Philippines approves first publicly available African swine fever vaccine, signalling industry recovery
The Bureau of Animal Industry grants approval for AVAC ASF LIVE, the Philippines’ first publicly available vaccine against African swine fever, marking a crucial step in revitalising the nation’s pig sector still reeling from outbreaks since 2019.
The Bureau of Animal Industry has cleared the commercial sale of AVAC ASF LIVE, marking the Philippines’ first publicly available vaccine for African swine fever and a potential turning point for a hog sector still recovering from outbreaks that began in 2019.
Developed by AVAC Vietnam Joint Stock Company, the live, attenuated, gene-deleted vaccine is approved for use in fattening pigs, the animals raised for slaughter and meat production. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has said the product gives hog raisers another tool to protect healthy herds and support efforts to restore domestic pork output.
The approval also reflects a shift in regulation. Under Republic Act No. 12308, the Animal Industry Development and Competitiveness Act, the BAI has become the sole regulator for veterinary drugs, products and biologics, taking over functions previously handled by the Food and Drug Administration and other agencies. The agency launched a new registration system for animal health products in July 2026 under Department Circular No. 33.
According to the Department of Agriculture, another ASF vaccine, PROVAC from South Korea, is still undergoing BAI testing, raising the possibility of an additional option for hog producers next year. For an industry that has yet to fully recover from ASF, the commercial rollout of AVAC ASF LIVE is being treated as a critical, if still partial, step towards rebuilding supply.
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