In a bold move to tackle foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in South Africa, Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen has outlined a critical timeline for the national FMD strategy, set to unfold in early 2026. One of the key initiatives is the rollout of the Livestock Identification and Traceability System (LITS), which is expected to be operational by the second week of January. This innovative system, already being piloted in some provinces, utilizes geographic location indicators to monitor the movement of vaccinated livestock, thereby enhancing biosecurity measures across the nation.
Steenhuisen announced today that a ministerial task team is actively developing a Section 10 scheme under the Animal Diseases Act of 1984. This initiative, anticipated to be unveiled by the end of January, will establish specific guidelines for vaccination protocols within both the dairy and feedlot sectors. As part of this comprehensive policy shift, regulations regarding the emergency importation of vaccines, quarantine procedures, and animal branding are also under review, with an eye toward creating a new incentivized post-vaccination branding system.
To bolster funding for FMD control efforts, the government plans to reallocate all unused funds from the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) towards biosecurity measures and FMD management. Additionally, moving forward, 5% of CASP funding will be earmarked specifically for FMD initiatives.
In recent months, approximately 950,000 animals have been vaccinated using doses acquired from the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI). The vaccination campaign will be implemented in phases, commencing in the highest-risk regions before gradually expanding to lower-risk areas. A mass vaccination effort is scheduled to kick off in February 2026, targeting KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, with a focus on both commercial and communal farmers. Following this, vaccinations will proceed in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, and the Eastern Cape, where establishing protection zones is deemed vital to safeguarding FMD-free regions.
The BVI has confirmed its capability to supply one million vaccine doses per month starting mid-January 2026, which will be instrumental in achieving vaccination targets in the aforementioned critical areas. Furthermore, the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) is making strides in developing a mid-scale vaccine manufacturing facility. While fundraising for the larger factory continues, the ARC aims to produce 20,000 multivalent vaccine doses—covering various strains of the disease—by the fourth quarter of the 2025/26 fiscal year.
Moreover, diagnostic capacity at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Laboratory will be enhanced with the addition of more veterinary technologists. The task team is also considering the utilization of alternative laboratories to alleviate pressure on the Onderstepoort facility. Diagnostic kits and vaccines will be imported as necessary, and awareness campaigns will be launched in collaboration with industry organizations and farmers' associations. These campaigns will be coordinated by the National Biosecurity Hub at the University of Pretoria alongside provincial agriculture departments.
In each province, the Department of Agriculture will partner with the South African Police Service and other law enforcement agencies to ensure effective implementation of the vaccination program. An informational session with law enforcement is scheduled for the third week of January, and unemployed graduates in animal health will receive training to assist during the vaccination rollout.
Steenhuisen has stressed that managing FMD is a top priority for himself and the Department of Agriculture. He expressed firm confidence in the national strategy aimed at combating FMD and emphasized that both the department and the ministerial advisory task team are diligently working to implement an evidence-based recovery plan for the livestock sector. "South Africa now possesses a realistic and technically sound roadmap toward achieving FMD-free status through vaccination, which is crucial for restoring confidence in export markets and stabilizing our R80 billion livestock industry," he noted.
He cautioned that while progress is being made, it will require time and collaboration from the industry to bring the disease under control swiftly. Steenhuisen mentioned that the team is in the process of finalizing a strategy to reduce FMD incidents by approximately 70% in high-risk areas over the next two years, aiming for 90% vaccination coverage among target animal populations in communal areas, commercial farms, and feedlots, as well as ensuring 100% vaccination of dairy cattle. In addition, certified compartments and progressive vaccination zones will be established to facilitate safe trade throughout the region.
