New online system lets farmers apply to vaccinate their own livestock against FMD

South Africa’s fight against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) gained a new weapon this weekend. Minister of Agriculture Willie Aucamp has launched an online system allowing livestock owners to apply for authorisation to vaccinate their own animals against FMD.

By Maile Matsimela, digital editor at African Farming

The platform, called the FMD Reporting System, aims to speed up the country’s response to FMD outbreaks while ensuring vaccinations meet biosecurity and legal requirements.

Aucamp made the announcement this weekend. “This system means the owners and managers of cattle will be able to perform voluntary vaccination of their livestock against FMD. This step is only the beginning and I can assure all stakeholders the Department of Agriculture is committed to enabling the private sector to help tackle this FMD outbreak,” said Aucamp.

Also read: Nip vaccine scammers in the bud before it’s too late

Three-step process

With the online system livestock owners and managers can register as authorised vaccinators before purchasing vaccines through approved veterinarians.

The process consists of three steps:

Apply to become an Authorised Person to administer FMD vaccines.
Submit a Notice of Intention to Vaccinate at least five days before vaccination.
File a Vaccination Report within 14 days after the animals have been vaccinated, detailing the livestock, vaccines used and farm location.

The Department of Agriculture said the system has been developed to ensure full traceability of vaccinations while providing government with reliable information to monitor progress of the national vaccination programme.

You’ll find the FMD Reporting System: https://fmd.nda.gov.za/.

Guidelines on registration and step-by-step application are available through the Department of Agriculture.

For general queries and questions regarding the FMD Reporting system, contact:

Dr Rachel Welsh, tel. 012 319 7460, email: RachelW@nda.gov.za
Click here for the step-by-step guidelines:
FMD WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vags5R83gvWWZOhk9946

This is how the Department of Agriculture’s online FMD Reporting System looks like. Photo: Screenshot

Also read: Department warns farmers against fraudulent FMD vaccine ordering advert

Private-sector platforms also recognised

In addition to the department’s own FMD Reporting System, livestock owners may also use approved reporting platforms developed by industry partners, including RMIS, SAAI and Buffalo Analytics.

Information submitted through these approved third-party systems will automatically be shared with the Department of Agriculture, provided the platforms have been approved by the Director of Animal Health.

“With all the information gathered through these report-back systems, the government can monitor progress of the vaccination programme. It will also enable us to efficiently provide up-to-date information on the success of South Africa’s vaccination programme to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) when we are in a position to apply for FMD-free with vaccination status again,” he said.

Also read: FMD vaccine scams: ‘Farmers, beware of fake sellers on social media’ – RMIS

Farmers urged to coordinate vaccine demand

The minister encouraged organised agricultural organisations to work closely with approved vaccine importers by consolidating demand from their members. This, he said, will help importers determine how many vaccine doses are required and ensure adequate distribution through veterinarians across the country.

Under the voluntary vaccination programme, farmers choosing to vaccinate their livestock will be responsible for purchasing the vaccines. However, government will continue supplying vaccines in newly infected areas and to farmers who cannot afford them.

Aucamp thanked farmers, organised agriculture and departmental officials for helping to establish the new system soon after agreements were reached to expand voluntary vaccination efforts.