February 16, 2024

Philippines' urges foreign suppliers of ASF vaccines to secure local FDA approval

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) is urging foreign suppliers of African swine fever (ASF) vaccines to secure approval from the country's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as part of the necessary government processes, Philippine News Agency reported.

DA Undersecretary Roger Navarro said that discussions were held with ASF vaccine suppliers during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s recent visit to Vietnam, encouraging them to apply and coordinate with authorities for approvals.

Despite the expressed intent of suppliers to provide vaccines to the Philippines, challenges persist. Navarro stated that DA Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr aims to assist suppliers in navigating these processes, hoping to expedite approvals for the supply of ASF vaccines.

To commercially distribute vaccines made in Vietnam, suppliers must obtain a certificate of product registration (CPR) from the FDA after accreditation, testing, and approval procedures.

Navarro highlighted the meticulous government processes involved, including FDA regulations and permits such as the license to operate (LTO), emphasising the need to respect these procedures.

In June 2023, the DA-Bureau of Animal Industry recommended the AVAC vaccine from Vietnam for CPR issuance following successful trial results in Luzon. Trials conducted from March to May 2023 across six areas in Luzon demonstrated a 100% production of antibodies with no reported side effects among four- to 10-week-old swine.

-      Philippine News Agency