Poultry Farmers to Get Avian Influenza Vaccination Option

SAPA lodged a formal objection under the Animal Diseases Act, stating that the Department of Agriculture's current approach was no longer practical or affordable for poultry producers.

South Africa is set to introduce a new approach to managing highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, after Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen moved to amend existing regulations to allow vaccinations against the disease.

The policy shift is expected to provide much-needed relief to the poultry industry, which has faced significant financial losses from repeated outbreaks and the compulsory destruction of birds under current disease-control measures.

The Minister's intervention follows concerns raised by the South African Poultry Association (SAPA), which argued that existing regulations left producers with limited options to protect their flocks and businesses.

Industry Pushes for Modern Disease Control

SAPA lodged a formal objection under the Animal Diseases Act, stating that the Department of Agriculture's current approach was no longer practical or affordable for poultry producers.

The industry maintained that the existing system relied heavily on the mass culling of birds whenever outbreaks occurred, a strategy that often resulted in severe financial losses and disruptions to poultry production.

After considering the findings of a Section 23 Investigation Committee, Steenhuisen accepted recommendations aimed at modernising South Africa's response to bird flu and resolving what he described as an administrative deadlock.

The Minister said the report creates an opportunity to move away from the traditional "stamping-out" method, which requires the destruction of infected and healthy birds within affected flocks, and replace it with a regulated vaccination-based defence strategy.

New Framework to Support Farmers

Steenhuisen said the changes are intended to give poultry farmers access to scientifically verified tools that can help safeguard their businesses while maintaining disease-control standards.

According to the Minister, the previous regulations placed unnecessary pressure on producers, damaged agricultural enterprises and contributed to higher food costs for consumers.

The new approach will allow poultry farmers to combine vaccination programmes with strict biosecurity measures and ongoing testing to reduce the impact of outbreaks and minimise losses.

Government believes this model will strengthen disease prevention while supporting agricultural jobs and improving food security.

Regulations to Be Updated

As part of the reforms, the Department of Agriculture will formalise an HPAI Vaccination Framework under the Animal Diseases Act.

The department plans to amend the Animal Diseases Regulations or introduce a formal Section 9 control measure to establish clear legal requirements for managing outbreaks on poultry farms.

Officials say the revised framework will eliminate uncertainty created by inconsistent enforcement practices and provide a standardised response mechanism for both commercial producers and small-scale farmers.

The department will continue overseeing national disease surveillance, laboratory testing and regulatory compliance during outbreaks. It will also remain responsible for ensuring South Africa meets international trade requirements to protect export market access.

Steenhuisen has instructed the department to immediately introduce interim control measures while the new policy framework is being finalised through the required legal processes.

The move marks a significant change in South Africa's poultry disease management strategy and is expected to provide the sector with greater flexibility in protecting flocks against future bird flu outbreaks.