South Africa restarts foot-and-mouth vaccine production after two decades

SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa has resumed domestic production of the foot‑and‑mouth disease (FMD) vaccine after more than 20 years, a critical step for a livestock industry battling widespread outbreaks of the highly contagious virus.

The Agricultural Research Council (ARC), a public body responsible for agricultural research and development,  announced in February that it had produced its first batch of 12,900 doses, reviving a capability that had been dormant since the mid‑2000s. 

From March 2026, weekly output will begin at 20,000 doses, with production expected to scale to 200,000 by 2027 as facilities stabilise under strict quality and regulatory standards.

This marks a decisive shift away from reliance on imported vaccines, laying the foundation for domestic sufficiency and stronger biosecurity.

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen described the milestone as crucial for controlling the outbreak and protecting the livestock industry, which has faced trade restrictions and economic losses due to the spread of FMD.

Recurring outbreaks since 2019 have underscored the urgency of this move, as the disease has spread beyond traditional containment zones. Eight of the country’s nine provinces have reported cases in recent years, affecting both commercial and communal farming operations.

Local vaccine production had been halted two decades ago when ageing facilities at Onderstepoort failed to meet international standards, leaving the country dependent on foreign suppliers. 

Strategic import diversification

Given the scale of ongoing outbreaks, domestic production alone cannot immediately meet demand.

To bridge the gap, the Ministry of Agriculture has secured substantial quantities of vaccines from multiple international suppliers.

The Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) has confirmed delivery of 700,000 doses by the end of February 2026, followed by monthly shipments of 700,000 doses in April, May and June.

Argentina’s Biogénesis Bagó will initially supply one million doses, with an additional five million expected in March 2026.

Turkey-based Dollvet is scheduled to deliver 1.5 million doses in February, followed by five million more in March.

This multi-supplier strategy reduces reliance on a single source while ensuring short-term disease containment during the ARC’s production ramp-up.

Regional context

For years, BVI has been Africa’s primary supplier, exporting doses across the continent and positioning itself as a strategic hub for livestock biosecurity. South Africa’s restart shifts that balance, introducing a second major production centre in southern Africa. 

Together, the two countries now anchor Africa’s vaccine security, with Botswana supplying the wider region and South Africa focusing on domestic stabilisation.

Globally, Argentina has built a strong export industry, while Australia is investing in next‑generation research to protect its livestock exports.

These examples underscore how vaccine production is increasingly treated as strategic infrastructure rather than a narrow agricultural concern.

The restart of local FMD vaccine production marks a turning point in South Africa’s long struggle against one of livestock farming’s most persistent threats, and signals a broader shift in Africa’s ability to secure its own biosecurity future.

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