Farmers Can Vaccinate Their Livestock for Now, After High Court Ruling.

Andrew Morphew: Why did farmers have to sue Steenhuisen to help fight FMD?

Key topics:Court allows private FMD vaccination with lawfully sourced vaccinesState had no legal basis to ban private vaccination; policy not lawFMD response needs coordinated private-state system, not state controlBy Andrew MorphewWhy did this case even exist? Why did farmers have to go to court to help fight a disease destroying their own animals?That is the question sitting behind the Gauteng High Court's 25 May 2026 ruling in Sakeliga NPC an…

Gauteng High Court ruling empowers farmers to procure Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccines

A landmark ruling by the Gauteng High Court enables private farmers in South Africa to independently procure and administer Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccines, revolutionising agricultural health policy and empowering the farming community.

Court ruling opens the door to private procurement of FMD vaccines

FMD Response SA warned that the judgment does not create a free-for-all or give farmers an automatic right to import vaccines themselves.

Farmers can vaccinate their livestock for now, after high court ruling.

The Gauteng High Court has confirmed that farmers may procure and administer foot-and-mouth disease vaccines without state permission. However, Minister John Steenhuisen says the ruling’s practical effect is already addressed by his gazetted vaccination scheme.

Court ruling opens private FMD vaccination route, but questions remain

Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen said in a media statement that the ruling’s practical effect had largely been overtaken by government’s recently gazetted Section 10 animal health scheme. However, the wording of both the interim court order and the judgment suggests farmers can vaccinate independently of this framework, provided strict reporting and notification requirements are met. The ruling, handed down by Judge Van der Westhuizen in…

Foot-and-mouth disease court case: judgement delivered

The judgment in the Pretoria High Court against the Minister of Agriculture and other state institutions is a victory for every livestock and game farmer in South Africa. After more than a year of uncontrolled spread of this state-controlled disease, it finally offers hope that the involvement and initiative of the private sector can provide […] The post Foot-and-mouth disease court case: judgement delivered appeared first on Farmers Review Afri…