Industry Update

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.

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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.