Steenhuisen hits back at industry groups over threatened FMD vaccine court action

The Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, and the Department of Agriculture have pushed back strongly against the Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai), Sakeliga and Free State Agriculture, as well as related social media campaigns, following a threatening legal letter from the organisations demanding that livestock owners be allowed to privately procure and administer vaccines.

By Lebogang Mashala, editor at African Farming

Steenhuisen warned that the department is legally obliged to act within the current legislative framework governing controlled animal diseases.

According to a media statement issued by the minister, the organisations have launched social media campaigns soliciting donations for a potential court case, while using the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak to drive membership recruitment. FMD is a controlled animal disease governed strictly by the Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act No. 35 of 1984).

“Litigation, in the midst of a serious outbreak, now seeks to challenge the very legislative framework and obligations required by the State to protect the national herd,” Steenhuisen said. “While anyone is free to approach the courts, this legal venture is most unfortunate, as it attacks the very Act under which the State is about to procure vaccines and roll out the national FMD plan.”

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Rollout of National FMD Plan

The plan was developed by a Ministerial Task Team comprising private and public sector scientists, veterinarians and academics. Its rollout, including clear immediate, medium- and long-term timelines, was announced by the minister two weeks ago. According to the department, this marks the first time in 30 years that South Africa has had a clear, coordinated road map to defeat FMD.

To date, the State has acquired, monitored and administered two million vaccines from the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI). In addition, permits for private companies to import vaccines as local agents have already been issued. Import permits for the Dollvet vaccine have been granted to Dunevax, and an additional permit to import the Biogénesis Bagó vaccine is expected shortly.

However, the department warned that this progress could now be put at risk.

The threatened court action could derail the procurement and rollout of vaccines while the case proceeds through the courts and the department awaits legal clarity. Officials and veterinarians would be required to divert critical time and expertise away from frontline disease control to respond to the litigation. Financial resources earmarked for vaccine procurement and personnel recruitment could also be redirected towards legal costs.

Also read: State must declare ‘war’ on FMD – wildlife expert

Biosecurity Risks

The department described calls for a “vaccine free-for-all” as shortsighted and reckless, arguing that such an approach contradicts established international and local disease-control protocols. It pointed to the recent illegal importation of vaccines into KwaZulu-Natal by certain farmers as an example of the serious biosecurity risks posed by uncontrolled access.

“The scientific path to regaining FMD-free status is clear,” the department said. To regain South Africa’s “FMD-free status with vaccination” from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the country must demonstrate at least 12 months without virus transmission. This requires a strictly controlled vaccination programme, official surveillance, tight movement controls and documented, verifiable vaccination coverage.

Without centralised monitoring and State-led control, the department warned, South Africa risks failing to meet WOAH requirements, causing long-term damage to agricultural exports and undermining the entire vaccination strategy.

The department emphasised that the private sector and industry bodies have been involved throughout the process, from the initial FMD lekgotla to the Ministerial Task Team and the newly established FMD Industry Coordination Council. It has also committed to working closely with private veterinarians and animal health technicians during the vaccine rollout.

“We urge the farming community to be cautious of promises made by lobby groups seeking to profit from the hardships farmers are currently enduring,” Steenhuisen said. “These actions threaten a scientifically grounded framework designed to ensure the country wins the war against FMD once and for all.”

“Now is not the time for distraction. What we need is unity, focus and urgency in dealing with the current crisis and scaling up our national FMD containment strategy. Once the immediate crisis has passed, organisations may pursue litigation if they wish. For now, we must move together, with speed and determination, to contain the outbreak. This is how we will win the war against foot-and-mouth disease.”