• Government plans to vaccinate more than 7 million cattle to secure “FMD-free with vaccination” status from WOAH.

• Authorities aim to import 2 million vaccine doses by February and build domestic production capacity of 1.5 million additional doses.

• Persistent outbreaks threaten major export markets including China, Egypt, the UAE and the broader Middle East.

South Africa faces one of its toughest livestock challenges as Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) continues to spread despite more than a decade of containment efforts.

The government plans to implement a nationwide vaccination strategy for the entire cattle herd. Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen announced the decision on Wednesday, November 26.

Steenhuisen said the plan aims to secure from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) the status of “FMD-free with vaccination.” The ministry will deploy the program first in the hardest-hit provinces: KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga and North West. Officials identify KwaZulu-Natal as the main epicenter, with 180 unresolved outbreaks out of 274 reported nationally.

“Despite vaccinating 931,200 animals using government-acquired stocks over the past three months, uncontrolled animal movements continue to undermine containment efforts and prolong the crisis,” Steenhuisen said. South Africa, the continent’s largest beef producer, expects the campaign to cover more than 7 million animals.

Authorities plan to import 2 million vaccine doses by February. They also intend to accelerate domestic manufacturing. “To reduce reliance on imported vaccines, a new medium-scale production unit is being established under the national biosafety enhancement program. The goal is to produce, through a government-industry partnership, an additional 1.5 million doses,” Steenhuisen added.

The Agricultural Research Council (ARC) announced in July that it had started the process of setting up a modern vaccine production facility expected to launch in 2026.

As the country struggles to control FMD, the government seeks to secure long-term access to export markets, particularly China, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and other Middle Eastern buyers.

The plan also aims to protect the reputation of players across the livestock-derived products industry. China suspended imports of South African wool in 2019 after raising concerns about FMD transmission.

Despite ongoing challenges, exports of fresh and frozen beef rose 30% to 38,657 tonnes in 2024, according to the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC).

This article was initially published in French by Espoir Olodo

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum