Latest news with #ConstantePalabrica
GMA Network
24-05-2025
- Health
- GMA Network
DA, FDA boost collab on ASF, bird flu vaccines oversight
The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FD) are strengthening their collaboration on the regulation and rollout of vaccines for Avian Influenza and African Swine Fever. In a news release on Saturday, the DA said officials of its attached agency, Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), and FDA, met on May 19 to discuss updates on ASF and AI vaccine candidates as part of the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to protect the swine and poultry sectors that are vital for food security and job creation. The meeting was attended by Agriculture Undersecretary for Livestock Dr. Constante Palabrica and newly appointed FDA Director General Atty. Paolo Teston. Both agencies expressed optimism for a possible commercial rollout of ASF and AI vaccines possible before the end of 2025. The DA said some vaccines are currently undergoing field trials, while others are being reviewed by the BAI Veterinary Technical Advisory Committee (VTAC). Several vaccine candidates, meanwhile, have already been endorsed to the FDA for further evaluation and approval, it said. The BAI will formally refer applicants to the FDA, which will then provide regulatory feedback and guidance on necessary steps. The BAI's National African Swine Fever Prevention and Control Program also provided updates on the rollout of the Live Attenuated ASF vaccine, including data on its usage and the number of farms vaccinated to date. 'Strengthening coordination between the DA and FDA is key to ensuring timely and effective vaccine approval. This will help maintain animal health and support the resilience of our livestock and poultry industries as we prepare for the vaccines' commercial use. We must have regulatory systems in place that guarantee safe and effective implementation,' said Palabrica. Online sales The meeting also addressed concerns over illegal online sales of unregistered vaccines, according to the Agriculture Department. The FDA, however, clarified that enforcement falls under the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). To tackle this, the agencies proposed a joint policy and implementation framework involving the DA, FDA, DICT, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). 'To strengthen border controls, FDA agreed with the DA Office of the Secretary Chief of Staff Atty. Alvin John F. Balagbag's proposal for joint DA-FDA inspections of processed agricultural imports. This initiative aims to prevent technical smuggling and stop the misdeclaration of unprocessed products to bypass inspections at ports of entry,' the DA said. 'This enhanced partnership between the DA and FDA underscores the vital role of vaccines in protecting animal health, supporting Filipino farmers, and ensuring the nation's food security,' it added. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
22-05-2025
- Health
- GMA Network
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
