The RPO has called for calm, cooperation, and a ‘voice of reason’ in the wake of legal action taken by private veterinary groups, the South African Veterinary Association and the Ruminant Veterinary Association of South Africa, over the country’s proposed FMD vaccination scheme.
Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Dr Frikkie Maré, CEO of the RPO, said that while the organisation acknowledges the concerns raised by veterinary bodies, the current dispute risks deepening divisions at a time when unity is critical.
“The industry cannot afford to be derailed by side battles and semantics when coordinated action is urgently needed,” he said.
Dispute rooted in ‘outdated’ draft
The legal challenge centres on claims that the draft Routine Vaccination Scheme for Foot and Mouth Disease under Section 10 of the Animal Diseases Act (No. 35 of 1984) would grant excessive authority to Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS).
However, Maré said the objections appear to be based on an outdated version of the document.
“The document has undergone several amendments since the first draft, incorporating input from the Ministerial Task Team on FMD, the [FMD Industry Coordination Council] and the National Department of Agriculture,” he said.
He added that some of the concerns raised had already been identified and addressed during the revision process, underscoring the need for stakeholders to engage with the most current version before pursuing legal remedies.
RMIS role ‘misinterpreted’
Maré also sought to clarify what he described as widespread misinterpretation of RMIS’s proposed role.
“RMIS is in no way a decision-maker for the industry; it is a service provider intended to facilitate processes such as vaccine orders and administration,” he explained.
He emphasised that veterinarians would not be compelled to use RMIS systems to perform their duties, nor would the organisation act as a gatekeeper in the certification process.
“All approval of certificates will remain the responsibility of an appointed committee. RMIS merely provides a platform to streamline the process.”
Industry cannot afford delays
Beyond the technical disagreements, Maré warned that the real risk is further delays to vaccination rollout, a scenario he described as untenable given the ongoing FMD threat. He also cautioned that prolonged disputes could create confusion and weaken disease-control efforts.
While FMD remains a state-controlled disease, with government ultimately responsible for implementing control measures, Maré stressed that effective management depends on alignment across the value chain.
Call for collaboration
In a pointed appeal to all parties, Maré urged a shift from adversarial approaches towards constructive engagement.
“What is needed now is a willingness to work together, to interrogate the facts, and to ensure that decisions are made in the best interest of the industry as a whole,” he said.
He added that while robust debate is healthy, it should not come at the expense of progress.
“It is easy, and dangerous, to submit to speculation if the facts are not on the table. A collective, fact-based approach is the only way we will move forward,” he concluded.
