South Africa Gazettes Stringent New Foot and Mouth Disease Control Measures
- Karen Scheepers
- 5 hours ago
- 5 min read
The South African Department of Agriculture has officially published a comprehensive set of revised control measures aimed at mitigating and eradicating Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreaks across the country. Published in the Government Gazette on July 8, 2026 (No. 54972), under Section 9(1) of the Animal Diseases Act, 1984, these regulations are signed by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Was Aucamp, MP.
The primary objective of these directives is to establish country-wide uniformity in disease control, enforce biosecurity, and minimize economic losses for livestock owners without compromising containment efforts. The measures apply to all cloven-hoofed livestock farmers and related industries, replacing all previously issued FMD control measures under Section 9 of the Act.
Immediate On-Farm Protocol and Suspected Cases
Under the new directives, any suspicion of FMD must be reported to State Veterinary Services on the same day. Livestock owners who suspect an infection are legally obligated to execute the following immediate actions:
Isolate the affected epidemiological unit to prevent nose-to-nose contact.
Halt all movement of animals, animal products, equipment, and potentially contaminated materials.
Restrict access to the premises.
Upon notification, the responsible State Veterinarian is mandated to verbally place the property under quarantine immediately, followed by an in-person visit within 24 hours. During this visit, the veterinarian will conduct an epidemiological investigation, perform trace-back and trace-forward exercises, collect diagnostic samples, and issue a formal written quarantine notice.
Diagnostic Sampling and Confirmation
The regulations detail strict scientific protocols for diagnostic testing to confirm FMD virus (FMDV) infections:
Diagnostic Standards:Acute Phase: Swabs or tissue samples must be collected from unruptured or freshly ruptured vesicles (blisters).Non-Clinical Suspected Cases: Serum must be collected for serological testing, requiring samples from 30 animals in groups up to 1,000, and 60 samples for larger groups.Biosecurity in Transit: Samples must be triple-packaged in leak-proof material, kept chilled, and transported directly to FMD-designated laboratories by state veterinary services.
Confirmation of FMDV for reporting to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) relies on virus isolation, viral antigen detection, or the identification of specific antibodies not caused by vaccination.
Quarantine, Movement Control, and Product Restrictions
Quarantine boundaries are determined by field epidemiology. In well-fenced commercial farms, quarantine may be restricted to specific portions of the property. However, in communal areas, an entire epidemiological unit will be quarantined if a single animal is infected.
Live animals may only leave quarantined zones under the authority of a Veterinary Red Cross Permit, which must detail individual animal identification numbers (or batch numbers for slaughter pigs) alongside Stock Theft Act removal certificates.
Dairy and Agricultural Product Protocols
Specific concessions are made to allow farming activities to remain viable under quarantine, subject to strict processing standards:
Local Milk Sales: Milk from quarantined farms can be sold to processing facilities provided it undergoes pasteurization. Direct-to-public sales require on-farm pasteurization before sale.
Export of Dairy: Processed dairy products from restricted farms may be exported if processed in accordance with WOAH standards, or if the importing country explicitly consents.
Pre-emptive Vaccination: Milk derived from herds that have been pre-emptively vaccinated is exempt from these FMDV-specific export restrictions.
Fodder and Manure: Must be treated according to scientifically established timeframes to ensure complete viral inactivation before leaving quarantined premises.
Vaccination and Traceability
FMD vaccination must comply with national legal frameworks (Act 36 of 1947 and Act 101 of 1965) and will be administered primarily by state veterinary services or authorized representatives on infected or high-risk properties. Private voluntary vaccination is permitted on adjacent properties, provided it meets all legal requirements.
All vaccinated, infected, or suspected cloven-hoofed livestock must be individually identified and registered in a database to guarantee lifelong traceability. Feedlots, speculators, and backgrounding operations are further required to maintain auditable stock sheets detailing all animal arrivals, departures, and mortalities.
The Road to Recovery: Day Zero and Lifting Quarantine
The progression toward lifting quarantine relies on calculating "Day Zero"—the date of clinical resolution:
Unvaccinated Livestock: Day Zero is established when an authorized veterinarian confirms the absence of fresh clinical signs during two examinations spaced 14 days apart.
Vaccinated Livestock: Day Zero is defined as the day the last animal on the property received its first vaccination, provided no clinical signs remain.
Controlled Slaughter and Lifting Quarantine
Controlled slaughter is permitted from Day 16 to Day 41 post-Day Zero, but only at FMD-designated abattoirs. During this window, risk materials (heads and feet) must be condemned and safely disposed of. From Day 42, unrestricted slaughter can resume at any abattoir, including export facilities, without deboning requirements.
Quarantine can be officially lifted 42 days after Day Zero has been confirmed, subject to a successful application by the State Veterinarian to the Provincial Director, supported by a complete animal inventory and a closing report for the WOAH.
Strict New Regulations for Livestock Operations
The newly gazetted directives establish rigorous, legally binding protocols for farmers, state veterinarians, and related industries upon any suspicion of FMD.
Mandatory Same-Day Reporting: Owners must report any suspicion of FMD to State Veterinary Services immediately. The affected animals must be isolated, and all movement of livestock, products, and equipment on the property must halt.
Rapid State Intervention: State Veterinarians are required to verbally quarantine suspected properties immediately and conduct an in-person investigation within 24 hours to collect diagnostic samples and trace potential contact zones.
Clear Path to Recovery: The regulations define a scientific protocol for "Day Zero" (the date of clinical resolution). Unvaccinated herds require two clear clinical inspections spaced 14 days apart to establish Day Zero, while vaccinated herds mark it on the day the final animal receives its initial dose.
Controlled Slaughter Rules: Once Day Zero is established, controlled slaughter can commence at designated abattoirs between Day 16 and Day 41, with strict disposal rules for high-risk materials like heads and feet. Unrestricted movement and slaughter can only resume 42 days after Day Zero.
National Awareness Campaign: Protecting the Collective Herd
Alongside these strict regulatory frameworks, the Department of Agriculture is urging farmers to actively participate in national biosecurity efforts. Officials emphasize that regulatory enforcement alone cannot eradicate the virus; success relies heavily on voluntary compliance, proactive immunization, and rapid reporting.
The department highlights that active cooperation from farmers mitigates the immediate impact of the disease, and supports long-term control efforts across both commercial and communal farming districts.
Critical Guidelines for Farmers:
📌 Vaccinate your livestock against FMD as advised by veterinary authorities;
📌 Stay informed and follow veterinary guidance; and
📌 Protect your animals and report any suspected cases immediately.
By ensuring that herds maintain an documented, digital vaccination history, farmers not only protect their individual livelihoods but also contribute to the resilience of the local agricultural market.
Accessing Support and Reporting Cases
To streamline communication and facilitate rapid response times, the department has established a dedicated, centralized hotline. Farmers, auctioneers, and community leaders are urged to utilize this resource to report suspected cases, clarify movement restrictions, or seek guidance on localized vaccination programs.
Vaccinate today. Protect our herd tomorrow.☎️ FMD Control Centre (Toll-Free): 0860 246 640
As South Africa navigates these updated agricultural policies, the cooperation between private landowners, communal farmers, and state veterinary authorities remains the country’s strongest defense against FMD. Through a combination of disciplined on-farm biosecurity, coordinated vaccination campaigns, and rapid reporting, the livestock industry can mitigate economic disruptions and work toward restoring the nation's disease-free status on the global stage.
Final Note:
These newly gazetted regulations represent South Africa's structured approach to balancing aggressive biosecurity containment with economic preservation for the agricultural sector. By standardizing protocols from immediate on-farm suspicion to the final termination of an outbreak, the Department of Agriculture aims to safeguard national livestock health and secure international trade relationships. The directives are subject to a mandatory review within 12 months of their implementation.
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