The Department of Agriculture has launched an online self-vaccination application portal that will allow livestock owners to apply for authorisation to vaccinate their own animals against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), in a move aimed at streamlining the country's response to the disease.
Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp said the new system will enable cattle owners and managers to perform voluntary vaccination of their livestock against FMD.
"This step is only the beginning, and I can assure all stakeholders that the Department of Agriculture is committed to enabling the private sector to help tackle this FMD outbreak," Aucamp said.
The online portal enables livestock owners to register on the FMD Reporting site and apply to become an authorised person to administer FMD vaccines. The system has been designed in line with biosecurity requirements, legal prescripts, and traceability measures, and reporting on vaccinations that were applied.
The application process is divided into three parts:
a) Application to be an "Authorised Person"
Livestock owners and managers must apply through the FMD Reporting System to be approved as an “Authorised Person” permitted to administer FMD vaccines.
b) Notice of Intention to Vaccinate
Once approved as an "Authorised Person", they will be required to give notice of their intention to vaccinate, to the Provincial Director of Veterinary Services or the applicable State Veterinarian for the area concerned. This notification needs to be submitted online or in writing, at least five days prior to administering the vaccine. After the authorised persons have given notice of their intention to vaccinate, they will be able to procure the required vaccines directly from their authorised veterinarian in their area.
c) Submit a vaccination report
Following vaccination, authorised persons must submit a vaccination report within 14 days, with the required feedback (as per the online feedback system on the vaccines that they have administered). This feedback report will include various details of the animals vaccinated, as well as the vaccine used and the location of the farm where the vaccine was administered.
The department said livestock owners and managers may also use approved third-party digital platforms, including those operated by Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS), Southern African Agri Initiative (SAAI) and Buffalo Analytics, to complete the notification and reporting process.
The information submitted through approved private-sector platforms will be shared with the Department of Agriculture and uploaded to the department's system. Livestock owners are advised to confirm that their chosen platform has been approved for use by the Director of Animal Health.
Aucamp said the information gathered through these report-back systems will enable government to monitor progress of the vaccination programme.
"It will also enable us to efficiently provide up-to-date information on the success of South Africa's vaccination programme to the World Organisation for Animal Health when we are in a position to apply for FMD-free status with vaccination once again," Aucamp said.
The Minister reiterated the department's commitment to strengthening relations with the sector and that he will chart a unified way of working which welcomes support and collaboration from all stakeholders.
He also encouraged organised agricultural organisations to liaise with approved vaccine importers, on behalf of their members, on the number of vaccines required by their members.
This, he said, will assist importers in determining the number of vaccines that they need to procure and distribute to veterinarians all over the country.
Vaccine importers have also been urged to work with veterinarians to determine the number of vaccines that the veterinarians want to order for their clients in a specific area.
Farmers participating in the voluntary vaccination programme will be responsible for the cost of vaccines administered to their livestock. However, government will continue providing vaccines in areas where new FMD outbreaks are detected, as well as to farmers who cannot afford to purchase them.
"I want to thank all farmers, organised agriculture organisations as well as the Department of Agriculture officials, who have worked tirelessly to get these systems up and running shortly after reaching the settlement," the Minister said.
For general queries and questions regarding the FMD Reporting system, please contact: Dr Rachel Welsh - 012 319 7460 or RachelW@nda.gov.za
Link to FMD Reporting System: https://fmd.nda.gov.za/ Link to step-by-step guidelines:https://www.nda.gov.za/images/outbreaks/Foot%20and%20Mouth%20Disease%200
Outbreak/Reports/2026/request-for-authorisation-notification-and-reporting-for-fmd-vaccination 24jul2026.pdf
FMD WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vags5R83gvWWZOhk9946 - SAnews.gov.za
