Applied DNA Sciences Announces Industry Contracts for SigNature(R) DNA Marking of Electronics

STONY BROOK, NY--(Marketwire - Nov 29, 2012) - Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (OTCBB: APDN), (Twitter: @APDN), a provider of DNA-based anti-counterfeiting technology and product authentication solutions, announced today that it has signed multiple contracts in support of the mandate by the Defense Logistics Agency for use of APDN's SigNature® DNA marking and authentication technology. 

These electronics companies have or will receive SigNature DNA and essential materials and services from APDN for DNA marking during or after manufacture. These steps will qualify them as SigNature DNA-compliant.

For manufacturers, a SigNature DNA Authenticity Mark as applied in production, certifies authenticity in an absolute, transparent and verifiable manner. For distributors and others, a SigNature DNA Provenance Mark establishes traceability to the point of the mark, assuring the entire supply chain that the part can be tracked to a supplier.

The contracts will enable electronics companies to fulfill the DLA mandate, announced on August 7 in a clause in Defense Logistics Acquisition Directive (DLAD) 52.211-9074, and expanded on November 7 with a provision at DLAD 52.211-9008.  This mandate specifically requires SigNature DNA marking for procurements of items falling within Federal Supply Class 5962, Electronic Microcircuits. The requirement applies only to procurements made by DLA.

The developing list of participating defense contractors will enable the military electronics supply chain to move toward compliance with the anti-counterfeiting language in Section 818 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Section 818). A major deadline for Section 818, which imposes strict requirements for control of counterfeits, is due to be reached very soon. In a press announcement released on October 31, DLA pointed to the connection between the mandate and the coming implementation of NDAA Section 818:

The new requirement also facilitates the goals of Congress to protect DoD's supply chains and national cybersecurity, which Congress outlined in the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act. This requires DoD, as well as industry, to develop counterfeit item detection and prevention measures for electronic items.

In the same press announcement, DLA stressed the "broad implications" of its DNA marking mandate, stretching beyond electronics, saying:

DLA is initially targeting microelectronics, but the technology is used with other commodities commercially and has broad implications for other DLA products and equipment at risk for counterfeiting.

APDN suggested that electronics companies check with suppliers to find whether they have joined the list of companies which are SigNature DNA-compliant. 

Janice Meraglia, Vice President, Military and Government Programs for Applied DNA Sciences, said, "DLA, in its efforts to provide support to our war fighters, has worked for years to develop new technology and processes to mitigate counterfeit risk. We are pleased to see these efforts materialized in the electronics industry, something which will benefit industry and national security."

About Applied DNA Sciences

APDN is a provider of botanical-DNA based security and authentication solutions that can help protect products, brands and intellectual property of companies, governments and consumers from theft, counterfeiting, fraud and diversion. SigNature® DNA and smartDNA, our principal anti-counterfeiting and product authentication solutions that essentially cannot be copied, provide a forensic chain of evidence and can be used to prosecute perpetrators. 

The statements made by APDN may be forward-looking in nature. Forward-looking statements describe APDN's future plans, projections, strategies and expectations, and are based on assumptions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of APDN. Actual results could differ materially from those projected due to our short operating history, limited financial resources, limited market acceptance, market competition and various other factors detailed from time to time in APDN's SEC reports and filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on December 8, 2011 and our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. APDN undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date hereof to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.