BAI aid sought in testing animal vaccines 

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Health (DOH), and their attached agencies, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have agreed to allow BAI to assist the FDA in conducting testing on animal vaccines and biologics.

In a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) among the agencies signed on June 4, 2024, the FDA will be tasked to issue a license to operate to manufacturers, traders and distributors, and retailers of veterinary drugs and products, and a certificate of no objection for BAI’s importation of vaccines and biologics for its evaluation and research.

Among the animal diseases affecting the livestock and poultry industry are Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and African Swine Fever (ASF) – both highly contagious viral diseases that have grossly undermined the local poultry and hog industries. 

The hog and poultry industries are strong pillars of the agriculture sector in generating investments and jobs and are vital to the DA’s goal of ensuring food security.
For its part, the BAI is expected to conduct evaluations to determine the safety and efficacy of both local and imported vaccines and biologics, and endorse private applications to the FDA for the issuance of certificate of product registration to local and imported veterinary products and provide the FDA with evaluation reports. DA-AFID