South Africa Pork Industry launches new FMD vaccine record system

The South African pork industry has taken a major step towards strengthening national biosecurity with the rollout of a new foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine record keeping system on the World of Pork platform. The initiative coincides with the distribution of the first round of risk based FMD vaccines to identified producers across the country.

The newly introduced digital functionality is designed to improve vaccine traceability, biosecurity compliance, and disease monitoring within the livestock sector. Producers and veterinarians can now record vaccination activities electronically, creating a centralised and auditable database for FMD vaccine management.

Industry stakeholders emphasised that accurate record keeping is essential as FMD remains one of the most economically damaging livestock diseases globally. Although pigs are not usually the primary carriers during outbreaks, they can significantly contribute to the spread of the disease. The vaccination programme currently operates under a Section 20 research permit, making detailed reporting and traceability a critical requirement.

The system allows vaccines administered to pigs and cattle to be linked directly to specific animal or batch identification records. It also supports the generation of vaccination certificates for cattle, which may assist with future trade and verification processes.

Key benefits of the platform include improved disease traceability, enhanced national biosecurity coordination, easier regulatory compliance, and more efficient farm management through access to vaccination histories and monitoring records. Industry leaders also noted that broad participation by producers will help protect market confidence and strengthen future trade opportunities for South Africa’s pork sector.

Stakeholders have urged producers to maintain accurate and up to date vaccine records following every vaccination event. The introduction of the new functionality is viewed as another important milestone in building a more resilient, traceable, and sustainable pork industry in South Africa.