South Africa has restarted local production of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines for the first time in more than two decades, marking a major step in the country’s fight to control ongoing outbreaks.
Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen visited the Agricultural Research Council’s Onderstepoort Veterinary Research (ARC-OVR) facility on Friday, 6 February, where ARC President and CEO Dr Litha Magingxa handed over the first batch of locally produced vaccines. The milestone signals a shift from emergency response measures to a long-term, science-driven strategy to eradicate the disease.
The country’s goal is to regain its FMD-free status from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). This will be supported by locally manufactured vaccines developed through collaboration between the government, the ARC, and Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP).
Support for Farmers
Steenhuisen acknowledged the heavy financial and emotional toll the outbreaks have taken on farmers.
He said the government is moving “from defence to offence” in tackling the disease and is committed to a focused ten-year strategy aimed at fully eradicating FMD and protecting the livestock sector for the future.
First Doses Produced
South Africa stopped producing its own FMD vaccines in 2005 due to outdated facilities that no longer met international manufacturing standards. After nearly 20 years of research and upgrades, the ARC has now produced an initial 12,900 doses using modern bioreactor technology.
Scientists worked to identify the FMD strains circulating in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and to ensure the vaccines meet strict international biosafety and potency standards. The pilot batch serves as proof that the new production methods and strains are effective.
The first doses will be distributed as follows:
- Free State: 2,300
- Eastern Cape: 2,600
- North West: 2,000
- Gauteng: 2,000
- Limpopo: 2,000
- Mpumalanga: 2,000
From March 2026, ARC is expected to produce 20,000 doses per week of monovalent SAT 1, SAT 2, or SAT 3 vaccines. Production is set to increase to 200,000 doses per week from 2027.
Vaccine Supply From Abroad
While local production ramps up, the Department of Agriculture is continuing to import vaccines to ensure a steady supply.
The department said it supports the use of designated agents importing vaccines from international manufacturers, including Biogénesis Bagó in Argentina and Dollvet in Turkey. Officials stressed that strict controls are necessary, warning that unregulated imports could undermine disease control efforts.
So far, the state has sourced two million vaccines through the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI). A further 700,000 doses are expected by the end of February, with additional monthly shipments planned. Millions more doses are due from suppliers in Argentina and Turkey in the coming months.
Path Back to FMD-Free Status
To regain FMD-free status with vaccination, South Africa must show there has been no virus transmission for at least 12 months. This requires tightly controlled vaccination, surveillance, and livestock movement measures that can be verified by WOAH.
The government has also sent local virus samples to the Pirbright Institute in the United Kingdom for further analysis and strain matching.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture has finalised a memorandum to declare a National State of Disaster over the outbreaks. The declaration, once approved by Cabinet, will unlock emergency funding for large-scale vaccination campaigns in affected provinces.
