions and does not distort when wet. The product can be dyed to most pantone colours using Azo free dyes and can be made fire retardant (compliant to BS5867, BS5438 and BS7837) without affecting in any way the composting characteristics which makes it stand out when compared to other materials that are currently used for this purpose.

The natural material from which the product is derived is obtained from annually renewable sustainable sources and is processed into the finished material using a low carbon process to maximise the product's environmental credentials. The main raw material is an annual cash crop for small farmers around the World. According to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) some 4 million farmers earn their living from this raw material and support 20 million dependants on the proceeds mainly in developing countries.

Unlike plastic alternative products, NatureNetting™ is made from materials that are natural, compostable, biodegradeable and above all from made from annually renewable sources. Following the end of its intended purpose, the netting can be disposed of in an anaerobic digester in situ or transported to a central composting unit where it will compost within 2-12 weeks depending on ambient conditions. The material's biodegradable and compostable credentials are in accordance with relevant US and European standards for a natural fertilizer and soil conditioner, conforming to the European Norrn EN13432 for biodegradability and qualifying NatureNetting™ for the Certification of Biodegradability and Compostability register maintained by Din Certco. These are the two main regulatory authorities for products of this nature and allow Ceres Media International plc to commercialise NatureNetting™ around the world.

Commenting on the addition of the new material to the Ceres portfolio, Alex Dowdeswell, CEO of Ceres Media International said "We have taken this product from inception to generating revenues within 5 months. A number of outdoor event organisers are already in discussion with Ceres to supply the new material during this financial year.

Our market research and requests from our clients showed the need for such a product for music festivals and sporting events up and down the country and across Europe. Using our proprietary materials knowledge we were able to create a robust and sustainable product to exacting specifications desired by the end users. NatureNetting™ can be manufactured to clients exacting specifications, gives great covering capability, allows visual inspection and can be safely disposed of when finished, which is a significant improvement over the materials that event's organisers are currently forced to use. We are very excited about this new product and can see NatureNetting™ adding significantly to the growing revenues of the company."

For additional information please contact:

Alex Dowdeswell, CEO

Ceres Media +44 (0)7930 189 192

Cairn Financial Advisers

Liam Murray / Jo Turner +44 (0)20 7148 7900

First Columbus

Chris Crawford +44 (0)20 3002 2070

Mike Wort / Anna Dunphy

De Facto Financial +44 (0)20 7556 1063

Notes to Editors:

Ceres Media is a specialist materials company producing natural biodegradable materials for the print industry. The company is dedicated to providing sustainable and compostable alternatives for the petroleum-based materials such as vinyl which are used extensively by the print industry for major corporations advertising their products. Petroleum- based materials such as vinyl do not degrade readily and have to be disposed of in landfill with an obvious negative impact on the environment. The materials that Ceres Media have developed have the same print quality as vinyl, do not require modifications to exiting printing machines in normal use and are cost competitive with respect to vinyl. These products can, however be composted once an advertising campaign has been completed and do not have any adverse impact on the environment. For technical information and details of how to purchase the range of products that Ceres Media produce for various advertising needs, please go to www.naturaladcampaign.com.

NatureNetting™ is a compostable plant based natural netting with high tensile strength. The netting can be used for mesh cover or barrier fencing and is made from a natural renewable source. NatureNetting™ is a trademark of Ceres Media International (NaturalAd Campaign)

Characteristics

• High density mesh with good visibility

• Sustainable product life cycle

• Compostable and Biodegradable in disposal systems not in situ

• High tensile strength (Warp 772.1N/50mm &Weft 534.6N/50mm)

• Fire Retardant coatings compliant to BS 5867, BS5438, BS7837 flammability requirements

• Durable with low extensibility

• Allows air and water to flow through

• Can be supplied in most pantone colours using Azo free dyes

• Various sizes and finishes available ie: hemmed, eyeleted etc.

• Stable under all weather conditions

Environmental and Ethical Credentials

Sustainable life cycle

Raw material is an annual plant and cash crop for small farmers.

4 million farmers earn their living cultivating in developing countries

Producing the product requires only about 10% of the energy consumed to produce synthetic fibres.

The product is biodegradable and compostable after its use to become natural fertiliser

Disposal

NatureNetting™ is made from materials that are natural, compostable and biodegradable.

They are disposed of by composting

Creates natural fertilisers that improve soil and provides slow release nutrients

Composting times range from approximately 2-12 weeks

Standard home, open windrow or worm compost facilities are applicable

Conforms to European Norm EN13432 for biodegradability

Qualifies for the Certification of Biodegradability and Compostability by DIN CERTCO.

NatureNetting™ will degrade in landfill and cause less harm than petroleum based products.

NatureNetting™ is approved for use in Energy From Waste Systems

DIN CERTCO is the partner to contact for all aspects of conformity assessment. They assess and register a broad range of products and services, and certify qualified enterprises and personnel.

Certification or registration enables the producer to document conformance to specified requirements and thus assist consumers in choosing the right product or service to meet their needs.

DIN CERTCO operates a certification scheme for compostable products made of biodegradable materials and licenses the use of the corresponding Compostability Mark (Mark) developed by European Bioplastics (the former IBAW Interest Group for Biodegradable Materials).

Certification is an integral part of an industrial recycling system. It enables compostable products to be identified by a unique Mark and channelled for recovery of their constituent materials in specially developed processes. The Mark provides product disposal information to waste-disposal plant operators.

Din Certco registration

Demonstrates the quality, safety efficacy and reliability of products.

Enhances consumer confidence in certified products

Gives products certain USP's

Allow access to new markets

Provide guidance for customers

Certification is conducted according to the following well established international standards:

DIN EN 13432 "Packaging - Requirements for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation - Test scheme and evaluation criteria for the final acceptance of packaging"

ASTM D 6400 "Standard Specification for Compostable Plastics"

Scope of Testing

Depending on the properties and composition of the materials, intermediates, biodegradable additives or final products, the following tests may be carried out to establish certification:

Chemical testing

Laboratory testing of total biodegradability

Disintegration under composting conditions

Ecological non-toxicity

These tests ensured that, among other things, no heavy metals enter the soil and the compost quality is not adversely affected.

Registration

Materials, additives and intermediates can be registered.

Certification

Any products that enter the market can be certified. For example, they may consist of materials that have already been registered and therefore the right to use the Compostable Mark will be granted.

Control Test

Product samples are regularly checked to ensure the product's conformity with the originally certified components.

Assessment and Certification

After successful assessment by DIN CERTCO a certificate and the right to use the respective DIN certification Mark together with an individual registration number for a fixed period of time specified in the certification scheme is awarded.