Agricultural industry leaders have responded positively to news that Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen has appointed a Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) Industry Coordination Council. The news follows last week's announcement of Minister Steenhuisen's long-term plan to vaccinate South Africa’s entire national cattle herd as part of a comprehensive strategy to eradicate foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Members of the newly appointed council include Johann Kotzé, Bennie van Zyl, Theo Boshoff, Frikkie Maré, Fanie Ferreira, Marlene Louw, Bongani Msimang, Kobus Bester, and Dewald Olivier.
The Department of Agriculture said that this council has been established to ensure that the industry plays an active, coordinated role in supporting the phased rollout of the FMD strategy, including vaccine distribution, traceability, and disease control readiness.
Steenhuisen expressed his full commitment to eradicating FMD. “This council…