🇿🇦South AfricaSouthern Africa
Farmers angered by further delay in foot-and-mouth disease vaccine plan
via The Citizen2 min read
Farmers have expressed anger following another postponement in the High Court proceedings concerning the Department of Agriculture's plan to combat foot-and-mouth disease FMD. Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen was granted an extended deadline until May 5 to publish a vaccination scheme under Section 10 of the Animal Diseases Act. This marks the second time urgent proceedings have been delayed due to the department's unpreparedness. Steenhuisen, however, stated that allegations of delays are unfounded and that efforts are underway to vaccinate animals quickly. He also signed a memorandum of intent and a comprehensive action plan with Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock André Carlos Alves de Paula to enhance cooperation. TLU SA chair Bennie van Zyl described the FMD challenge as a crisis, lamenting the necessity of a court case to compel state action, suggesting the process could have concluded in January. Southern Africa Agricultural Initiative Saai board chair Theo de Jager voiced disappointment that the minister has not adhered to court-set deadlines for publishing the Section 10 scheme. De Jager also mentioned that Steenhuisen previously refused a request from Saai, Sake Liga, and Vrystaat Landbou in January for regulations to obtain the vaccine themselves, citing fears farmers would use it as biological weapons. De Jager added that the World Organisation for Animal Health WOIE denied requiring strict central government control for vaccine handling, statin
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