Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp has appointed two prominent agricultural leaders to the Industry Coordination Council (ICC). These steps are being taken as part of the government's efforts to contain and eradicate Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and distribute millions of vaccine doses across the country.
The appointments of Dr. Theo de Jager, Executive Director of the South African Agricultural Initiative (SAAI), and Dr. Danny Odendaal, Director of the Veterinary Network (V-Net), were announced on Friday during the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Symposium held at Heartfelt Arena in Pretoria.
The ICC is a key structure for industry-government interaction, established to support the implementation of the National FMD Control Strategy. The council brings together industry stakeholders to coordinate animal tracking measures, vaccine distribution, and disease control aimed at slowing the spread of the disease.
Announcing the appointments, Aucamp noted that both leaders will bring valuable experience to the country's disease control efforts. He emphasized that Dr. de Jager and Dr. Odendaal possess extensive practical knowledge, leadership qualities, and technical expertise, which will strengthen the already effective council.
The Minister added that collaboration across the entire agricultural sector remains critical to defeating this disease. He expressed sincere gratitude to both appointees for their willingness to serve South Africa at such an important time, stating a commitment to working jointly with all local process participants to achieve the goal of an FMD-free country.
Furthermore, the minister announced changes to the council's mandate, expanding its scope. Greater emphasis will now be placed on the practical implementation of the national deployment plan, especially after the decision was made to allow qualified farmers to vaccinate their own livestock.
It was also decided that vaccine suppliers will participate in the ICC on a temporary basis to improve interaction between the government, the industry, and vaccine manufacturers. Aucamp stated that the expanded ICC, along with the Multi-Sectoral Task Team for FMD (MTT), will play a central role in the national response. He compared them to a 'bombing group' that will win the fight against FMD together.
The Minister reported that South Africa has already imported 17 million vaccine doses under the national disease control strategy. He strongly urged livestock owners to register as authorized persons on the FMD reporting platform so they can legally vaccinate their cattle and support localized outbreak efforts.
This announcement came amid the government's intensification of measures to restrict the spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease, which has disrupted livestock production and trade in several regions of the country. Earlier on Friday, Aucamp met with the Argentine Ambassador to South Africa and representatives from the vaccine manufacturer Biogénesis Bagó. During this meeting, he thanked them for their support and noted that the company confirmed its commitment to ensuring stable vaccine supplies to assist South Africa in combating the disease.
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