Gov't research facilities can be used by private firm to produce ASF vaccines

The Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) in South Korea has ruled that research facilities at the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency can be utilized by a private firm to manufacture African swine fever (ASF) vaccines. This decision came after a local veterinary vaccine company approached the agency to utilize their facilities for producing ASF vaccines that they had developed independently, ahead of major pharmaceutical firms.

The quarantine agency initially struggled to make a decision due to potential ambiguities in the related regulations, which could have been interpreted to restrict the use of facilities solely for research and experimental purposes. To clarify the situation, the quarantine agency sought advice from the BAI, which ultimately determined that the vaccine firm could be permitted to use the facilities.

The BAI's decision was based on the interpretation that the regulations permit cooperation between government and private entities to facilitate the commercialization of technologies, among other purposes. Furthermore, the BAI noted that this decision aligns with various support measures the government is implementing to aid local vaccine companies in competing effectively in the highly competitive global vaccine market, such as expediting permits for vaccines intended for export.