SA Tightens Biosecurity After Illegal Vet Drug Shipment Intercepted at Polokwane Airport

The products arrived aboard aircraft from Kenya and Tanzania and were in transit through Polokwane International Airport to Pietermaritzburg.

 

South Africa’s border protection efforts have intensified after Border Management Authority (BMA) officials intercepted two internationally sourced consignments containing unauthorised veterinary medicines.

Commissioner of the BMA, Dr Michael Masiapato, confirmed that on 26 November 2025, Port Agriculture officials seized two polystyrene containers weighing a combined 84 kilograms, allegedly containing Berenil, a regulated veterinary medicine. The products arrived aboard aircraft from Kenya and Tanzania and were in transit through Polokwane International Airport to Pietermaritzburg.

The shipment was stopped because it lacked the legally required import permits, in violation of Section 6 of the Animal Diseases Act 35 of 1984 — legislation designed to safeguard South Africa’s animal health and agricultural economy.

Following consultation with the Department of Agriculture, the consignment was confiscated and transferred to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute – Transboundary Animal Diseases Laboratory (OVI-TAD) for scientific analysis to determine authenticity, safety and possible contamination.

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Context: South Africa Responds to Foot and Mouth Disease Threat

Masiapato said the enforcement action comes at a time when South Africa is managing an ongoing Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak affecting livestock production and agricultural exports.

“We have strengthened vigilance at ports of entry to detect any illegal biological imports that could harm livestock health or compromise biosecurity,” he said.

FMD is one of the most severe transboundary livestock diseases globally, affecting cattle, goats, sheep, swine and other cloven-hoofed animals. Beyond rapid spread and animal welfare impacts, FMD can shut down beef and dairy export markets — a significant economic sector for South Africa.

The disease has seven different serotypes (A, O, C, SAT1, SAT2, SAT3, Asia1), each requiring a specific type-matched vaccine. Introducing foreign or unregistered serotypes into the country could destabilise current containment strategies.

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Vaccines and Medicine Use Strictly Regulated

The use of FMD vaccines in South Africa is government-controlled, and only legally authorised stock is permitted. All official vaccines used nationally are procured through the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) — the region’s certified research and vaccine development centre under the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

Authorities warn that privately imported or untested biological medicines could:

• Introduce new viral strains

• Mask infections and delay outbreak detection

• Compromise national vaccination programmes

• Threaten domestic food security and livestock markets

Smuggling attempts are treated as serious offences and may lead to criminal charges, fines, and destruction of unauthorised products.

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Government Calls for Vigilance

Livestock farmers, veterinarians and industry stakeholders are urged to report any suspected FMD symptoms immediately to state veterinary services. Early detection remains key to containing outbreaks and protecting the agricultural economy.

The BMA stated it will continue to work closely with the Department of Agriculture, provincial veterinary teams and partner agencies to strengthen:

• Border surveillance

• Risk-based cargo screening

• Cross-border traceability systems

• Enforcement of biosecurity protocols

“Our commitment is to safeguard South Africa’s food systems, animal health and agricultural economy,” Masiapato concluded.