Agri department teams up with FDA on vaccines for livestock and poultry
(FILES) In this file photo, pigs are pictured at Poetterhof, a species-appropriate pig farm in Brueggen, western Germany. In 2019, the Philippines reported its first cases of African swine fever. Cases continue until now. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are collaborating on vaccine regulation and availability. They are focused on curbing the impact of various animal diseases that continue to affect the farm sector.
In a statement on Friday, the DA said the two agencies will boost their inter-agency coordination to regulate vaccines for controlling transboundary diseases. These include the African swine fever (ASF) and avian flu.
“We need to ensure that regulatory systems are in place to support safe and effective implementation. The DA is committed to enhancing initiatives that support a safe and sufficient vaccine supply for our farmers,” Agriculture Undersecretary Constante Palabrica said.
“Strengthening coordination between the DA and FDA is a step toward more efficient vaccine regulation, which is critical to maintaining animal health and ensuring the resilience of the livestock industry,” he added.
READ: Vietnam to send its swine fever vaccine to Philippines
The DA and the FDA will closely coordinate to address the negative impacts of animal diseases.
The DA-supervised Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) will oversee the testing and evaluation of applications for animal vaccines.
The FDA will facilitate the completion of the post-marketing monitored release requirements and compliance with its regulatory processes.
“It also vowed to provide continuous assistance to the DA in ensuring the eventual accessibility to effective, safe, and quality veterinary vaccines, to promote agricultural recovery and resilience, as well as national progress,” the DA said.
Both agencies said vaccines will help stabilize market supply and prices of affected commodities such as pork and poultry.
Vaccines for African swine fever and bird flu
So far, there are no approved vaccines against ASF or highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) for commercial use.
The DA is currently undertaking the controlled vaccination of swine in some parts of the Philippines. This is being done to test the safety and efficacy of an ASF vaccine from Vietnam.
Almost 40,000 heads have been inoculated against ASF, while 86 died following the monitored vaccination.
The Philippines continues to see cases of ASF and bird flu. Based on the BAI’s tally, there are active ASF cases in four provinces and four regions as of May 9.
On the other hand, there is an active avian influenza case in Mexico town in Pampanga, according to the BAI’s May 16 report.
