Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has expressed deep concern over South Africa’s exclusion from key beef export markets due to persistent foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks, calling the current control strategy ineffective and economically damaging.
Speaking on the sidelines of a press conference today, Steenhuisen acknowledged that the country’s approach over the past five to eight years has failed to curb the spread of the highly contagious livestock disease, which has severely impacted farmers and trade.
Vaccination Challenges and Economic Strain
Recent outbreaks have been reported in multiple provinces, particularly the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal. While the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) is in the final stages of developing a locally produced vaccine targeting SAT 1, 2, and 3 FMD strains, the government is forced to rely on imports from Botswana in the interim.
“We must embark on a massive vaccination program,” Steenhuisen said. “In the short term, we’ll use Botswana Vaccine Institute supplies, but our goal is to produce our own within a year or two.”
However, farmers say the current vaccination efforts are insufficient. Red Meat Producers Association CEO Gerhard Schutte warned that new outbreaks are emerging daily on both commercial and small-scale farms, leaving producers in financial distress.
“If FMD is detected on your farm, you’re economically cut off—you can’t move livestock or earn an income,” Schutte said. “Our members are terrified.”
Push for FMD-Free Status Amid Food Security Concerns
Minister Steenhuisen highlighted the long-term goal of achieving FMD-free status without vaccination, similar to Brazil. However, he cautioned that this would require stakeholder consultation due to potential food security implications.
Vaccination affects the “fifth quarter” (offal and byproducts), a critical protein source for low-income households. Current regulations mandate discarding these parts in FMD-infected zones, but new research suggests safe treatment methods may be possible.
Farmers Demand Faster Action
With 270 outbreaks recorded since July—249 still unresolved—farmers are pleading for accelerated vaccination and revised movement restrictions. Schutte stressed that farmers in disease management areas (DMAs) have been unable to sell livestock since February, pushing many toward financial ruin.
“We urgently need more vaccines, possibly from additional suppliers, and revised regulations to allow vaccinated animals to reach markets after a 28-day waiting period,” he said.
As the crisis deepens, pressure mounts on the government to implement immediate relief measures while working toward a sustainable, long-term solution to restore South Africa’s beef export capabilities.