4 May 2026

Industry Update — 4 May 2026

The Routine Vaccination Scheme under Section 10 of the Animal Diseases Act was gazetted on 4 May 2026 and came into effect on that date. This update covers what changes immediately, what is still being worked through, and how producers can prepare.

Updates

  1. Section 10 is gazetted and in effect. The Routine Vaccination Scheme for FMD is published in the Government Gazette as of 4 May 2026.

  2. Implementation steps required before owners can participate are being worked through. The Section 10 Committee must be established, the FMD Management Manual must be issued, vaccine must be allocated for use under the scheme, and private veterinarians must be formally authorised by the National Director of Animal Health.

  3. Vaccine supply, allocation and distribution remain priority issues for industry coordination. The ICC is engaging the Department of Agriculture on the practical steps needed to make vaccine available to producers who choose to participate in the scheme.

  4. Coordination between national and provincial structures continues to be raised through the Joint Working Group. Producers and industry bodies should continue to engage through their state veterinarian and the relevant ICC member organisation.

What this means for producers

Section 10 is voluntary. Owners who do not participate remain eligible to receive vaccination through state veterinary services if their animals are prioritised under the national strategy.

Under Section 10, vaccine and vaccination costs are the responsibility of the animal owner. The scheme makes provision for possible subsidies and cost-sharing arrangements, but the details have not yet been confirmed.

Vaccination under the scheme does not automatically change an animal’s quarantine status, movement restrictions, or the use and sale of products from vaccinated animals. Those aspects sit outside Section 10 of the Animal Diseases Act. Any change to how vaccinated animals are treated for movement and trade purposes will require formal control measures to be published.