Farming associations have welcomed the issuing of the first permit to integrated poultry producer Astral Foods for the vaccination of poultry against avian flu.
This comes after global outbreaks of Avian flu in America and Brazil.
The Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, on Tuesday announced that South Africa will embark on its first-ever vaccination campaign for poultry in the coming days as a proactive measure to minimise the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks.
Francois Rossouw, the CEO of the Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai), said that granting Astral a permit to vaccinate broiler breeding stock against HPAI was a crucial step forward for the poultry industry.
“From both a veterinary and agricultural perspective, this move strengthens our ability to prevent outbreaks, protect food security, and stabilise the industry economically. Breeding stock forms the foundation of poultry production,” he said.
Rossouw added that by vaccinating them, the industry was not only reducing the risk of disease but also avoiding the devastating financial and supply disruptions seen in past outbreaks.
“This decision shows that the department recognises the urgency of proactive disease management and is willing to work with the industry to ensure the continued availability of affordable, locally produced protein for South African families.”
Izaak Breitenbach, the CEO of the South African Poultry Association, said that HPAI was a controlled disease managed by the department and therefore, the industry cannot just vaccinate when it wants to, like other diseases.
“Issuing the first permit for vaccination against HPAI to Astral Foods is a historically important event. To date, we could only rely on biosecurity and culling to control the disease, two processes that have proven ineffective against the disease, not only in South Africa but also in Europe and the USA,” he said.
Breitenbach added that the issuing of the first permit in this regard was not the end but the beginning of a process to do mass vaccination of all long-living chickens in South Africa to prevent the huge losses the industry suffered in recent years.
Dawie Maree, head of FNB Agriculture Marketing and Information, said it was a positive step in the right direction and long overdue.
“It must be noted that it is only long-living birds (breeding flock) that will be vaccinated and not broilers. And it is also for the one strain H5N1 and not H7N1 (the vaccine for the latter is not yet approved),” Maree said.
“But it is good that we can at least start. South Africa and the producers can’t afford another devastating outbreak, especially in the breeding flock.”
Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, said that this was an encouraging step and follows a lengthy scientific assessment process.
“We all recall the 2023 avian influenza outbreak that resulted in egg shortages and higher prices. We also have a vivid memory of the egg shortages in the U.S. at the start of this year, which were also caused by the widespread avian influenza that affected their breeding stock,” he said.
Sihlobo added that South Africa’s decision to kickstart the vaccination was a welcome development, and an approach that the country should follow even in the years to come.
“We must ensure that the regulations remain agile so that, if there are outbreaks of new strains in the future, we can register vaccines speedily and effectively, allowing poultry businesses to avoid losses and maintain solid food security conditions.”
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