GLG Announces FDA's Issuance of Letter of No Objection for GLG's EMS95 Products

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Oct. 6, 2016) - GLG Life Tech Corporation (TSX:GLG) ("GLG" or the "Company"), a global and agricultural leader in the natural zero-calorie sweetener industry, committed to the sustainable development of high-quality zero-calorie natural sweeteners, is pleased to announce that the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") has issued a Letter of No Objection for GLG's enzymatically modified stevia ("EMS") product - specifically "EMS95". (Filing No. GRN 656).

The FDA's Letter of No Objection provides that the FDA has no questions regarding GLG's conclusion - supported by extensive studies, research, and in-depth consultation with GRAS Associates, LLC - that its EMS95 product is Generally Recognized As Safe ("GRAS") as a general purpose sweetener.

EMS95 is part of GLG's TasteBoost™ product line, which consists of a series of enzymatically modified stevia products. GLG's EMS - a natural low-calorie sweetener - is produced through the enzymatic addition of glucose moieties to the original steviol glycoside structure, resulting in a mix of glucosylated steviol glycosides and steviol glycosides. The presence of glucoyslated steviol glycosides benefits products using EMS by providing enhanced taste quality and sweetness.

This enhancement in taste and flavor provides a well-rounded, sugar-like low-calorie solution appropriate for a wide variety of food applications, such as dairy, snacks, baked goods, cereals, sports nutrition products, and many more. Furthermore, GLG's EMS products can be used synergistically with other caloric and non-caloric sweeteners for enhanced sweetness and taste. GLG's EMS products provide an array of choices for food manufacturers targeting consumers of all ages who are looking for healthier, tastier options.

To date, GLG has received ten GRAS Letters of No Objection covering its broad array of high-purity stevia products. No other stevia company can claim such a mark.

About GLG Life Tech Corporation

GLG Life Tech Corporation is a global leader in the supply of high-purity zero calorie natural sweeteners including stevia and monk fruit extracts used in food and beverages. GLG's vertically integrated operations, which incorporate our Fairness to Farmers program and emphasize sustainability throughout, cover each step in the stevia and monk fruit supply chains including non-GMO seed and seedling breeding, natural propagation, growth and harvest, proprietary extraction and refining, marketing and distribution of the finished products. Additionally, to further meet the varied needs of the food and beverage industry, GLG has launched its Naturals+ product line, enabling it to supply a host of complementary ingredients reliably sourced through its supplier network in China. For further information, please visit www.glglifetech.com.

Forward-looking statements: This press release may contain certain information that may constitute "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or words and phrases that state or indicate that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.

While the Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations about future events, the statements are not guarantees of the Company's future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include amongst others the effects of general economic conditions, consumer demand for our products and new orders from our customers and distributors, changing foreign exchange rates and actions by government authorities, uncertainties associated with legal proceedings and negotiations, industry supply levels, competitive pricing pressures and misjudgments in the course of preparing forward-looking statements. Specific reference is made to the risks set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form for the financial year ended December 31, 2015. In light of these factors, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release might not occur.

Further, although the Company has attempted to identify factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

As there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.