Officials of the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Industry and the Food and Drug Administration met on May 19 to improve collaboration on the regulation and rollout of vaccines for Avian Influenza and African Swine Fever, heeding the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to protect the swine and poultry sectors that are vital for food security and job creation.

Agriculture Undersecretary for Livestock Dr. Constante J. Palabrica and newly appointed FDA Director General Atty. Paolo S. Teston met at the BAI Central Office in Quezon City to discuss updates on ASF and AI vaccine candidates, hopeful a commercial rollout could be possible before the end of 2025.

Some vaccines are currently undergoing field trials, while others are being reviewed by the BAI Veterinary Technical Advisory Committee (VTAC). Several vaccine candidates have already been endorsed to the FDA for further evaluation and approval.

Both agencies agreed on a streamlined process to guide vaccine developers through trials and product registration. 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.

Undersecretary Palabrica stressed the importance of efficient regulation in dealing with animal diseases. “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,” he said.

The meeting also addressed concerns over illegal online sales of unregistered vaccines on platforms like Shopee and Lazada. The FDA 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 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.

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.