FIELDTURF APPLAUDS 'CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH' GIVEN TO SYNTHETIC ATHLETIC FIELDS BY U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

MONTREAL, (July 30, 2008) - FieldTurf Tarkett, the world's largest provider of synthetic turf fields, applauded the evaluation released today by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which concludes that young children, as well as all athletes that use these fields, are not at risk from exposure to lead in synthetic turf fields.

"These findings are very important as they answer our critics definitively and offer yet another and hopefully conclusive validation of the safety of FieldTurf's products," stated FieldTurf Tarkett CEO Joe Fields. "We see our sports surfaces as part of the world's ecological system and make every effort to ensure that our activities respect the environment. All of our 2700 surfaces have been developed, produced and installed with a commitment to quality, playability and safety. Today's announcement by the CPSC validates our efforts. To that end, we hope to continue to work with the CPSC, and other regulatory bodies, on an effort we have long had underway -- to develop standards that the "entire" synthetic turf industry must follow."

In a release issued this morning, the CPSC stated that there was no health risk to young children playing on synthetic fields and that parents should not be concerned about harmful levels of lead in artificial turf.

FieldTurf Tarkett's emphasis on environmental innovation and testing procedures has been part of the company's culture since the very beginning and is a big reason why FieldTurf Tarkett continues to set the bar for product safety and performance throughout the industry.

CEO Fields added, "We welcome today's news and are highly optimistic that our customers in certain areas of the country will be comfortable with this endorsement and will be thrilled to get their kids back out there in time for Fall sports."

FieldTurf officials noted that the Centers for Disease Control had earlier this year released a similar set of recommendations and findings, and other distinguished state departments of health have supported this safety profile.

The installation of FieldTurf eliminates the use of harmful pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides and fungicides, while at the same time removes thousands of tires from landfill sites. FieldTurf requires no mowing, fertilizing, reseeding or watering. FieldTurf helps organizations earn the necessary points needed for U.S. Green Building Council LEED certification. FieldTurf's reused rubber content and water use reduction, among other factors, can contribute numerous points towards LEED certification.

With over 2700 installations in almost 50 countries, FieldTurf Tarkett is the largest entity in the sports surfacing industry and provides unparalleled leasing capabilities, engineering and manufacturing resources. In addition to its world-renowned FieldTurf and Prestige brands of artificial turf, FieldTurf Tarkett provides an equally impressive range of products that includes synthetic and hardwood basketball, volleyball and gymnasium flooring, squash and racquetball courts, floor protection and covering systems and weight room flooring. Also in the range of FieldTurf Tarkett products are indoor and outdoor running tracks, including the high performance 'Le Monde' track system, playground surfacing and a complete range of tennis and golf surfaces.