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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950117-04-000454.txt : 20040130
<SEC-HEADER>0000950117-04-000454.hdr.sgml : 20040130
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040130100031
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950117-04-000454
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040129
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial statements and exhibits
ITEM INFORMATION:		Regulation FD Disclosure
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040130

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BECTON DICKINSON & CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000010795
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SURGICAL & MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS [3841]
		IRS NUMBER:				220760120
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04802
		FILM NUMBER:		04554283

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE BECTON DR
		CITY:			FRANKLIN LAKES
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07417-1880
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2018476800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE BECTON DR
		CITY:			FRANKLIN LAKE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07417
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a36954.txt
<DESCRIPTION>BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY
<TEXT>

<PAGE>



                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)  January 29, 2004
                                                  ----------------


                          BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           New Jersey                001-4802                   22-0760120
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (State or other juris-         (Commission             (IRS Employer Iden-
   diction of incorporation)       File Number)            tification Number)

   1 Becton Drive, Franklin Lakes, New Jersey                   07417-1880
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code          (201) 847-6800
                                                            --------------

                                       N/A
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former addresses if changed since last report.)





<PAGE>


Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

         (c) Exhibits.

              Exhibit 99.1  Press release dated January 29, 2004 which is
                            furnished pursuant to Item 9.

Item 9.  Regulation FD Disclosure.

         On January 29, 2004, the Registrant issued the press release
         that is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.




<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                           BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY
                                                  (Registrant)



                                           By: /s/ Dean J. Paranicas
                                               --------------------------------
                                                   Dean J. Paranicas
                                                   Vice President, Corporate
                                                   Secretary and Public Policy


Date: January 29, 2004






<PAGE>


                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS
                                -----------------

   Exhibit
   Number        Description of Exhibits
   ------        -----------------------
   99.1          Press release dated January 29, 2004




                         STATEMENT OF DIFFERENCES
                         ------------------------
The trademark symbol shall be expressed as.............................. 'TM'





</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>ex99-1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 99.1
<TEXT>
<PAGE>


[Letterhead]


NEWS RELEASE                                           [BECTON DICKINSON LOGO]

Contact:
Colleen White, Corporate Communications - 201-847-5369
Patricia Spinella, Investor Relations - 201-847-5453


           BD Initiates Voluntary Recall of Certain BD'TM' Test Strips

FRANKLIN LAKES, NJ (January 29, 2004) - BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)
(NYSE:BDX) announced today that it has initiated a voluntary product recall of
certain lots of its BD'TM' Test Strips used for blood glucose monitoring. These
lots may produce an increased frequency of "E-3" messages when used during blood
glucose testing.

The E-3 message is a protective feature of the meter that appears during a test
to indicate issues with the application of a blood sample or with the test
strip. This message does not cause erroneous test results, as no test result is
shown when the E-3 message is displayed. To maintain the highest product quality
standards and ensure customer satisfaction, BD is performing this recall and
replacing strips from all affected lots. BD has a sufficient remaining quantity
of test strips in inventory to replace the recalled product and to continue
supplying the market.

BD is informing its customers, including distributors, retailers and healthcare
professionals, about this situation and has outlined steps for replacement of
test strips from affected lots.

Patient safety and the efficacy of its products are BD's first priorities.
Customers with questions or concerns can call BD toll-free at 1-866-556-8123.

BD is a medical technology company that serves healthcare institutions, life
science researchers, clinical laboratories, industry and the general public. BD
manufactures and sells a broad range of medical supplies, devices, laboratory
equipment and diagnostic products. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003,
BD reported total revenues of $4.528 billion.

                                       ***

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements (as defined
under Federal securities laws) regarding BD's performance, including future
revenues, products and income, or events or developments that BD expects to
occur or anticipates occurring in the future. All such statements are based upon
current expectations of BD and involve a number of business risks and
uncertainties. Actual results could vary materially from anticipated results
described, implied or projected in any forward-looking statement. Factors that
could cause actual results to vary materially from any forward-looking statement
include, but are not limited to: competitive factors; pricing and market share
pressures; uncertainties of litigation; BD's ability to achieve sales and
earnings forecasts, which are based on sales volume and product mix assumptions,
to achieve





<PAGE>


its cost savings objectives, and to achieve anticipated synergies and other cost
savings in connection with acquisitions; changes in regional, national or
foreign economic conditions; increases in energy costs; fluctuations in costs
and availability of raw materials and in BD's ability to maintain favorable
supplier arrangements and relationships; changes in interest or foreign currency
exchange rates; delays in product introductions; and changes in health care or
other governmental regulation, as well as other factors discussed in this press
release and in BD's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do
not intend to update any forward-looking statements.





</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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