The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), has retained the regulation over the importation of veterinary drugs and animal feed ingredients after such authority was almost given back to the Department of Health’s (DOH) Food and Drug Authority (FDA).

Based on DA's Memorandum Circular (MC) no. 1, the regulation of feed premixes and water-soluble supplements, such as but not limited to feed supplements, drinking water supplements, feed additives, drinking water additives, etc., in addition to animal feeds and feed products, shall be undertaken by BAI’s Animal Feeds, Veterinary Drugs and Biologies Control Division (AFVDBCD).

The MC was signed by Agriculture Secretary William Dar late last week pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 1556 or the Livestock and Poultry Feeds Act as amended by Presidential Decree No. 7.

Effective March 1, 2021, the licensing, registration, and certification in relation to the above-mentioned products shall be strictly implemented by the AFVDBCD.

DA said authorizations granted through the implementation of the DA-DOH Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 2013-0026 on the Rules on the regulation of Veterinary drug and Products, Veterinary Biological Products and Veterinary Drug Establishments and JAO 2020-001 on the Re-adoption of the Joint Administrative Order No. 2013-0026 shall have to be revalidated.

In August 2020, the jurisdictional issue between FDA and BAI when it comes to whose function it is to regulate animal feeds and veterinary medicine in the Philippines caused fears among local feed millers as this may result in delays in the release of imported products “necessary for the survival of local feed industry amid the pandemic”.

Such an issue occurred when JAO 2013-0026 between DOH and DA, which gives BAI the mandate to register veterinary drugs and products, expired during that time.

With the expiration, the registration of the aforementioned products should now be done by FDA pursuant to RA 9711, which identifies the regulatory capacity of the agency.

Back then, Philippine Association of Feed Millers Inc. (PAFMI) said the jurisdictional issue may also occur and lead to unnecessary costs due to this turf issue between the two government agencies.

The group also thought that it is best that the registration, issuance of permits, inspection, and testing of animal feeds and ingredients, and veterinary drugs and medicine should be given to BAI.

According to PAFMI, the DA and BAI have been performing the functions of registering, testing, inspecting, and issuing permits to the animal feeds industry and veterinary drugs and medicine for so many years.

It also said that BAI's staff of veterinarians and animal nutritionists are well-trained, equipped, and have had many years, if not decades, of experience in animal sciences and veterinary medicine.

“It is therefore just appropriate that they be given the authority to oversee these functions permanently,” PAFMI said.