3 March, 2004
NEWS RELEASE
AMEX “FSI” FRANKFURT “FXT”
FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS AND LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCE THAT INDEPENDENT TRIALS OF MOSQUITO CONTROL PRODUCT ARE SUCCESSFUL
Company Begins Planning Field Trials for Mid Year 2004
VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, March 3, 2004 – FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC. (AMEX: FSI, FRANKFURT: FXT), the developer and manufacturer of environmentally safe water conservation technology, today announced that independent trials of the Company’s proprietary mosquito control/water conservation technology designated as W$-VC (Water$avr-Vector Control) conducted at LSU were positive on two disease carrying mosquito species.
In a series of laboratory tests carried out in the Entomology Department at the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center in Baton Rouge, W$-VC has shown significant ability to prevent hatching of mosquito larvae into biting adults able to spread disease to humans.
Gerardo Boquin, LSU researcher, states “In addition to proving that the FSI product is extremely functional at controlling mosquito larvae, we discovered that the active ingredient may remain at the air/water interface for many days.” Mr. Boquin continued, “This, if confirmed in further experiments, is very significant because the interface is where all mosquito larvae must go to breathe and retaining active ingredients there should result in much higher performance with potentially lower dosages.”
W$-VC is a combination of Flexible Solutions’ patented evaporation powder, Water$avr, and BTI, an environmentally friendly mosquito control agent that has been in use for decades. The objective of the combination is to marry the surface active, self-spreading, biodegradable attributes of W$ with the safe, highly effective mosquito control abilities of BTI. The combination may prove to be more effective, safer and easier to use while providing a cost benefit.
“It is not ready for sale yet,” says Daniel B. O’Brien, CEO of FSI, “but we are very pleased that the results generated at LSU match the data we found in our own experiments. Only 2 species were used in these first independent tests – the Anopheles quadrimaculatus which carries malaria and the Culex quinquefasciatus that has been implicated as a vector for West Nile Virus. We have asked Mr. Boquin to extend his research to include the Aedes species of mosquito (Dengue Fever carrier) and other species that are known to spread human and livestock disease.”
Flexible Solutions will now begin the process of applying for government certification necessary to sell W$-VC concurrent with finding the right partners for field trials on a larger scale. It is hopeful that LSU will be able to be part of this along with institutions in other countries.
Water$avr, an environmentally friendly mixture of food safe ingredients including fatty alcohols, creates a harmless one-molecule thin layer on the water’s surface to keep it from evaporating. Water$avr spreads across the surface by means of an ionic spreading mechanism and if the water is distributed by wind, waves or a swimmer, the particles rush back together and reform the protective cover. Water$avr is also being developed as an agricultural application for delivering nutrients to increase crop yield and as a spreading mechanism for applying agents to combat mosquito borne disease such as West Nile Virus, Equine Encephalitis, Malaria and Dengue Fever.
About Flexible Solutions International
Flexible Solutions International, Inc. (www.flexiblesolutions.com), based in Victoria, British Columbia, is the developer and manufacturer of Water$avr, the world’s first commercially viable water evaporation retardant. Its Water$avr division is based in Yorkville, Ill. FSI is an environmental technology company specializing in energy and water conservation products for drinking water, agriculture, industrial markets and swimming pools throughout the world. Water$avr reduces evaporation by up to 30% on reservoirs, lakes, aqueducts, irrigation canals, ponds and slow moving rivers. Water$avr, which is patented, has been certified by the United Nations, the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and meets the drinking water standards of the American National Standard Institute (ANSI). Heat$avr, a “liquid blanket” evaporation retardant for the commercial swimming pool and spa markets, also reduces humidity and lowers water heating costs, resulting in energy savings of 15% to 40%. The Company’s Tropical Fish(tm) product targets the residential swimming pool market.
Safe Harbor Provision
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “Safe Harbor” for forward-looking statements. Certain of the statements contained herein, which are not historical facts, are forward looking statement with respect to events, the occurrence of which involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements may be impacted, either positively or negatively, by various factors. Information concerning potential factors that could affect the company is detailed from time to time in the company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
THE WALL STREET GROUP, INC.
32 East 57th Street
New York, New York 10022
Tel: 212.888.4848
Investor Relations CANADA:
Jens Biertumpel
Tel: 604.682.1799
Corporate Head Office:
FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL
David Katzov / Grant Moonie
Tel: (250) 477-9821 Fax: (250) 477.9912