2 Million FMD Vaccine Doses Arrive in South Africa as Livestock Industry Strengthens Disease Control Efforts

South Africa’s livestock industry has received a major boost in its ongoing fight against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), with two million doses of Biogenesis Bago’s FMD vaccine arriving in the country and now ready for distribution to producers. The consignment represents the first tranche of an additional 4.5 million doses that Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) announced on 7 August, when orders were opened to producers. The arrival comes at a critical time for livestock farmers who continue to manage the serious production, animal health and financial challenges associated with the country’s FMD outbreak. Almost half of the shipment has already been allocated, with producers having pre-ordered 970,000 doses through their veterinarians before the vaccine cleared the port. The development highlights the livestock industry’s efforts to strengthen access to vaccines while supporting a coordinated national response to the disease.

The latest shipment follows 2.7 million doses of FMD vaccine that were procured by the state and distributed to producers during the preceding two months through the same distribution structure. Those doses were paid for by the Department of Agriculture and allocated to the industry for distribution to farmers. The latest consignment differs because the industry itself has funded the additional vaccine supply rather than relying entirely on government procurement. This approach adds more vaccine to the market and gives producers another option for accessing doses as the national response continues. The move also demonstrates how industry organisations and producers can contribute directly to strengthening animal health preparedness during a major disease outbreak.

The role of RMIS in the latest vaccine procurement is focused on coordination rather than commercial sales. RMIS is a non-profit company that administers the statutory levy on the red meat industry and exists to provide services to the sector. It does not have a commercial interest in the vaccine consignment and does not add a markup to the doses being supplied to producers. The vaccine will be supplied at cost price, with producers paying directly into a ring-fenced account. RMIS’s role is to bring industry demand together, coordinate the ordering and delivery process and maintain traceability throughout the supply chain.

This industry-led procurement model addresses one of the practical challenges individual farmers can face when trying to source vaccines from international suppliers. A single producer may struggle to import a relatively small quantity of vaccine because of the costs, administrative requirements and logistical challenges involved. By combining demand across the industry, producers can participate in a larger order and access vaccine through an organised distribution system. Dewald Olivier, CEO of RMIS, has emphasised that the organisation is not selling the vaccine but is acting as a vehicle through which the industry can collectively purchase the doses it needs. The arrangement is intended to give producers access to vaccine at the lowest possible cost while maintaining full traceability.

The scale of the order reflects an unusually broad level of cooperation across South Africa’s livestock sector. The vaccine has been brought in on behalf of producers affiliated with the Red Meat Producers Organisation, Stud Breeders Federation, South African Feedlot Association, Milk Producers Organisation and South African Pork Producers Organisation. This means commercial cattle producers, stud breeders, feedlot operators, dairy farmers and pig producers have effectively participated in a single procurement process across different sectors and species. Coordinating demand at this scale gives the industry greater purchasing power than individual producers or smaller groups might have on their own. It also demonstrates the importance of collaboration when farmers face a disease threat that affects the wider livestock economy.

The partnership between RMIS and Biogenesis Bago is intended to strengthen disease preparedness and improve access to an important animal health tool. Biogenesis Bago brings experience in FMD vaccine production and disease control, while RMIS provides the industry coordination needed to organise demand and distribution among producers. Working together allows the industry to increase the volume of vaccine available to farmers while maintaining an organised ordering process. Strong partnerships of this nature can become particularly important during disease outbreaks when demand for vaccines can rise quickly. The latest consignment therefore forms part of a broader effort to improve the resilience of South Africa’s livestock sector and strengthen its capacity to respond to FMD.

For farmers, access to vaccines remains a critical part of managing the risks associated with FMD. The disease can have serious consequences for livestock production and can disrupt the movement and marketing of animals and animal products. Farmers therefore need to work closely with veterinarians and follow the applicable disease control requirements when determining vaccination strategies for their herds and animals. Vaccine availability is only one part of effective disease management, with appropriate veterinary oversight and compliance also remaining essential. The arrival of the additional doses provides more supply for producers while supporting the broader objective of strengthening protection across the national livestock population.

Producers who want to order vaccine can do so through their veterinarian using the RMIS Vet Ordering Platform. The ordering process follows an industry standard based on Global Location Numbers, known as GLNs. Both the veterinary practice and the producer must have a valid GLN before an order can be placed through the system. Veterinary oversight remains in place because FMD is a state-controlled disease and vaccination must be carried out according to the applicable requirements and protocols. Farmers who need vaccine are therefore encouraged to speak to their veterinarians to arrange their orders and ensure that the necessary requirements are met.

The coordination of vaccine supply is particularly important as South Africa works to strengthen livestock sector resilience during the ongoing FMD challenge. The combination of government-procured vaccine and industry-funded supply increases the volume of doses available to producers and creates a more coordinated approach to distribution. The industry-funded procurement also shows that livestock organisations and producers can take collective responsibility for addressing urgent challenges affecting their businesses. While government remains responsible for the national animal health framework, industry participation can provide additional capacity when farmers require access to critical disease control resources. Continued cooperation between government, industry organisations, veterinarians and producers will remain important as South Africa works to contain the disease and protect livestock production.

The arrival of two million Biogenesis Bago FMD vaccine doses marks another important development in South Africa’s response to the ongoing outbreak. With 970,000 doses already pre-ordered, significant producer demand was established even before the shipment arrived in the country. The additional supply complements the 2.7 million state-procured doses distributed during the previous two months and strengthens access to vaccination for producers across different livestock sectors. The collaboration between RMIS, Biogenesis Bago, veterinarians and producer organisations demonstrates the value of coordinated action when the industry faces a major animal health challenge. As more doses reach farmers and vaccination efforts continue, the focus remains on protecting livestock, supporting producers and building greater resilience across South Africa’s agricultural sector.