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Historic FMD settlement paves way for wider vaccine access

GCIS / SAnewsRef: GOVNEWS-82778 at https://www.sanews.gov.za

Official source

Source domain: sanews.gov.za

Collected on 12 July 2026

Always confirm details on the official source before acting.

What this means

This SAnews news article reports a settlement reached between South Africa’s Department of Agriculture and applicant agricultural organisations regarding management of the country’s Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak. Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp says the settlement, announced after negotiations in Pretoria on 9 July 2026, enables wider vaccine access by allowing owners/managers of cloven-hoofed livestock to voluntarily vaccinate under specified biosecurity, legal, traceability and reporting conditions. The article also states that the Department and Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) relinquished sole rights to import and/or distribute FMD vaccines to enable private-sector import at scale, and that rollout of the agreed measures will now be prioritised.

What this document offers

Read out of this document by Govermate's AI, in its own words. Each one quotes the line it came from — confirm on the official source before acting.

voluntary vaccination permission/optionOngoing

Voluntary vaccination of cloven-hoofed livestock against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) under agreed conditions

Owners and managers of cloven-hoofed livestock are permitted to voluntarily vaccinate their animals against Foot and Mouth Disease, in line with the certain biosecurity, legal prescripts and conditions, including traceability and reporting.

Who it is for
owners and managers of cloven-hoofed livestock
How to act on it
Vaccinate voluntarily in line with the certain biosecurity, legal prescripts and conditions, including traceability and reporting (as set out in the settlement).
Show the line this came from
A key outcome of the agreement is that owners and managers of cloven-hoofed livestock will be permitted to voluntarily vaccinate their animals against Foot and Mouth Disease, in line with the certain biosecurity, legal prescripts and conditions, including traceability and reporting.
market access / import permission enabling private-sector vaccine supplyOngoing

Private-sector import of FMD vaccines at scale (sole rights relinquished)

The Department of Agriculture and Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) have expressly relinquished sole rights to the import and/or distribution of FMD vaccines, enabling the private sector to import at scale.

Who it is for
private sector importers and distributors of FMD vaccines
How to act on it
Import and/or distribute FMD vaccines as enabled by the relinquishing of sole rights by the department and OBP.
Show the line this came from
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.

Facts

Places

City of Tshwane, Gauteng, Free State

Reference

GOVNEWS-82778 at https://www.sanews.gov.za

Key Takeaways

  • Settlement reached on management of South Africa’s Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak
  • Negotiations held in Pretoria on Thursday, 9 July 2026
  • Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp describes settlement as a breakthrough for the livestock industry
  • Cloven-hoofed livestock owners/managers may voluntarily vaccinate under biosecurity, legal prescripts, traceability and reporting conditions
  • Department of Agriculture and Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) relinquished sole rights to import/distribute FMD vaccines
  • Aim to enable private-sector import at scale
  • Focus shifts to efficient rollout of agreed measures
  • Willie Aucamp
  • Department of Agriculture
  • Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP)
  • Sakeliga
  • South African Agri Initiative (SAAI)
  • Free State Agriculture
  • Pretoria
  • SAnews.gov.za
  • Government Communication and Information System (GCIS)

Dates

Opening Date

10 July 2026

Closing Date

9 July 2026