PRETORIA, GAUTENG — A landmark South Africa Foot and Mouth Disease settlement has been reached, significantly expanding vaccine access and empowering livestock farmers to protect their herds. Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp announced the breakthrough agreement, highlighting its critical role in stabilizing the nation’s agricultural sector and boosting economic contributions.
The resolution was finalized following intensive negotiations on Thursday, 9 July 2026. The Department of Agriculture sat down with the primary applicants in the legal dispute—Sakeliga, the South African Agri Initiative (SAAI), and Free State Agriculture—alongside several other respondents to hammer out the details.
Minister Aucamp framed the resolution as a massive victory for the entire farming community, emphasizing the industry’s vital economic footprint.
“Today’s settlement is not only a win for the parties involved in the case but is a win for all South African farmers as this sector contributes significantly to the country’s job creation efforts and GDP (Gross Domestic Product),” Aucamp stated.
Under the newly established terms, a major regulatory shift allows owners and managers of cloven-hoofed animals to voluntarily vaccinate their livestock against the Foot and Mouth Disease. This autonomy is granted provided that farmers strictly comply with mandated biosecurity measures, legal requirements, and conditions such as comprehensive traceability and disease reporting.
The deal highlights a strategic pivot toward collaborative crisis management between the state and private enterprises.
“Government cannot do this alone. We will continue to hold hands with all industry and private sector role players in the control of the FMD outbreak. We now need to enable the private sector to import at scale and it is for this reason that the department and Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) have expressly relinquished sole rights to the import and/or distribution of FMD vaccines,” Aucamp explained.
In response, the applicant organizations expressed strong support for the finalized terms, pledging their ongoing cooperation with the department to eradicate the viral threat.
Acknowledging the positive tone of the discussions, Aucamp commended all stakeholders for maintaining a constructive and solutions-oriented mindset throughout the talks. With the legal framework now settled, the immediate priority for the government and the agricultural sector is the rapid and efficient implementation of the agreed-upon vaccination and biosecurity protocols.