Approval system for private FMD vaccination up and running, says Aucamp
The South African government has launched an online portal to allow private livestock owners to manage foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccinations. This shift aims to improve response times and traceability by decentralizing control from the state to authorized farmers.
Why it matters
This policy change represents a significant shift in agricultural management, potentially improving disease control efficiency for the cattle industry.
The drive to privatise foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccination moved into the next gear with the launch of an online authorisation system.
Minister of Agriculture Willie Aucamp launched the portal on Saturday, saying it “hands crucial control to farmers, allowing them to apply for official authorisation to vaccinate their own animals and curb potential FMD outbreaks faster than before.”
Aucamp replaced John Steenhuisen as minister shortly after the department lost a court challenge on state control of FMD vaccination. Steenhuisen was widely vilified by the farming community for the slow rollout of vaccination against a disease that has been devastating for many cattle farmers.
Recently, red-meat producers praised massive changes in regulations around FMD, including that pre-emptively vaccinated animals may now be slaughtered at all abattoirs.
READ | New FMD rules a ‘game changer’ for SA cattle industry, says Beefmaster
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in