PRETORIA, GAUTENG — South Africa’s livestock sector is poised for a major recovery following a historic Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) settlement that unlocks broader vaccine access for farmers. Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp hailed the landmark agreement as a monumental breakthrough that will restore much-needed stability to the nation’s agricultural industry.
The pivotal agreement was finalized after extensive negotiations in Pretoria on Thursday, 9 July 2026. The talks brought together the Department of Agriculture and key applicants in the legal case—namely Sakeliga, the South African Agri Initiative (SAAI), and Free State Agriculture—alongside other respondents.
Addressing the media following the announcement, Minister Aucamp emphasized that the resolution extends far beyond the courtroom.
“Today’s settlement is not only a win for the parties involved in the case but is a win for all South African farmers as this sector contributes significantly to the country’s job creation efforts and GDP (Gross Domestic Product),” Aucamp said.
A central pillar of the newly forged agreement empowers owners and managers of cloven-hoofed livestock to voluntarily vaccinate their herds against FMD. This newfound autonomy is contingent upon strict adherence to specific biosecurity protocols, legal prescripts, and conditions, which include mandatory traceability and disease reporting.
The settlement also underscores a major shift in the government’s approach to managing the outbreak, reflecting a strong commitment to public-private partnerships.
“Government cannot do this alone. We will continue to hold hands with all industry and private sector role players in the control of the FMD outbreak. We now need to enable the private sector to import at scale and it is for this reason that the department and Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) have expressly relinquished sole rights to the import and/or distribution of FMD vaccines,” the Minister said.
The applicant organizations have enthusiastically welcomed the settlement, pledging to maintain their cooperative relationship with the Department of Agriculture to aggressively tackle the ongoing FMD crisis.
Minister Aucamp expressed his gratitude to all involved parties for embracing a constructive and solutions-driven mindset throughout the rigorous negotiation process. With the legal hurdles now cleared, the immediate priority will pivot toward the swift and efficient rollout of these newly agreed-upon vaccination and biosecurity measures across the country.
