The Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, has published a new Routine Vaccination Scheme for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in the Government Gazette of 4 May 2026, introducing a national framework aimed at improving disease control through voluntary livestock vaccination.
The scheme, issued under Section 10 of the Animal Diseases Act, sets out a structured system for the vaccination, monitoring, and traceability of cloven-hoofed animals, with participation open to livestock owners across the country.
According to Steenhuisen, the initiative is designed to strengthen disease control while supporting the agricultural sector.
“This scheme is intended to function as an adjunct to existing control measures, enabling animal owners to mitigate the impact of foot-and-mouth disease through voluntary participation under state veterinary oversight,” Steenhuisen said.
However, the Southern African Agri Initiative (SAAI) has raised concerns about the framework, particularly the powers granted to the Director of Animal Health and the administrative burden placed on farmers.
SAAI CEO Francois Rossouw said the scheme reflects deeper systemic failures.
“This indiscriminate allocation of wider power is irresponsible because South Africa landed in this foot-and-mouth disease fiasco precisely due to terminal failings in this very directorate,” Rossouw said.
He further argued that the system lacks accountability mechanisms for government officials and could disadvantage smaller livestock producers due to cost and compliance requirements.
The Department of Agriculture maintains that the scheme is a public-private partnership intended to enhance surveillance, improve vaccination coverage, and safeguard food security and trade continuity.
Photo: X/ @DOAgov_ZA
