Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has confirmed the arrival of an additional 3.5 million doses of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine from Argentina, raising South Africa’s total available stockpile to 13.5 million doses.
Steenhuisen stated that the Biogénesis Bagó vaccines will accelerate containment efforts in high-risk areas. Despite a recent High Court ruling that removed the state’s exclusive authority over vaccine procurement and administration, the Minister affirmed that the government’s target to vaccinate 80 percent of the national cattle herd by December remains unchanged.
The newly arrived doses will be distributed as follows: 1.5 million to the feed lot industry; 500,000 to the Red Meat Producers Organization; 200,000 to the Milk Producers Organization to support a second round of dairy herd vaccinations; 100,000 to the stud breeders industry; and just over one million doses to provincial authorities. Additional vaccines have been reserved for regional vaccination initiatives in neighboring countries. Since the outbreak began, approximately 4 million animals have been vaccinated nationwide.
Steenhuisen noted that his department continues to review the preliminary High Court judgment confirming that farmers may independently procure and administer FMD vaccines without state permission. He expressed concern about the broader implications of the ruling, stating it “creates a precedent” with profound consequences not only for FMD response but for SPRA and the Medicines Control Council, particularly regarding authority over imports and deployment during national crises.
Addressing broader agricultural challenges, Steenhuisen advocated for a blended financing model for agricultural insurance to support farmers affected by extreme weather. He emphasized that current insurance options are often inaccessible to small-scale family farmers and some mid-scale commercial operations. The proposed model, similar to the SAJRIA system, would involve shared contributions from the state and producers.
The Minister also highlighted the impact of the Middle East conflict on South African agriculture, noting significant increases in diesel prices—which represent approximately 14 percent of farmer input costs—and fertilizer prices, accounting for roughly 30 percent. During a recent SADC agricultural ministers’ session in Zimbabwe, which he chaired, discussions focused on establishing regional fertilizer reserves to enhance local production capacity.
Meanwhile, South Africa continues efforts to safeguard and expand market access for its livestock products despite the FMD outbreak. Steenhuisen indicated that engagements this week with strategically important markets—including Tunisia, Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia—will focus on proposals to facilitate continued trade under science-based, risk-assessed conditions.
