FDA, DA team up to regulate animal vaccines for ASF, AI

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Agriculture are collaborating to regulate and make available animal vaccines to protect against diseases like African swine fever (ASF) and avian influenza (AI), which pose a significant threat to food security.

On May 19, FDA Director General Paolo Teston met with DA-BAI Undersecretary Constante Palabrica to discuss updates on ASF and AI vaccine candidates as part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to protect swine and poultry sectors vital for food security and job creation.

Both agencies expressed optimism for a possible commercial rollout of ASF and AI vaccines before the end of 2025, with some vaccines currently undergoing field trials and others being reviewed by the BAI Veterinary Technical Advisory Committee (VTAC).

The DA-supervised Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) will oversee testing and evaluation of applications for animal vaccines, while the FDA will facilitate post-marketing monitored release requirements and compliance with regulatory processes.

To address illegal online sales of unregistered vaccines, a joint policy and implementation framework involving the DA, FDA, DICT, and DTI was proposed to strengthen border controls and prevent technical smuggling.