Farmers called to complete application form for FMD vaccinations

The Department of Agriculture announced mandatory application process ahead of the February 2026 vaccination rollout.

By Maile Matsimela, digital editor at African Farming

The Department of Agriculture has issued a call to livestock farmers across South Africa to complete application forms for the upcoming foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccination programme, set to begin on 24 February 2026.

Application Requirements

According to Dr Mpho Maja from the Directorate of Animal Health, all farmers wanting to participate in the vaccination programme must complete the prescribed Application for Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccination form before any vaccination can take place.

The application process requires:

• Written applications from both land owners and animal owners.
• Provincial Director approval before vaccination can proceed.
• Coordination with state veterinarians when using private veterinary services.

Also read: WATCH | Here’s how the FMD vaccines will be rolled out

Eligibility Criteria

Farmers must ensure their livestock meets specific health requirements before applying:

• No clinical signs of FMD present on the farm.
• No positive or suspect test results indicating FMD virus presence.
• Farms must not be under quarantine or suspected of infection.

Private Veterinarian Option

Livestock owners who prefer using private veterinarians can do so but must ensure their chosen vet coordinates with local state veterinarians and completes the relevant sections of the application form.

Exclusions Apply

The Department emphasises that farms currently infected or suspected of being infected with FMD are excluded from this vaccination programme. These properties remain subject to state veterinary quarantine and compulsory disease control measures.

Also read: FMD a national disaster, but vaccines must be centrally controlled – Ramaphosa

Risk-Based Strategy

This application process forms part of South Africa’s new risk-based vaccine deployment strategy, designed to target areas most vulnerable to FMD outbreaks while maintaining proper disease surveillance and control.

How to Apply

Farmers interested in participating should:

1. Contact their local Provincial Veterinary Services.
2. Request the Application for Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccination form.
3. Complete all required sections.
4. Submit for Provincial Director approval.
5. Await written permission before proceeding with vaccination.

Timeline

The application process is now open, with vaccinations scheduled to begin 24 February 2026. Farmers are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to get approval in place.

Click HERE to get the application form.

Also read:

Joy as hardest hit KZN gets 200k doses of FMD vaccine

WATCH | SA’s own FMD vaccines – we were there!

First FMD case reported in Lesotho