The Department of Agriculture (DA) stated on Monday that it is closely collaborating with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the granting of Certificates of Product Registration (CPR) for African swine fever (ASF) vaccines from Vietnam.
DA Assistant Secretary for Operations Arnel De Mesa said in an interview during the launch of Livestock Philippines 2023 in Quezon City that their suggestion to certify the vaccination is now with the FDA.
"We’re working closely with the FDA regarding the ASF vaccine, as they are mandated to do so," he said.
De Mesa also stated that they are researching a proposal to pay private hog breeders in order for them to obtain the vaccination whenever it is accessible in the country.
He also stated that they are looking into maybe regaining the function of certifying animal vaccines.
"We are also working in the future to possibly return such authority to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) if there are vaccines or other animal concerns," he added.
BAI assistant director Arlene Vytiaco, on the other hand, stated that only pigs aged six to ten weeks will be administered with the immunizations once they are accessible locally.
Testing protocol noted that the required number of farms where it should be tested is only three.
The BAI previously urged the FDA to certify a Vietnam-made ASF vaccine for rapid distribution in the country after a trial produced positive results in pigs by creating antibodies.
From March to May, the AVAC was tested in six different areas of Luzon.
