GLG Life Tech Corporation Announces Upgrade to 500 Metric Ton Processing Line for Increased Rebiana Output; Design Completed for Additional 2,000 M...( VANCOUVER British Columbia Jan. 1...),Health

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- GLG Life Tech Corporation (TSX: GLG) ("GLG" or the "Company"), a world leading producer of high quality stevia including the growth of stevia plant leaf and high purity extraction, announces that it has completed the upgrade of its 500 metric ton (MT) high grade stevia processing line to 500 metric tons of rebiana (Rebaudioside A 97) ("RA 97"). This line, located at the Company's Qingdao factory in China, was built to GMP standards and opened in May of 2008. The line was originally built to process up to 500 MT of Rebaudioside A to a purity level of 80% which would undergo further processing to reach RA 97. Recent modifications to the line using proprietary technology make it now capable of an output of 500 MT of rebiana which is 97% pure Rebaudioside A.

As previously disclosed in the Company's third quarter 2008 results, GLG deferred the construction of additional high grade stevia capacity to 2009 pending a review of the market opportunity for its products and evaluation of the optimal engineering design. The Company reports today that it has completed these assessments and provides an update on its current high grade stevia capacity and expansion plans for 2009.

GLG engineers have completed the design for an additional 2,000 MT capacity line of rebiana to be built before the end of 2009. To management's knowledge, this expansion when completed, would make GLG the world's largest vertically integrated producer of rebiana. GLG continues to ramp up production capacity in expectation of increases in market demand due to the recent issuance of a "No Objection" letter from the FDA for the use of rebiana as a general purpose sweetener in food and beverages.

GLG Chairman and CEO Dr. Luke Zhang stated, "Our team has done excellent work to upgrade our existing line to 500 metric tons of rebiana output. They have continued to innovate and im
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