South Africa’s worsening foot-and-mouth disease crisis highlights the urgent need to rapidly secure and distribute as many effective vaccines as possible to protect the national herd and stabilise an industry already under severe strain.
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During a Carte Blanche interview broadcast on Tuesday, 3 February, Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen emphasised that government is moving away from reliance on a single vaccine producer and actively pursuing multiple international suppliers to avoid shortages.
He repeatedly stressed that the private sector is not being blocked, and that agency models – where foreign manufacturers work through local companies – remain acceptable and necessary.
However, developments surrounding Argentinian vaccine producer Biogénesis Bagó appear to directly contradict Steenhuisen’s assurances.
Direct sourcing move raises alarm
On Monday, local animal health company, Design Biologix confirmed it had been informed by Biogénesis Bagó that its role as the sole South African agent for the FMD vaccine had been terminated.
This followed a meeting on 22 January between the vaccine manufacturer, Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen, and officials from the National Department of Agriculture (NDA).
In a formal letter sent to Design Biologix CEO Karen Nel, Biogénesis Bagó stated that it had been ‘clearly communicated’ during that meeting that the NDA preferred to work ‘directly, without intermediaries’, and that Design Biologix must not be an agent, resulting in the revocation of the latter’s previously signed letter of authorisation.
Nel confirmed to the media that she had received the correspondence and said Design Biologix nonetheless wishes government and South African farmers well in their efforts to secure vaccines quickly to curb what she called a ‘ruinous disease’.
The NDA has since pushed back against claims of interference. In response to queries, departmental spokesperson Joylene van Wyk told the media that officials had no objection to Design Biologix acting as an agent, noting that the Turkish Dollvet vaccine also operates under an agency model.
She added that the NDA’s priority is the “immediate and consistent arrival of vaccines”.
However, industry leaders argue that the outcome, regardless of intent, is increasing uncertainty at a time when speed and clarity are critical.
Industry amounts to frustrations
Dr Theo de Jager, chairperson of Southern African Agri Initiative (SAAI), said farmers are deeply sceptical about the state’s ability to manage vaccine logistics on its own.
“We are looking for the shortest path between producers and our cattle. That path is a private road; it does not run through state refrigerators, officials, and regional offices,” he told Farmer’s Weekly.
He warned that any move perceived as sidelining the private sector undermined earlier commitments made by Steenhuisen himself, who had previously welcomed Design Biologix’s appointment as a breakthrough in securing Argentinian vaccines.
“This action flies in the face of everything that has been promised so far,” De Jager said, adding that SAAI’s ongoing court case against the NDA centres precisely on the question of what, if anything, in law prevents private-sector involvement.
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