EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Black Pearl Award is given annually by the International Association of Food Protection
(IAFP) to organizations demonstrating excellence in the areas of food safety and food quality.
Organizations worthy of the Black Pearl award are evaluated across nine dimensions (listed below).
bioMérieux is proud to be the 2011 recipient of the prestigious Black Pearl award, which will be
presented at the annual meeting in Milwaukee (July 31st - August 3rd) .

Support of IAFP goals and objectives
bioMérieux Industry maintains span alignment with IAFP objectives through continued financial sponsorship of IAFP meetings and programs, by promoting food safety education, and by being a global provider of products and services for diagnostic microbiology in the food industry.

Promotion of Ethical and Fair Business Practices
Maintaining honesty, demonstrating integrity, and minimizing conflicts of interest are core values espoused by bioMérieux employees. As a supplier to both industrial and clinical health organizations worldwide, bioMérieux endeavors to maintain the highest level of objectivity and fairness in all business endeavors.

Leveraging Community and Consumer Relations to Promote Food Safety
Through organizations such as Fondation Mérieux, Institut Mérieux, and through mobile education programs such as the Odyssey, bioMérieux promotes awareness related to issues important to public health and food safety.

Contributions to Public Health Principles and Food Safety
While not limited to providing educational materials, bioMérieux sponsors community outreach activities and provides relief support in the areas of public health and food safety.

Food Safety Education Activities
Consumers worldwide hove come to depend on industry professionals to ensure food quality and prevent outbreaks of food-borne pathogens. Educating the global public and fellow industry participants about the importance of food safety is a fundamental mission of bioMérieux Industry.

Employee Programs to Promote Food Safety
bioMérieux Industry employees are empowered by executive commitment to food safety and public health. At bioMérieux, senior leaders encourage employee participation in food safety outreach. These activities include promoting vocations in food safety at local career fairs, conducting food safety seminars at local schools and conferences, and being involved on one or more IAFP committees.

Commitment to Food Safety through Products and Services
During the division’s 20-year history, bioMérieux Industry remains the premier choice provider of products and services for food microbiologists worldwide and continues to evolve the field of diagnostic microbiology through systems such as VIDAS® , TEMPO®, BacT/ALERT® 3D, and VITEK® 2. One or more of these platforms are mainstay tools found in many food laboratories around the world.

Environmental Stewardship
bioMérieux is an organization committed to protecting the global environment through ongoing sustainability programs in areas such as waste minimization, energy utilization, emissions reduction, and water conservation.

Adherence to Food Safety Regulatory Requirements
As a company focused on diagnostic microbiology, bioMérieux is among food industry the leaders to provide an array of equipment and test kits validated by organizations such as AOAC and AFNOR.