South Africa Unveils Science-Driven Plan to Defeat Foot-and-Mouth Disease

South Africa has rolled out a comprehensive, science-backed roadmap to curb foot-and-mouth disease and rebuild confidence in its livestock industry, which has been battered by repeated outbreaks. Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen said the strategy offers a realistic path to regaining FMD-free status through vaccination, a move critical to restoring access to export markets and stabilising the country’s R80 billion livestock economy.

The minister stressed that the approach is rooted in scientific evidence and essential for protecting food security, even as he cautioned that success will require strong cooperation across the livestock value chain. The new policy direction, known as “FMD Free with Vaccination,” emerged from a landmark national summit held in mid-2025, where experts agreed that long-term disease control demands coordinated and sustained action.

That gathering brought together hundreds of stakeholders from government, research institutions, academia and industry, resulting in a unified recovery framework that blends stricter controls with globally recognised disease management pathways. The consensus was clear: South Africa must move beyond emergency responses and embrace a structured, phased strategy to suppress outbreaks and restore trade credibility.

Implementation is already under way, with close to one million animals vaccinated and preparations advancing for large-scale rollouts in the most affected provinces. Authorities plan to intensify vaccination in high-risk zones early next year while reinforcing measures to shield disease-free regions that are vital for both domestic supply and exports.

Efforts to strengthen the response extend beyond vaccination. Vaccine supplies are set to improve significantly through regional partnerships, while local research institutions are advancing plans for domestic production. At the same time, diagnostic capacity is being expanded and nationwide awareness campaigns are being launched to clamp down on illegal animal movement, a key driver of past outbreaks.

Steenhuisen acknowledged that eliminating foot-and-mouth disease will be a long and demanding process requiring sustained funding, strict enforcement and behavioural change across the sector. Still, he expressed confidence that with science guiding policy and industry playing its part, South Africa can decisively turn the tide against a disease that has undermined livelihoods, trade and national confidence for years.