VACCINE APPROVAL. Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa reports positive feedback following the meeting of Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Food and Drug Administrator Director General Dr. Samuel Zacate, in an interview at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Friday (March 22, 2024). De Mesa said the two agencies discussed ways to expedite procedures for vaccine approvals in the country. (Screengrab)
MANILA –The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday said it collaborated with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expedite the process for the approval of the African swine fever (ASF) and the Avian Influenza (AI) vaccines.
At the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the move was in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to fast-track the vaccine procurement to combat the effects of ASF and AI.
”Isa po doon sa napag-usapan ay paano na po ma-harmonize iyong mga proseso at iyon pong mga approval process ay masigurado na iyong criteria na ginagawa ng Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) at ng FDA ay maayos na po para mapabilis iyong pag-approve (One of the topics discussed was how to harmonize the procedure and to ensure that the criteria in the approval process used by the BAI and FDA are organized to expedite the approval)," he said.
Discussions conducted between DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and FDA Director General Dr. Samuel Zacate on Thursday involved the immediate approval of procedures for vaccines, bioproducts, and veterinary products.
Laurel and Zacate also discussed intensifying border control in partnership with the Bureau of Customs to combat the entry of illegal food products into the country.
The DA, meanwhile, earlier requested vaccine suppliers from the US and Vietnam to secure approval before the FDA.
ASF vaccines may be available by the year-end or early 2025, according to the DA. (PNA)
