Raisio plc, Press release 4 December 2008 APPROVAL BY THE CHINESE MINISTRY OF HEALTH FOR BENECOL® INGREDIENT Raisio has obtained a New Resource Food approval for the cholesterol lowering Benecol® ingredient, plant stanol ester, from the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China to add the Benecol ingredient in foodstuffs marketed in China. The approval is one of the first issued by the People's Republic of China after implementing the New Resource Food regulation in the beginning of the year 2008. The approval enables the negotiations with potential Chinese partners to be started. The approval issued by the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China enables plant stanol ester to be added to a wide selection of foodstuffs. The use of a health claim requires the final product to be tested in a research facility approved by the authorities. The New Resource Food regulation of the People's Republic of China is similar to the Novel Foods Regulation of the European Union. The cholesterol levels of Chinese people have rapidly increased in the past few years as Western eating habits have become more common, for example. Benecol, the pioneering expert in cholesterol-lowering functional foods, is a global trademark owned by Raisio. Plant stanol ester is an ingredient patented worldwide by Raisio. Benecol products are currently sold in almost thirty countries all over the world. Over 50 published high quality clinical trials and thirteen years of safe use ensure the safety and cholesterol lowering efficacy of plant stanol ester. In addition Benecol foods have been issued a positive scientific opinion by the panel of dietetic foods, nutrition and allergies (NDA) at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) regarding the statement that plant stanol ester reduces the risk of disease. Benecol foods can bear the health claim that: “Plant stanol ester has been shown to lower/reduce blood cholesterol. Blood cholesterol lowering may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease”. The health claim still needs to be approved by EU Commission. Raisio plc Heidi Hirvonen Communications Manager Tel. +358 50 567 3060 For more information, please contact: Vincent Poujardieu, Vice President, Ingredients Division, Raisio plc, tel. 32 4974 06767 Distribution NASDAQ OMX Key media www.raisio.com