Sub-Saharan Africa’s livestock sector set for major boost through improved veterinary medicine regulation

AFRICA – An ambitious new three-year initiative, backed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aims to streamline and enhance the regulation of veterinary products across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The goal is to improve access to high-quality medicines for the millions of livestock farmers in the region.

The project brings together global and local stakeholders with the common aim of enhancing animal health, food security, and the livelihoods of farmers.

With an estimated 800 million livestock keepers across the continent, the livestock sector plays a pivotal role in Africa’s agricultural economy.

It contributes between 30 to 50 percent of the agricultural GDP and sustains the livelihoods of around 350 million people, approximately one-third of the continent’s population.

However, this sector faces significant challenges, with the prevalence of livestock diseases being one of the main obstacles to improving productivity and farmers’ incomes.

The availability and access to high-quality veterinary products are critical for combating these diseases, boosting animal health, and reducing the economic losses caused by poor livestock health.

Addressing regulatory gaps for veterinary medicines

One of the major barriers to improving access to veterinary medicines in Africa is the inefficient and cumbersome process for registering these products.

The current regulatory frameworks are fragmented, time-consuming, and often lack coordination between nations.

These gaps in the regulatory system hinder the availability of safe and effective veterinary medicines and vaccines, which are essential for healthy livestock.

The new project, dubbed “Better Regulation,” seeks to address these challenges by improving the regulatory processes across the continent.

Specifically, it aims to harmonize regulatory requirements between countries, streamline registration processes, and create a more transparent and predictable system for veterinary product approvals.

Project objectives and key outcomes

The project will focus on several key outcomes, all aimed at improving the quality and availability of veterinary medicines in the region:

• Improved regulatory systems: The initiative will work to modernize and harmonize the regulatory framework across nations, making it easier and faster to register new veterinary products.
• Increased access to safe medicines: By improving the efficiency of regulatory processes, the project will help increase the availability of safe, high-quality veterinary medicines, including vaccines, to farmers.
• Support for Livestock Producers: With improved access to quality medicines, farmers will be better equipped to manage animal diseases, boosting livestock productivity and improving income.
• Enhanced animal health and food security: The ultimate aim is to improve animal health, increase livestock production, and enhance food security for millions of people.
• Sustainable governance structures: The project will also focus on establishing long-term governance structures to ensure continued collaboration between regulatory agencies, ensuring that regulatory improvements last beyond the project’s lifespan.

Building capacity and improving cooperation

The initiative will help national regulatory agencies identify their capacity-building needs and address them effectively.

One of the tools developed as part of the project is a Self-Assessment Tool that will help agencies evaluate their regulatory processes and track progress over time.

This tool will enable regulatory bodies to prioritize areas for improvement and ensure that they can meet the growing demand for veterinary products.

“We are really excited to be working alongside our partners and with regulatory networks throughout sub-Saharan Africa to put in place our common goal of increasing the availability of veterinary medicines for farmers,” said Suzanne Eckford, Head of International Office at the UK-Veterinary Medicines Directorate (UK-VMD).

“Good quality medicines and vaccines underpin healthy, happy livestock, which means more income for farmers, better protection of public health, and safer food on the table.”

Success of the East African Community’s Mutual Recognition Procedure

A key component of the project will be to build upon the success of the East African Community (EAC) Mutual Recognition Procedure (MRP).

This innovative approach to veterinary product registration allows for the simultaneous approval of veterinary medicines in multiple countries within the EAC.

The project will aim to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the MRP, leading to faster product approvals and increased access to medicines.

Fahari Marwa, Principal Agricultural Economist at the EAC, noted, “This project will strengthen national regulatory agencies and simplify the harmonized mechanisms for veterinary product registration, improving quality, increasing availability, and reducing costs.”

Benefits for all stakeholders

The project’s success will benefit various stakeholders within the veterinary medicine supply chain. Farmers will have improved access to safe, effective, and affordable veterinary products.

National regulatory authorities will be better equipped to oversee the market, ensuring timely product approvals and improved standards.

Meanwhile, manufacturers and their local representatives will benefit from a more transparent and standardized regulatory system, reducing delays and uncertainty.