South African Poultry Producers Back New Bird Flu Vaccination Rules

The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) has welcomed new regulations introducing a formal bird flu vaccination framework but says the process remains too complex and should be simplified to align more closely with international standards.

The Department of Agriculture amended the Animal Diseases Regulations in June to establish a legal framework for vaccinating poultry against highly pathogenic avian influenza. The new rules replace the previous approach, which relied mainly on culling infected birds, with measures that combine vaccination, biosecurity and regular testing.

SAPA General Manager, Izaak Breitenbach, said poultry producers still face challenges because they must hire private veterinarians for blood sampling due to a shortage of state veterinarians. He added that the association believes testing birds before they are sold is enough to confirm they are free of the disease, although the department maintains additional monitoring is necessary.

Breitenbach said vaccinated birds are closely monitored and do not pose a risk to consumers. He explained that only parent breeding stock is vaccinated, while broiler chickens raised for meat are not.

South Africa has recorded major bird flu outbreaks in 2017, 2021, 2023 and 2025. The Department of Agriculture said it will continue surveillance, laboratory testing and enforcement of the new regulations to help prevent future outbreaks and protect the poultry industry.