South African livestock producers can now order foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine through their veterinarians after Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) opened its veterinary ordering platform for producer-funded vaccine purchases.
By Maile Matsimela, digital editor at African Farming
RMIS announced on 7 August it had secured an additional 4.5 million doses of the Biogénesis Bagó FMD vaccine, with the first 2 million doses expected to arrive in South Africa within 10 days.
The latest procurement follows the distribution of more than 2.5 million vaccine doses during the previous two months. Those vaccines were procured and paid for by the Department of Agriculture and allocated to the industry for distribution.
The new arrangement differs in that producers will be able to purchase additional vaccine themselves. According to RMIS, the initiative is intended to complement rather than replace government’s national FMD vaccination programme.
“Increasing vaccine availability is a significant step for our industry. Supply has been one of the biggest challenges we have faced, and by bringing additional doses into the country, we are giving producers a reliable way to access quality vaccine and protect their animals,” Dewald Olivier, CEO of RMIS, said.
Also read: ‘4 million FMD vaccines landing next week’ – Aucamp
Orders must go through veterinarians
Producers cannot order the vaccine directly. Orders must be placed by veterinarians through the RMIS Vet Ordering Platform.
Both the veterinary practice and producer must have a valid Global Location Number (GLN) before an order can be submitted. This allows each order to be linked to the veterinarian and producer involved.
According to RMIS, more than 117 veterinarians have already used the portal during the distribution of industry-allocated vaccines in recent months. Other veterinarians can gain access after completing a verification process confirming they are registered veterinarians.
Veterinary oversight remains a requirement because FMD is a state-controlled disease. The ordering platform is linked to RMIS’s traceability system, which has more than 13 000 registered GLNs across the value chain.
Once an order has been placed, producers pay directly into a ring-fenced account rather than an RMIS operational account. The order is confirmed once payment has been received.
Veterinarians and producers receive automated WhatsApp notifications during the process and can track the order through the RMIS Mobile Application. On delivery, the QR code on the vaccine consignment is scanned to confirm receipt.
RMIS said this creates a date-stamped record linking the vaccine to a specific veterinarian and farm or feedlot, supporting industry reporting and regulatory oversight.
Also read: Aucamp’s out-of-court settlement opens door for direct import of FMD vaccines
Vaccine priced at R46 per dose
The vaccine will cost R46 excluding VAT per dose, including delivery to the veterinary practice. The price may change depending on exchange-rate movements and fuel costs.
Of the R46, R1 goes to the veterinary practice to standardise its fee. RMIS said it does not add a markup to the vaccine price and is facilitating the ordering, delivery and traceability process.
The vaccine is sold in bottles containing 60 doses and cannot be ordered as individual doses or split into smaller quantities. Producers whose vaccination requirements are below 60 doses will therefore still have to purchase a full bottle.
Global FMD experience
RMIS selected Biogénesis Bagó as its vaccine supplier, citing the animal health company’s international experience in FMD prevention and emergency response programmes.
Biogénesis Bagó has been involved in FMD control since the 1970s and played a key role in Argentina’s efforts towards achieving FMD-free status, says RMIS.
Also read:
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The roots of South Africa’s FMD crisis lie in decades of austerity
FMD spread in Mpumalanga linked to unverified auction cattle
