July 30, 2010

CZ Veterinaria unveils Europe's largest fish vaccine plant

Spanish biopharmaceutical company CZ Veterinaria has invested more than EUR5 billion (US$6.53 billion) in a new vaccine centre in Porriño, Galicia, Spain, which is set to produce the largest quantity of fish vaccines in Europe.

 

The factory, which opened on Tuesday (Jul 27), will produce 12 different types of vaccines against viral and bacterial diseases which often affect the aquaculture industry, such as vibriosis, furunculosis and red mouth disease. The plant has the capacity to produce 8,000 litres of antigen per week.

 

It is the largest of five plants owned by CZ Veterinaria, according to reports.

 

Twelve years ago, the company began producing fish vaccines for the multinational Intervet-Schering.

 

According to Esteban Rodriguez, chief executive of the group, the main species for which their products are aimed at are trout, salmon, seabream, seabass and turbot.

 

The Rural Councilor of the Xunta de Galicia, Samuel Juarez, stressed the importance of the veterinary field in the control of health and safety of the food chain and said that the Galician government will support all initiatives taken by CZ Veterinaria.

 

The other four plants specialise in mycobacteria, clostridial vaccines, produced for brucellosis and cell cultures.