Farmers take govt to court over FMD vaccines’ restrictions

The Southern African Agri Initiative, SAAI, and the Free State Agriculture and Independent Business Organisation, Sakeliga, will approach the High Court in Pretoria for an urgent interdict against the Agriculture Department,  Minister John Steenhuisen and the Animal Health Director Dr. Mpho Maja.
The organisations want Steenhuisen’s decisions relating to the foot-and-mouth disease vaccines formally reviewed and set aside on the grounds that they are unlawful, irrational, and unconstitutional.
SAAI CEO Francois Rossouw says they want to import vaccines privately and be allowed to vaccinate their animals.
Rossouw says, “We are asking for an interim interdict to stop the state from blocking farmers and the private sector from acting in parallel against foot and mouth disease.”
“While the minister acknowledges the outbreak is out of control and the national disaster has been declared, private vaccine imports and farmers’ ability  to lawfully vaccinate their own herds are being obstructed, he adds.”
“We say these measures are unlawful, irrational and unconstitutional. Farmers are asking for the right to protect animals and livelihoods before irreparable damage is done, Rossouw says.”
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