Industry Update
20 March 2026
Industry Update — 20 March 2026
The updates below provide the latest verified information as this work continues.
FMD ICC Priorities for Engagement
- Biogénesis Bagó vaccine import clearance (Section 21): change to trivalent batch and pending SAT 3 testing at Pirbright is affecting timelines.
- Regulatory: joint technical workshop to resolve outstanding input and feedback on Section 9 and Section 10.
- National operational coordination:
- Dashboard for progress reporting of vaccine rollout per province.
- Different provincial approaches to vaccine allocation cause inconsistency and tension between sectors.
1. Biogénesis Bagó vaccine import (Section 21)
The next batch of 5,000,000 doses of Biogénesis Bagó vaccine is awaiting import approval.
The first batch was bivalent (SAT-1 and SAT-2). The current batch is trivalent and includes the SAT 3 strain.
Pirbright is still completing strain matching for SAT 3, and their final report is expected this week. This is affecting the availability of additional doses required to support the national rollout.
2. Regulatory
The ICC is awaiting feedback from the MTT on Section 9 and Section 10. The finalisation and publication of these frameworks are urgent so that operations across the value chain can start up again and trade can continue.
The ICC proposes a joint technical workshop with the Department of Agriculture and the MTT to resolve the outstanding issues and shorten decision timelines, so that these delays do not continue to affect livelihoods and the economy.
3. National operational coordination
Vaccine rollout dashboard
The ICC is developing a national dashboard to track vaccine rollout across all nine provinces. The current version shows vaccines distributed and animals vaccinated per province. This helps identify pressure points in the rollout and supports better coordination across the national response.
AgriSA collects the data through its provincial structures and commodity organisations, based on updates from the weekly Joint Operations Committee meetings with the Department of Agriculture. Additional data points will be added as they become available.
The dashboard will be incorporated into this weekly update going forward.
Vaccine allocation at provincial level
Provinces are applying the national rollout plan differently, including how vaccines are allocated. Each province defines priority groups differently, which then determines how available doses are distributed.
This inconsistency in allocation processes is creating tension between sectors, mainly due to unclear or differently applied procedures.
The ICC will raise the need to align allocation approaches across provinces and to provide clear, consistent guidance on how allocation decisions are made.
Progress on vaccination of piggeries
Two piggeries in KwaZulu-Natal that recently experienced FMD outbreaks received vaccines last week. This is positive progress, given the uncertainty in some provinces around vaccinating pigs.
Pigs are amplifiers of FMD and vaccination is important to limit further spread.
The FMD ICC will continue to update stakeholders and provide practical guidance as the national response progresses.
- Please raise any implementation issues directly with any FMD ICC member.
- If you want to report or raise something anonymously, you can send it to 073 786 7363 on WhatsApp.
- If you notice clinical signs of FMD in your animals such as limping, mouth or nose lesions, or excessive drooling/salivation — whether current or anytime in the past three months — please send only the GPS coordinates from the nearest S-road or main road to the same number.
- You are not required to submit any information that can identify you.
Note to Media
- All media enquiries must be directed to Sara-Lea van Eeden, FMD ICC Communications Lead, at sara-lea@s-ellepr.com.
- A minimum lead time of 24 hours is required.
- While we recognise the pressure of news deadlines and will always aim to respond as soon as possible and meet deadlines, the operating environment is dynamic, which may at times affect response timelines.
All media requests must include the following information:
- Your deadline
- Preferred format (for example: live or pre-recorded interview, telephonic, in-person, online, email interview, or written comment)
- The specific focus of your enquiry (for example: scientific or animal health matters, economic or trade impact, or operational response)
- The specific questions you would like addressed
Responses are coordinated across all nine FMD ICC members and this procedure enables the FMD ICC to provide you with accurate responses that support responsible and factual reporting during a national crisis.