Question NW1631 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
17 May 2023 - NW1631
Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
Whether, with reference to her reply to question 142 on 23 March 2022, her department will implement a mechanism that would make it possible to drastically shorten the time frame required for newly developed and tested vaccines to be registered in emergency situations in order to allow for mass production and use in a short period of time; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; 2) whether, due to the exceptional circumstance of high shortages of vaccines, she ever considered to fast-track the registration of new vaccine product applications by the private sector in terms of the Fertilisers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, Act 36 of 1947; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. Yes. Registration for newly developed vaccines may be granted within a shorter time frame in emergency situations. Following the support of the need to make the vaccine available by the Director of Animal Health and consultations with potential manufacturers of the vaccine if available in the country, there will be speeding up of the evaluations for urgent consideration by the Registrar of Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Seeds and Remedies Act, 1947 (Act No. 36 of 1947), and these will be considered if such products meet the requirement in terms of safety, efficacy, and quality.
2. Yes. In exceptional circumstances, where there is no other product for the intended use, the Department may fast track the review of registration applications in terms of the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 (Act No 36 of 1947). The registration of new vaccine product applications by the private sector in terms of the Fertilisers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 (Act No. Act 36 of 1947) is receiving attention and registration may be granted within a shorter time frame.