New laboratory and development centre for animal diagnostics firm

Saint-Hyacinthe, QC May 5, 2003 Construction has begun on a new development centre and laboratory complex for Biovet, a Quebec-based company that develops, manufactures and markets immuno-diagnostic tests and innovative diagnostic services for veterinarians.

Construction of the Biovet Centre is being financed by the Les Maskoutains Local Development Centre, which is investing C$2 million in the project. The company says the new facility will reinforce its presence within Saint-Hyacinthe’s City of Agri-food, Veterinary and Agro-environmental Biotechnology, a science park in Quebec.

“We are proud to announce that construction has begun on this important project,” says Daniel Roy, general manager of Biovet. "Our new centre embodies Biovet’s vision of the future. Within the next five years, Biovet will become a leader in the industry of veterinary diagnostics in North America.

Biovet’s diagnostic services and kits enable animal health professionals to detect bacteria, viruses and other pathogens affecting livestock and domestic animals. The company says it performed nearly 400,000 laboratory tests in 2002.

The company plans to move into its new premises this summer. The laboratories will occupy 70% of the centre’s total area approximately 845 sq m out of 1,208 sq m overall. A total of C$450,000 will be invested for the purchase of furniture and laboratory equipment.

The new facilities will allow Biovet to continue its ongoing partnerships with veterinarians. This project is also an essential step in becoming accredited by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which is indispensable for marketing many diagnostic kits.