THE Newry veterinary pharmaceuticals company Norbrook has signed a deal with the giant drugs manufacturer Pharmacia & Upjohn for the sale of two of the Northern Ireland company's top-selling products into the Republic of China.

The drugs - Bovaclox and Lactoclox - are treatments for cow mastitis. With nearly seven million dairy cattle in China, and the news that the sector is now being backed by the Chinese government's fiveyear dairy product export plan, the company is optimistic about the prospects, and has estimated that the number of syringes of the two products which will be sold over the next five years will run into the tens of millions.

"It is an excellent time for us to move into such a huge potential market," said the sales manager Mr Bob Doherty. "At present we have two products registered there, but many more are in the pipeline."

Norbrook's strategy is to choose a multinational company to promote its products as part of a partnership arrangement, in order to reduce the financial risk involved in selling into a new and developing market.

Norbrook employs around 500 people at its two plants in Newry, and exports to more than 100 countries around the world, making its own products, and manufacturing under contract for many leading pharmaceutical companies.