Don’t celebrate too soon: Kwanalu cautions farmers after FMD vaccine ruling

Farmers are taking a knock because of foot-and-mouth disease.

THE KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union, Kwanalu, has warned that significant legal and regulatory hurdles still remain before any private procurement or expanded access to Foot and Mouth Disease vaccines can take effect. It says this is despite a recent Gauteng High Court ruling welcomed by the sector.

The ruling, handed down on May 25, was welcomed cautiously by the organisation, which said the judgement marked an important development in efforts to improve South Africa’s response to recurring FMD outbreaks.

The ruling was essentially about whether private farmers and agricultural groups could legally procure and administer Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccines without direct state control.

However, Kwanalu chairperson PJ Hassard said the judgement did not mean private vaccine imports or broader access could begin immediately.