NAST Philippines Discusses Livestock Nutritional Biotech

The National Academy of Science and Technology of the Philippines (NAST PHL), held a roundtable discussion on Livestock Nutritional Biotechnology: Pre and Probiotics in Food Animals on May 11, 2015 at Hotel Jen, Pasay City, Manila. The activity focused on the hazards of the long-term consumption of meat and meat products with antibiotic residues from the improper use of antibiotic in food animal production.

Dr. January M. Nones, officer-in-charge of National Meat Inspection Service's (NMIS) laboratory division, discussed the current status of antibiotic usage and residue monitoring in the Philippines. She introduced the National Veterinary Drug Residue Monitoring Program, which uses Microbial Inhibition Test (MIT) and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) as screening test methods. However, limitations were still encountered in terms of budget and manpower resources, and the high cost of kits and equipment. It was reported that the NMIS is looking towards institutionalizing and strengthening its efforts on the said program and that the upcoming years will focus on method development so as to strengthen its regulatory policy.

Also tackled in the RTD were the pre and probiotics in food animal production, human health implications of antibiotic residues in meat and meat products, and the regulation and policies on the use of antibiotics in food animals in the Philippines.

For more details about this activity, send an e-mail to secretariat@nast.ph. For more information about biotechnology developments in the Philippines, visit SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center's website.