FDA affirms support for livestock recovery through vaccines
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has affirmed its commitment to support the programs of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to curb the spread of contagious diseases on livestock by ensuring the quality of veterinary vaccines.
In a statement, the FDA said its director general, Paolo Teston, met with DA-Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Undersecretary Constante Palabrica on Monday to reinforce inter-agency cooperation in the regulation and availability of critical animal vaccines.
This, as the country's pork and poultry industries have been affected by the African Swine Fever (ASF) and Avian Influenza (AI), resulting in disruption in food supply chains.
Teston vowed to support programs to control the outbreak of these diseases through close cooperation and coordination with the DA. The FDA would also evaluate documents to ensure the vaccines' quality, safety, and efficacy.
'The FDA likewise reiterated its readiness to assist the DA in navigating the regulatory pathways for veterinary vaccines that are crucial for national preparedness and agricultural recovery,' the agency added.
DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa had said that it will take another two to three years before the Philippines' swine population returns to its pre-ASF levels.
He said that the controlled vaccination of hogs is ongoing, and the DA is awaiting the approval of the FDA for its clearance for the commercial rollout of the ASF vaccine, possibly later this year.
Since the first outbreak in 2019, the national hog inventory has declined from approximately 13 million heads to less than nine million heads.
As to bird flu, the DA said in January that it was pushing for the immediate approval of the vaccines by the FDA. The agency also said it was working to secure the P300 million requested by the National Livestock Program to fund vaccine testing.
The DA had also taken proactive measures to stabilize the egg supply and curb potential price hikes amid concerns over bird flu. —Giselle Ombay/RF, GMA Integrated News
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