South Africa to set up local foot-and-mouth disease vaccine plant

SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa has announced plans to establish a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine production facility, which the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) anticipates will be operational by 2026.

According to Litha Magingxa, CEO of the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), the process to establish the manufacturing site is already underway, with equipment procurement ongoing and a registered vaccine ready for production.

Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly on July 22, 2025, Magingxa said the vaccine would target all FMD strains currently circulating in South Africa and neighbouring countries across southern Africa.

Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral infection that affects cloven-hoofed animals, resulting in sores and reduced productivity in livestock such as cattle and sheep.

Although the production capacity of the planned facility has not been disclosed, the effort is expected to reduce the country’s reliance on imported vaccines during outbreaks.

Since March 2025, the government has spent over US$4.1 million (72 million rand) to secure roughly 900,000 doses of vaccine from external suppliers to manage the current wave of infections.

Data from the Department of Agriculture’s latest Animal Health Assessment Report shows 39 new cases of FMD have been confirmed nationwide since early May 2025, with Gauteng province accounting for 32 of those cases.

This brings the cumulative number of FMD outbreaks in South Africa to 249 since 2021, marking a growing concern for the livestock industry.

Until the local production site becomes operational, South Africa will remain dependent on imports, a situation that risks delays, limited availability, and higher prices during emergency situations.

The ARC’s plan to establish a domestic supply line is expected to enhance readiness for future outbreaks, particularly in regions most severely affected by repeated infections.

Livestock farming in South Africa accounts for 41 percent of the country’s agricultural GDP and directly supports over half a million people.

The new plant comes as the country battles multiple flare-ups of the highly contagious viral disease, which has struck livestock in at least five provinces: KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Free State, and Limpopo.

The crisis has triggered increased biosecurity protocols, stricter movement restrictions, and a national push to boost vaccine availability. 

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