ECOLAB INC. — Director's Dealing 2008

Feb 29, 2008

SEC Form 3 — Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership

Issuer: ECOLAB INC (ECL)
CIK: 0000031462
Period of Report: 2008-02-22

Reporting Person: Meyer Michael L (Senior VP - Human Resources)

Holdings (Non-Derivative)

Security	Shares	Ownership
Common Stock	5650	Direct

Holdings (Derivative)

Security	Exercise Price	Expiration	Underlying	Shares	Ownership
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$46.955	2018-02-20	Common Stock (12350)		Direct

Footnotes

F1: Option granted under the Ecolab Inc. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan on February 20, 2008. The option will be exercisable, on a cumulative basis, as to one-third of the option shares (excluding any fractional portion less than one share) on each of the first and second anniversaries of the date of grant and as to the remaining shares on the third anniversary of the date of grant; provided, however, that if a Change in Control (as that term is defined in the 2005 Plan) will occur, then the option, if it has been outstanding for at least six months from the date of grant, will become immediately exercisable in full.