By: Xolani Khumalo
The Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE) has welcomed Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen’s recognition of the current foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak as a national emergency.
AMIE has also commended the government’s recent progress in addressing the outbreak, describing the steps taken so far as “encouraging”.
According to the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, there are currently 274 unresolved FMD outbreaks across five provinces. Of these, 180 are located in KwaZulu-Natal, which has become the epicentre of the ongoing crisis.
AMIE CEO Imameleng Mothebe expressed support for the minister’s swift action, including the procurement of additional FMD vaccines and the establishment of an industry-government task team focused on animal disease prevention and control.
Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats. While it does not pose a direct threat to humans, the disease has serious economic implications for South Africa’s livestock industry, including disruptions to trade and meat exports.
Mothebe said the association remains committed to working with government and other industry stakeholders to ensure that the necessary resources, infrastructure, and preventative measures are in place to mitigate future outbreaks.
“A coordinated and transparent approach is critical to protecting our national herd, supporting rural economies, and restoring confidence in the livestock and meat sectors,” Mothebe added.
