Aboca Opens North American Subsidiary in Seattle.

Business Editors, Health/Medical Writers

SEATTLE--(BW HealthWire)--April 11, 2002

Aboca S.p.A., an Italy-based herbal products company, has opened offices in Seattle.

The wholly-owned subsidiary, Aboca USA, Inc., is responsible for sales, marketing, and distribution of its products in the United States and Canada.

The subsidiary was incorporated in July 2001.

"Seattle is the ideal location for Aboca's North American office because of the study and awareness of natural health sciences in the region," said Anna Tucci, executive vice president and general manager of Aboca USA. "Our base here allows us to participate in research at Bastyr University and best service our practitioners."

Founded in 1978 in the Tuscan valley of Valtiberina, Aboca is the leading manufacturer of 100% natural herbal products in Italy. The company's site includes 170,000 square feet of production facilities equipped with the latest technologies; more than 1,700 acres of organic cultivation; and a specialized chemistry laboratory. The company has more than 200 employees, including 30 scientists. It produces the majority of its organic ingredients on its own land, which allows Aboca to obtain raw materials without the use of chemical substances and to cultivate the variety of plants with the highest content of active ingredients.

"Aboca's philosophy is to bring modern disciplines to the production of medicinal herbal products," added Tucci. "Our scientists are at the forefront of the formulation and uses of herbal products. In fact, they were some of the first to identify the issues surrounding kava, which we removed from all of our products last year."

In March 2002, the FDA recommended that people who have liver problems or take drugs whose side effects can harm liver should ask doctor before using kava, an herbal supplement taken to relieve anxiety, stress and insomnia, because it may be linked to serious livery injury.

Aboca USA, Inc. (http://www.abocausa.com) is the American subsidiary of Aboca S.s. of Italy (http://www.aboca.com). Aboca USA is committed to serving health practitioners with effective herbal products processed under the highest quality standards in the industry. Its parent company has created an entire production process that insures optimum quality by controlling all stages of processing from seed development to packaging and distribution. Its strict standards guarantee all products are made from natural materials without the use of chemical additives. Of the 160 herbs used in processing 70 percent of them are grown on Aboca's certified organic farms.

For more information on how Aboca integrates the ancient traditions of herbal remedies with the science of modern technology, contact Aboca USA at 126 South Spokane Street, Suite C, Seattle, WA 98134-2221; telephone (877) ABOCA 4-U; or visit Aboca USA's Web site at www.abocausa.com.