November 29, 2012 Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (O

November 29, 2012

Applied DNA Sciences, Inc . (OTCBB: APDN), (Twitter: @APDN), a provider of DNA-based anti-counterfeiting technology and product authentication solutions, announced today the availability of a third-party SigNature® DNA-marking service for electronics.

The service will provide a turn-key solution for ramping up SigNature DNA marking at the highest levels of quality and standards compliance. Electronics companies who opt to use the service benefit from a fast-track route to compliance with the requirement to use SigNature DNA marking issued by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), as well as for delivery to commercial buyers.

Said Dr. James A. Hayward, CEO and President of Applied DNA Sciences, "We are listening to our customers and prospective customers, who realize that a shorter time to market for this service has great competitive benefits for them. We are aware that, in the military sphere, important deadlines are approaching."

DLA, in a "Frequently Asked Questions for DNA Marking," issued November 8, stated that it is "firmly committed to a robust anti-counterfeiting program." In addition, DLA Vice-Admiral Mark Harnichek has stated that DNA marking is one of "four big things" that DLA is doing currently to mitigate counterfeit risk.

The new APDN service offers secure off-site implementation of SigNature DNA marking for companies who have met the qualification requirements for participation in the program. The third-party DNA marking service packages creation of a unique SigNature DNA mark with a quick-startup marking program at ADNAS facilities or at those of a licensee. SMT Corporation, based in Sandy Hook, CT is prepared to fulfill SigNature DNA marking orders immediately.

The DLA mandate for use of SigNature DNA was announced on August 7 in a clause in Defense Logistics Acquisition Directive (DLAD) 52.211-9074, and was 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.

While the DLA mandate applies only to procurements made by DLA, APDN's third-party marking service is designed to accommodate all government and commercial enterprises that are interested in the legal, health and safety, and brand protection benefits of the authentication platform. The company pointed out that SigNature DNA has been used and tested on a wide variety of products.

This year, new laws and regulations have cast a new national spotlight on anti-counterfeiting technologies like SigNature DNA. A well-known example is in 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 soon.