A YORK veterinary products business said it has had a good start to the year after resolving issues in its supply chain.

Animalcare Group plc, based in Dunnington, has recommenced sales of its animal painkiller Buprecare single dose ampoules, one of its leading products.

The company stopped being able to supply the product in July 2011 after its previous supplier of the ampoules, the contract manufacturing group Recipharm, closed its sterile injectable production unit.

A new contract has now been signed with a German multinational contract manufacturer with a substantial sterile injectables facility in France, which has now been approved to manufacture the product. The business said it was confident it could achieve levels of sales similar to those prior to the supply disruption.

Stephen Wildridge, chief executive of Animalcare Group plc, said: "It was very disappointing to lose our marketing leading product Buprecare ampoules so abruptly however after some excellent work from the Animalcare team in identifying and working with a very competent manufacturer we are now back in a market that has been eagerly awaiting our return and with a supplier that puts us in an even stronger position. It's a very good way to start 2013."

In its results for the year ended June 30, Animalcare reported revenue dropped 8.2 per cent from £11.8 million in 2011 to £10.9 million, with pre-tax profits decreasing from £2.8 million to £2.1 million.

It said it hoped the relaunch of Buprecare ampoules and the planned launch of four new licensed veterinary products would return the company to growth in 2013.