“Too Little, Too Late”: Farmers Slam Steenhuisen After FMD Announcement

Farmers across South Africa have reacted angrily to Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen’s announcement that the country has resumed sending Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) field strains to the Pirbright Institute in the United Kingdom, calling the move long overdue and accusing the department of acting too late to prevent economic damage.

Steenhuisen confirmed that this is the first time since 2011 that South Africa has submitted FMD field strains to Pirbright, the World Reference Laboratory for FMD. While the institute does not manufacture vaccines, it plays a critical role in testing whether existing vaccines match the virus strains circulating in the field.

According to the minister, sending the latest virus strains will ensure that millions of vaccine doses being procured are scientifically proven to protect South Africa’s national herd.

“This is about ensuring vaccine effectiveness and moving away from crisis management toward a permanent solution,” Steenhuisen said.

Fake News Claims Rejected

The minister also dismissed claims circulating on social media that the virus strains were sent to the wrong division of the Pirbright Institute. He explained that the “Non-Vesicular Disease Reference Laboratory” listed on the waybill is Pirbright’s administrative receiving point and that all materials are internally routed based on pathogen classification and biosafety protocols.

“If there were any concerns, Pirbright would have immediately flagged them,” he said.

10-Year FMD Eradication Strategy

The submission of virus strains forms part of the Department of Agriculture’s newly launched 10-Year FMD Eradication Strategy, which aims to restore South Africa to FMD-Free Status with Vaccination.

The strategy includes:

Phase 1 – Stabilisation (Years 1–2):

Mass vaccination in high-risk provinces, targeting at least 80% coverage in communal cattle areas and up to 100% in feedlots and dairy herds. The department aims to reduce outbreaks by more than 70% within 12 months.

Vaccine supply commitments include:

• Biogénesis Bagó (Argentina): 1 million doses by mid-February 2026 and 5 million by mid-March
• Dollvet (Turkey): 1.5 million doses expected mid-February (SAHPRA permits approved)
• BVI (Botswana): 700,000 doses by 1 March 2026
• Local production (ARC & OBP): Starting at 20,000 doses per week, scaling to 960,000 doses capacity

Phase 2 – Consolidation (Years 2–4):

Creation of buffer zones and certified compartments to protect disease-free provinces and enable the resumption of international trade.

Phase 3 & 4 – Recovery (Years 4–10):

Gradual withdrawal of vaccination in certain zones and application for formal disease-free recognition.

Farmers Push Back Hard

Despite the announcement, farmer reaction has been overwhelmingly critical.

Many questioned why Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP)—once regarded as a world-class vaccine research and production facility—was not able to respond faster, especially after receiving R500 million for modernisation several years ago.

Others accused the department of focusing too heavily on vaccination instead of biosecurity, movement control, quarantine, and early containment, arguing that vaccination during an active outbreak is ineffective.

“You cannot vaccinate into a pandemic,” one farmer commented.

There are also growing concerns that delayed action will drive up beef prices, threaten food security, and leave consumers footing the bill for what farmers describe as a slow and reactive response.

Politically, some DA supporters expressed disappointment, warning that the backlash against Steenhuisen risks overshadowing the party’s broader performance in government.

Bottom Line

While government insists the strategy represents a long-term, science-based solution, many farmers believe the damage has already been done—and that decisive action should have come months, if not years, earlier.

The FMD crisis has now become not only an animal health emergency, but a test of public trust, food security, and political credibility.