Merck's commitment to work with external manufacturing partners who comply with our high standards of quality and responsibility is especially important and appropriate as the company expands into emerging markets around the world. We are committed to:

• 100 percent completion of a Detailed Suppliers Ethical Assessment of potential suppliers of new business globally by 2012
• Development of a Supplier Code of Conduct by 2011

In the future, as part of our supply risk management program, Merck's Global Procurement department will continue to apply a risk-based approach to managing existing suppliers, concentrating on those that provide the most critical goods and services. They will be required to complete the Detailed Supplier Ethical Assessment, as needed.