Singapore: UK Animal health company Zoetis has announced that its joint venture in China has received regulatory approval by the Ministry of Agriculture of China for its swine vaccine, Rui Lan An.

This will be the first vaccine to emerge from the joint venture that was established to develop and manufacture animal vaccines specifically designed to answer the needs of China's livestock producers. The specialized vaccine that will be launched this month will help control the highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome.

Zoetis has said that the vaccine will help China's pork producers meet increasing demand in China for quality, affordable pork. "Our innovation starts with our customers and an understanding of their everyday animal health challenges. Rui Lan An exemplifies the commitment of our joint venture to develop and manufacture quality vaccines well matched to the local health challenges facing China's pork industry," Stefan Weiskopf, executive vice president and president, Asia Pacific Region at Zoetis, said in a statement.

China is the world's leading pork producing nation, with an annual population of more than 685 million pigs in 2012.