Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen is scheduled to visit the Agricultural Research Council’s Onderstepoort Veterinary Research (ARC-OVR) facility on Friday to observe the finalisation of the first batch of locally produced foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines.

By Lebogang Mashala, editor at African Farming

This visit follows an announcement from the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) confirming the completion of South Africa’s first locally manufactured multi-strain FMD vaccine. This milestone is considered historic in strengthening the country’s animal health system and enhancing livestock biosecurity.

Earlier this year, Minister Steenhuisen outlined the national strategy to control foot-and-mouth disease, stating the Department of Agriculture would activate a local vaccine production line through the ARC and Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP). Initial production is expected to reach 20 000 doses per week, with plans to scale up to an annual capacity of up to 960 000 doses.

The ARC committed to finalising the initial batch, which consists of approximately 12 900 doses, by mid-February.

Also read: ARC releases first locally made FMD vaccine

The minister’s visit to the ARC Onderstepoort campus in Pretoria follows the completion and registration of the vaccine by ARC scientists and technical experts. The vaccine has been registered as a stock remedy under the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies, and Stock Remedies Act (Act 36 of 1947) and meets the required quality, safety and efficacy standards.

Local production of the FMD vaccine is expected to reduce South Africa’s reliance on imports and improve the country’s ability to respond quickly to disease outbreaks, providing essential protection for the livestock sector.