Sejong: Research facilities at the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency can now be utilized by a private firm to produce African swine fever (ASF) vaccines, as confirmed by the state audit agency.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) disclosed this assessment following a request from a local veterinary vaccine company. The company sought to use the facilities at the animal and plant quarantine agency to produce ASF vaccines it had developed independently, ahead of major pharmaceutical competitors.

The quarantine agency faced challenges in making a decision on this request due to ambiguities in existing regulations, which could be interpreted as allowing facility use strictly for research and experimental purposes. Seeking clarity, the agency consulted the BAI, which concluded that the vaccine firm should be permitted to use the facilities. The decision was based on regulations promoting cooperation between government and private entities to commercialize technologies.

Furthermore, the BAI highlighted that this decision aligns with government support measures aimed at strengthening the competitive position of local vaccine companies in the global market. These measures include expedited permits for vaccines intended for export.