Kwanalu, the KZN Agricultural Union, has cautiously welcomed the recent Gauteng High Court ruling relating to the private procurement and administration of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines in 25 May 2026.
However, the Union urges producers and stakeholders not to misinterpret the judgement as immediate implementation or unrestricted private vaccine importation, stressing that significant legal, regulatory and practical processes still need to unfold before any meaningful implementation may occur.
Kwanalu emphasis that the ruling represents an important legal development in the ongoing effort to strengthen South Africa’s FMD response, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, where producers continue to face severe pressure from vaccine shortages, uneven vaccine access and ongoing outbreaks.
Kwanalu Chairperson, PJ Hassard, said there are still many unanswered questions surrounding how the ruling will ultimately be applied in practice.
“While the judgement is a positive development in principle, it is important that the industry remains cautious in how it interprets the ruling. This matter is far from implementation. Government still has an opportunity within the next 20 days to submit changes or respond further to aspects of the ruling, and there are additional legislative and regulatory processes that would still need to take place before any expanded vaccine access framework becomes operational.”
Hassard said one of the most critical considerations remains traceability and the control measures required for a regulated animal disease such as FMD.
“FMD vaccine management cannot operate without proper oversight and monitoring. One of the biggest challenges is maintaining a reliable paper trail and traceability system for every vaccinated animal and owner. There would need to be clear regulatory controls, including mechanisms such as a new Section 21 process and proper Veterinary Services oversight, to ensure accountability, vaccine integrity and credible disease management. This cannot become an unmonitored process.”
Kwanalu reiterated that FMD remains a controlled animal disease and that any vaccine procurement, handling and administration would still need to occur within a coordinated and regulated veterinary framework. The organisation also cautioned against misinformation and premature assumptions surrounding the ruling.
“In situations like this, misinformation spreads very quickly. Producers are understandably desperate for workable solutions, but it is important that communication around the ruling remains factual, responsible and grounded in the actual legal and regulatory realities,” said Hassard.
“Kwanalu will continue to engage constructively with government, Veterinary Services and industry stakeholders to ensure that producers receive credible, fact-based information as this process develops.”
Kwanalu has consistently raised concerns around vaccine shortages and uneven vaccine access in KwaZulu-Natal, warning that prolonged limitations in vaccine availability threaten food security, market stability and the sustainability of the livestock sector.
The organisation maintains that practical, science-based and properly regulated solutions remain essential if South Africa is to strengthen disease control and stabilise the outbreak effectively.
The KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union, Kwanalu, is a representative organization voice of the rural and agricultural sectors in the province. Its viewpoints are based on submissions from its members, and it is committed to a sustainable and profitable future for Agriculture within KwaZulu-Natal and the greater South Africa.