A technology partnership agreement with Nosan Corporation

The agreement, through which the two groups will pool their expertise, reflects increasingly strong demand from Japanese consumers for food that is healthier, safer and generally better for human health. The technologies concerned by the partnership have already been widely developed in Europe, where AGPs will be banned under EU regulations from January 2006.

The agreement also makes provision for extending the partnership to other forms of cooperation if both parties so wish.

Japan and France, the world's fourth and seventh biggest markets respectively for animal feed, jointly produce 45 million tonnes of animal feed, i.e. 7% of the global total.

Founded in 1931, Nosan Corporation posted turnover of ¥109 billion (€770 million) in 2005. Livestock feed accounted for 76% of this total and horse/pet feed for 10%. The company has annual production of around 2.4 million tonnes (10% of the market), manufactured in eight plants across the country, of which three are co-owned. Nosan Corporation has a state-of-the-art research facility at Tsukuba (north-east of Tokyo) with 1,092 employees at 31 March 2005. Nosan pioneered the development of own-brand eggs in Japan and remains a leader in this niche. The company is listed on the first section of the Tokyo stock exchange.

An international specialist in animal nutrition and health, Evialis has industrial presence in 12 countries with 52 industrial sites. It has turnover of almost €700 million and a workforce of more than 3,100. It sells its services and products in more than 50 countries.