Statement by Jan de Villiers MP – DA National Spokesperson:
The announcement by Minister of Agriculture, Willie Aucamp, that government will end complete state control over vaccine imports and distribution, will open the door for private entities and farmers to procure and vaccinate their cattle – this is a gamechanger in the fight against Foot and Mouth Disease.
The Department of Agriculture, under Minister Aucamp, and Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) have expressly relinquished sole rights to the import and/or distribution of FMD vaccines.
Owners and managers of cloven-hooved livestock may now voluntarily vaccinate their livestock against FMD.
But they must comply with biosecurity rules, traceability and reporting.
The DA commends and welcomes the agreement reached by the Department of Agriculture with SAAI, Sakeliga and Free State Agriculture which will open up the procurement and distribution of Foot and Mouth Disease vaccines privately.
The agreement between the Minister of Agriculture, Willie Aucamp, SAAI Chairperson, Theo de Jager, Free State Agriculture President, Francois Wilken, and Chief Executive Officer of Sakeliga, Piet le Roux, is a big step toward eradicating Foot and Mouth Disease.
This agreement opens up the market and gives private entities the right to import and distribute vaccines and brings to a close previous litigation.
The DA calls on private sector rolepayers to now import these vaccines at scale.
Minister Willie Aucamp’s urgency, after only one week in office, has shown his clear intention to prioritise the needs of the farmers of South Africa.
As a DA Minister we welcome that Willie Aucamp is unlocking the full potential of one of the best agricultural industries in the world.
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