An FMD-free future: Pipe dream or reality?

South Africa’s livestock industry faces a tough battle with foot-and-mouth disease, but government plans to vaccinate all cattle mark a major policy shift and signal stronger cooperation with industry. Dr Frikkie Maré, the CEO of the Red Meat Producers Organisation (RPO), says it’s a long road ahead, but with united action, the red meat industry can recover and thrive again.

There is no need to explain the current state of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in South Africa. The situation is dire, the virus keeps spreading, and we do not have vaccines to address it. While we are currently in despair, it does not mean everything is lost, as there is a new plan from the government on the table to ultimately vaccinate all the cattle in the country.

The problem is that this plan was not well-received by everyone for various reasons. The fact is, it is very easy to shoot down the plan; it is easy to find fault with anything, as nothing is perfect in everyone’s eyes.

Personally, I am also wondering about many aspects of the plan. I also do not think it is perfect. But, yes, on my side, there is a but, the one thing about this plan that gave me hope is that we finally have a decision on where we are heading.

Working together with government

We fought FMD for many years as if we were a country free from FMD without vaccination, while it was not the case. We could not effectively act against it, as our legislation limited what we could do.

Now we have finally accepted that our status is “FMD Everywhere,” and we want to move from where we are now to “FMD Free with Vaccination,” and, in ten years, finally reach “FMD Free without Vaccination.” This means we finally have a goal in mind and can start implementing interim measures and regulations at every step to achieve it.

Something else that gives me hope is that government and industry have moved much closer together in recent months. Two years ago, it was almost impossible to make suggestions on FMD to the government, as it was strictly classified as a state-controlled disease, and they were the only party in control. This has now changed.

Industry veterinarians form part of the Ministerial Technical Task Team (MTT) alongside state veterinarians, and the minister appointed an Industry Coordination Council consisting solely of industry members. This means that, currently, together with the department of agriculture, there is a triangular structure with industry represented on two of the three corners, and the department is actively seeking industry’s input.

Steenhuisen unveils 10-year roadmap to eradicate FMD

‘A lot of work to be done’

Now that the industry is involved, it does not mean that everything will be solved in a week’s time. There is a lot of work to do, and even more things to consider. Legislation, regulations, practical implementation, the new plan, and what must be achieved are all intertwined, and everything must be considered. As if that is not enough, we are dealing with a situation where the initial vaccine inflow in February will be only a drop in the ocean, and careful consideration must be given to allocate it to where it will have the greatest impact.

The decision was made to vaccinate the whole country; the fact is that we currently have almost nowhere to go with the animals. The head and feet at slaughter must be destroyed for months after; if the pH of the carcass does not drop below 6, you cannot sell it.

Currently, they cannot go to auctions. A large part of the market is thus blocked. All of this must be reconsidered. A decision must be made on when a vaccinated animal will be considered “FMD Free”. We are waiting for research results on the fifth quarter of the carcass so that it can be used.

Yes, if a producer considers the above, the immediate thought is that we are going nowhere slowly. We are currently doing what should have been done a long time ago, but there is no better day to start than today. Once all the above is sorted, it will mean our animals are protected, we have continuous market access, and there is no longer a need to incinerate food (head and feet) in a country where many live in poverty.

We can again negotiate export markets on new terms to first take our vaccinated meat (and yes, many countries are willing to do it, Brazil did it for decades), and later to again have FMD-Free Without Vaccination status to send our meat to premium markets unknown to our wonderful red meat for years.

Get the facts

There will be many changes over the next weeks and months, and the RPO will do its best to provide role players with timely updates on the facts so you know what is going on and how to prepare. There are currently many more rumours than facts floating around, so please verify information at a reputable source before you believe it.

We believe that this nightmare shall pass and that the red meat industry will prosper again. Until such time, our thoughts are with everyone fighting the FMD war. We may not be able to provide direct assistance, but we are doing everything in our power to improve the situation as soon as possible.

Dr Frikkie Maré is the CEO of the Red Meat Producers Organisation. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Food For Mzansi.