Government asked to cut ASF vaccine approval period

MANILA, Philippines — A hog raisers’ group yesterday asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Bureau of Animal Industry to shorten the period of approving permits for the commercial or emergency use of African swine fever (ASF) vaccine from six months to one month.

AGAP party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones, who is also president of the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines (PPFP), said the six-month period is too long for hog raisers as thousands of pigs are being culled every day due toASF.

“If we wait for the FDA to complete its processing protocol for the vaccine, many more pigs will die, our business will go bankrupt and prices of pork will tremendously increase,” Briones said.

He said a massive vaccine trial was undertaken in 2023 and the result was successful.

Commercial hog raiser Fritz Chua said a similar trial conducted in his farm in the same year proved that the vaccine is effective.

Briones noted that on Aug. 30, of the 41 pigs inoculated in Lobo, Batangas, 36 survived and some even developed antibodies.

“On Sept. 30, blood samples will be taken again from these pigs. If tests will show 70 to 80 percent antibodies in the animals, they are immune from ASF,” he said.

Briones expressed hope that by Oct. 1, the FDA could issue permits for the commercial or emergency use of ASF vaccine.

He said the PPFP has written to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. to inform him that hog raisers themselves could attest to the efficacy of the vaccine.

Briones said vaccination is the only way to curb the spread of the virus and help the swine industry recover from its losses.

He said the government needs P3.6 billion to vaccinate 5.4 million hogs nationwide.