The Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has raised the alarm about the declining adherence to critical biosecurity protocols among farmers in the province. This poses a significant threat of accelerated viral transmission to surrounding agricultural operations.

By Maile Matsimela, Digital Editor at African Farming

“The non-compliance with established biosecurity principles is unacceptable and directly endangers the agricultural sector’s stability,” the department said. “We are witnessing concerning lapses in protocol that could have devastating consequences for our farming communities.”

Legal Obligations and Compliance

The department emphasises that all livestock owners have binding legal obligations under Section 11 of the Animal Diseases Act, which mandates that every animal owner must take all reasonable steps to prevent the introduction and spread of controlled diseases.

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In accordance with Government Gazette No. 51512 of 13 June 2025 and the Animal Diseases Act (Act 35 of 1984), the department requires immediate compliance with the following measures:

Mandatory Biosecurity Protocols:

Strict restriction of cloven-hoofed animal movements;
Rigorous disinfection of all vehicles and equipment entering farm premises;
Implementation of 28-day quarantine periods for all new livestock before integration with existing herds;
Maintenance of comprehensive records documenting all animal movements and farm visitors; and
Immediate reporting of suspected cases to local State Veterinary Offices.

Disease Identification and Reporting:

Farmers, auctioneers and livestock speculators must immediately report any animals displaying the following foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) symptoms:

Excessive salivation;
Mouth lesions; and
Lameness or mobility issues.

“Remaining silent about [suspected] cases will only prolong outbreaks and delay our return to normal operations,” the department warned. “Every unreported case potentially compromises the entire provincial livestock industry.”

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Criminal Penalties for Non-compliance

The Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development emphasises that unauthorised movement of quarantined animals without proper documentation constitutes a criminal offence under current legislation.

Call for Unity and Cooperation

“We urgently call upon farmers, industry partners and all stakeholders to unite in our fight against this disease,” said the department. “Success depends on our collective commitment to identifying and preventing illegal animal movements from surveillance areas and the immediate reporting of all [suspected] cases.”

The department stresses that these measures are essential for:

Protecting the provincial livestock industry;
Preventing the further spread of FMD; and
Safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods across the Free State.

The Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development emphasises that containing this outbreak requires full cooperation with quarantine regulations and immediate reporting protocols. Only through unified action and strict adherence to biosecurity measures can the province achieve successful disease control and eventual eradication.

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