Red meat producers back FMD vaccination plan but warn clarity is urgently needed

Red meat producers back FMD vaccination plan but warn clarity is urgently needed

South Africa’s red meat producers have cautiously welcomed government’s newly announced Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination strategy, describing it as a necessary step in tackling one of the most damaging animal health crises the sector has faced in years.

The response follows Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen’s announcement of a long-term, 10-year plan aimed at vaccinating the national herd and ultimately restoring South Africa’s FMD-free status under the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

While the vision has been broadly welcomed, producers say the reality on farms tells a far more complicated story.

A long road to FMD-free status

According to the Department of Agriculture, the strategy will be rolled out in phases, starting with stabilisation and consolidation, followed by widespread vaccination, and eventually the withdrawal of vaccines once disease control is achieved. The final goal is formal international recognition that South Africa is free of FMD through vaccination.

For an industry battered by repeated outbreaks, movement bans and lost market access, the announcement brought a measure of relief.

The National Red Meat Producers Organisation (RPO) said any effort to curb the spread of FMD is welcome, given the devastating economic and emotional toll the disease has taken on farmers, especially in rural communities where livestock is both income and security.

Producers say the plan feels vague

However, RPO CEO Dr Frikkie Mare warned that optimism is being undermined by uncertainty. He said producers across the country have been left confused, with many saying they are no clearer about the road ahead than before the announcement.

While government outlined goals and timelines, Mare said there is still no concrete operational plan detailing how vaccination, movement control and market access will work in practice.

“There’s a sense that what was presented sounds more like a wish list than an actionable plan,” he said, adding that this disconnect suggests officials may be out of touch with conditions on the ground.

Concerns over outbreaks and vaccine availability

One of the RPO’s biggest concerns is the suggestion that FMD is under control in certain regions. Mare pointed to the Eastern Cape as an example, noting that new outbreaks have recently been confirmed, with more cases still under investigation.

He also challenged claims that vaccines are readily available, saying the only doses currently in use were privately sourced by feedlots and the Milk Producers’ Organisation not supplied by the state.

This has fuelled frustration among farmers, many of whom feel blamed for illegal animal movement while struggling without adequate support.

Market access remains a major worry

Another unresolved issue is how regulations will change once nationwide vaccination begins. Producers are unclear how “free zones” will be defined going forward and what stricter movement controls will mean for auctions and trade.

Mare noted that as recently as August 2025, the RPO warned that FMD was spiralling out of control a claim initially dismissed by the Department. Just months later, a national vaccination drive was announced and a state of disaster declared.

Call for open, regular communication

Despite the criticism, the RPO has reaffirmed its willingness to work with government and industry partners to bring FMD under control.

Producers are calling for regular, transparent communication, not occasional press briefings and for meaningful consultation on regulations before they are implemented.

For farmers watching livelihoods hang in the balance, the message is clear: the strategy is a step in the right direction, but without clarity, coordination and trust, the fight against Foot and Mouth Disease will remain an uphill battle.

{Source: IOL}

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