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BD Applauds President's Inclusion Of Vietnam In Global Strategy To Combat HIV/AIDS

Contact: Michael Marinello
BD Public Relations
(201) 847-7437

Franklin Lakes, NJ (June 29, 2004) -- BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE:BDX) today applauded the President and the Administration for their decision to include Vietnam as part of the historic $15 billion five-year global strategy to combat HIV/AIDS.

"We applaud the President's inclusion of Vietnam in his global HIV/AIDS initiative," said Gary Cohen, President of BD Medical. "This is an important first step toward helping all Asian countries combat the spread of this pandemic, and we urge Congress to remain committed to funding this initiative."

As part of the President's global HIV/AIDS effort, Congress appropriated $75 million in Fiscal Year '04 for programs relating to injection and blood safety programs to combat unsafe medical practices as a means of preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Funding for Fiscal Year '05 initiatives is currently being considered in the House, and the Senate is expected to take up the legislation later this year.

About BD

BD is a medical technology company that serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, industry and the general public. BD manufactures and sells a broad range of medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment and diagnostic products. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, BD reported total revenues of $4.528 billion.

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements (as defined under Federal securities laws) regarding BD's performance, including future revenues, products and income, or events or developments that BD expects to occur or anticipates occurring in the future. All such statements are based upon current expectations of BD and involve a number of business risks and uncertainties. Actual results could vary materially from anticipated results described, implied or projected in any forward-looking statement. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from any forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to: competitive factors; pricing and market share pressures; uncertainties of litigation; BD's ability to achieve sales and earnings forecasts, which are based on sales volume and product mix assumptions, to achieve its cost savings objectives, and to achieve anticipated synergies and other cost savings in connection with acquisitions; changes in regional, national or foreign economic conditions; increases in energy costs; fluctuations in costs and availability of raw materials and in BD's ability to maintain favorable supplier arrangements and relationships; changes in interest or foreign currency exchange rates; delays in product introductions; and changes in health care or other governmental regulation, as well as other factors discussed in this press release and in BD's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not intend to update any forward-looking statements.