Dear Portfolio Committee on Agriculture,

Date: 29 January 2026

I am writing to formally request that the Committee consider initiating an independent investigation into the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines administered to cattle in South Africa during the recent 2025 outbreaks.

While FMD vaccines used in South Africa are generally inactivated (killed virus) vaccines and are not expected to cause disease, there are documented instances internationally where improperly inactivated vaccine batches have led to unintended FMD outbreaks. Examples include:

1. United Kingdom (1967–1968): Insufficiently inactivated vaccine batches were linked to FMD cases in vaccinated herds.
2. Taiwan (1997): Emergency vaccine batches were later found to have been improperly inactivated, resulting in infection of vaccinated animals.
3. South America (1980s–1990s, including Brazil and Argentina): Substandard inactivation procedures in locally produced vaccines contributed to outbreaks in vaccinated livestock.

In addition, the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) has temporarily paused FMD vaccine production for facility cleaning, sterilisation, and maintenance. While such activities can be part of manufacturing operations, there appears to be no publicly available record of previous FMD vaccine production shutdowns at BVI specifically for large-scale “clean-up” or sterilisation, which raises questions as to whether this represents a non-routine intervention rather than standard periodic maintenance.

The fact that this production halt coincides with active FMD outbreaks in South Africa raises legitimate concerns (not regarding vaccine supply alone, but regarding the integrity and safety of vaccine batches produced prior to the shutdown). While no wrongdoing is alleged, these circumstances constitute a reasonable “red flag” that warrants careful, independent scrutiny.

Given the severe economic impact of FMD and the importance of maintaining confidence in national vaccination programmes, it is critical to rule out any possibility of incomplete inactivation or contamination of vaccine batches used during the outbreak period.

I respectfully request that any investigation include:

1. Laboratory testing of vaccine batches administered in outbreak-affected areas to confirm the absence of live FMD virus.
2. Genetic comparison of viruses isolated from infected animals with vaccine strains.
3. Review of inactivation and quality-control documentation for relevant batches produced by the Botswana Vaccine Institute.
4. Independent oversight by a WOAH-accredited laboratory or independent veterinary virology experts.

Such an investigation would provide clarity, protect the integrity of South Africa’s FMD control programme, and reassure farmers and stakeholders that vaccine safety has been thoroughly verified.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter. I would appreciate being informed of any steps the Committee may take in response.

Yours sincerely,
Stacey van der Walt