October 14, 2022

Export of Pakistan's livestock products supported by Chinese vaccine technology

Chinese vaccine technology has driven Pakistan's export of livestock products, according to a recent report published by Gwadar Pro.

"Foot and mouth disease (FMD)-Free Certification proved to be a prerequisite for the promotion of Pakistan's meat export to major markets of the world, with a potential to reach US$1-3 billion annually," the report stated.

"China has experience theoretically and practically in the construction of animal disease free zones," said Prof. He Cheng, coordinator of the China-Pakistan Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation & Extension Center at the China Agricultural University. "We are willing to share our technology with Pakistan and deepen cooperation to boost its livestock exports to China."

Currently, Pakistan's livestock sector is suffering from major animal diseases, such as lumpy skin disease (LSD), foot and mouth disease (FMD), brucellosis, and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR). Due to the non-certification of disease-free zones, Pakistan could not compete with major exporters such as New Zealand, Australia and Brazil.

Considering core vaccine technologies, China has developed cutting-edge technologies of FMD vaccines, including inactivated vaccine, peptide vaccine and virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines.

Last month, a Chinese delegation consisting of He Cheng and Dr. Li Shoujun, president of Tianjin Ringpu Bio-Pharm Group, a veterinary vaccine and pharmaceutical company in China, as well as two vice-presidents of the company, visited Pakistan's related governmental sectors including Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, private companies and local dealers.

Dr. Li, president of Tianjin Ringpu, signed a memorandum of understanding with Khalid Naeem, coordinator of Grand Pharma (pvt) Limited. Dr. Li also signed an MoU for producing Chinese vaccine with Prof. Khalid Naeem, coordinator of Grand Pharma (pvt) Limited, a Rawalpindi-based company.

According to the MoU, the first batch of Chinese FMD antigens and adjuvants will be shipped to Pakistan this month, indicating that high-quality FMD vaccine will be produced locally and supplied to local livestock.

"We are also looking forward to developing joint ventures with local companies and manufacturing poultry vaccines and pharmaceutical raw materials in Punjab province," Prof. He said. "With the introduction of protocols of sustainable healthy husbandry and eradications of major animal diseases, FMD-free zones will be established in Punjab and promoted to other provinces. In the future, fresh beef, mutton and chicken will be exported from Pakistan to China and other international markets."

- Daily Times