The prolonged outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease FMD has prompted objections to the governments red tape, which is restricting private sector producers willing to pay for vaccination imports to stem the spread.
This is according to interest groups Sakeliga, Saai and Free State Agriculture, who have sent a letter of demand to agriculture minister John Steenhuisen for livestock owners and the private sector to procure and administer FMD vaccines for their own herds.
Allowing private vaccination would not impede the states efforts to respond to the FMD outbreak. There is more than enough vaccine available for import, and suppliers are willing and able to supply to the private sector, the groups said.
