Long-Overdue Publication of Routine FMD Vaccination Scheme Welcomed

ActionSA welcomes the publication today by Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen of the Routine Vaccination Scheme for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (RVS-FMD), issued under section 10 of the Animal Diseases Act, 1984. This intervention is long overdue. 

For months, ActionSA, together with agricultural industry organisations, has called for precisely this step: a decentralised, enabling framework that allows private veterinarians and livestock owners to play a direct role in vaccinating their herds. The publication of the RVS-FMD represents a necessary shift away from the over-centralised approach that has hampered South Africa’s response to the outbreak. 

While we welcome this development, it must be stated plainly that this progress has not come as a result of proactive leadership. It follows sustained pressure from industry and, ultimately, judicial intervention compelling the Department to act with urgency. The key test now lies in implementation.

The effectiveness of the RVS-FMD will depend on whether it genuinely removes bottlenecks in vaccine access, distribution, and administration. Private veterinarians must be empowered in practice — not only on paper — and regulatory processes must be aligned to enable rapid, large-scale vaccination across affected areas.

Equally critical will be the availability of sufficient vaccine supply, clear operational guidelines, and coordinated execution between national and provincial authorities. Without these, the scheme risks becoming another well-intentioned framework that fails to arrest the spread of the disease.

South Africa cannot afford further delay. Foot-and-Mouth Disease continues to pose a serious threat to the agricultural economy, food security, and the livelihoods of farmers across the country. Every day lost to inefficiency and indecision deepens the damage.

ActionSA will closely monitor the implementation of the RVS-FMD and will continue to hold the Minister and the Department accountable for ensuring that this scheme delivers measurable results. We urge all stakeholders to consider the proposal and make submissions to the department where there are areas of concern or omission. 

This must mark a turning point and not another missed opportunity.

ActionSA Education: Advocates for specialized skills training and artisan schools.