Contact:
Colleen T. White, Corporate Communications - 201-847-5369
Charles A. Borgognoni, Corporate Communications - 201-847-6651

Franklin Lakes, N.J. (October 30, 2003) - BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX) today provided an update for Canada regarding the voluntary recall of the BD ProbeTec™ ET instrument for the detection of chlamydia and gonorrhea, initiated July 21, 2003. The voluntary recall was initiated due to one report from the field in the U.S. regarding a defect discovered in the course of instrument evaluation. On that date, all Canadian customers were contacted and asked to perform a test to verify the functioning of each instrument.

Only one defective unit was located in a Canadian institution, and it was immediately replaced. 100% of other Canadian institutions using the BD ProbeTec™ ET instrument have confirmed testing and verified proper functioning

BD has been working with the affected institution to assist in the determination of the impact to patient results and to ensure notification of physicians of impacted patients. While several thousand patients were tested, based on the instrument defect, the test results for the vast majority of patients would have been correct. Nevertheless, BD is supportive of the efforts of the B.C. Interior Health Authority to communicate with all of the patients tested from November 1, 2000 to May 24, 2002.

As indicated in BD's statement of August 22, 2003, BD initiated a worldwide corrective action notifying customers and asking them to perform a test to verify the functioning of each instrument. All of the BD ProbeTec™ ET instruments that have been tested worldwide have been verified as functioning properly.

Patient safety and the efficacy of our products are always the primary concerns of BD, and anyone with questions or concerns should contact Althea Lawrence at 1-800-268-5430, ext. 5524 or via email at althea_lawrence @ bd.com.

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, 2002, BD reported total revenues of $4.033 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; changes in interest or foreign currency exchange rates; difficulties inherent in product development and delays in product introductions; 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; and changes in healthcare or other governmental regulation; issuance of new or revised accounting standards, 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 to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof except as required by applicable laws or regulations.