The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) welcomes the announcement by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr John Steenhuisen, regarding the introduction of a regulatory framework that will allow the use of vaccination as part of South Africa’s strategy to combat Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
This decision marks a significant milestone for the poultry industry and follows SAPA’s sustained engagement with government to secure practical, science-based solutions that better protect poultry flocks, safeguard food security, and preserve jobs throughout the poultry value chain.
For several years, SAPA has consistently advocated for a modernised approach to avian influenza management that aligns with international best practice. The industry’s concerns have centred on the limitations of a policy framework that relied almost exclusively on widespread culling as the primary disease control mechanism, resulting in severe economic losses, disruptions to egg and poultry meat supply and increased costs for consumers.
The Minister’s intervention provides a pathway towards a more balanced and sustainable disease management model that incorporates vaccination, enhanced biosecurity, surveillance, testing, and responsible outbreak management.
“SAPA appreciates the Minister’s willingness to engage with the industry’s concerns and to act decisively in support of South African poultry producers,” said Izaak Breitenbach CEO of the Broiler Organisation of SAPA. “Vaccination is not a silver bullet, but it is an essential tool that has been successfully incorporated into avian influenza control programmes in many countries. Combined with robust biosecurity and surveillance measures, it will significantly strengthen our ability to manage disease risks while maintaining production and food security.”
The poultry industry remains committed to working closely with the Department of Agriculture, veterinary authorities, vaccine suppliers, and other stakeholders to ensure the responsible implementation of any vaccination programme. SAPA recognises that the success of the new framework will depend on clear regulations, effective monitoring systems, scientifically validated vaccines, and ongoing collaboration between government and industry.
The Association also welcomes the Minister’s commitment to establish interim measures while the formal regulatory amendments are finalised. Timely implementation will be critical in providing certainty to producers and reducing the risk of future disease-related disruptions.
South Africa’s poultry industry contributes significantly to the country’s food security, rural development, and employment, supporting thousands of direct and indirect jobs. The introduction of a practical HPAI vaccination framework represents an important step towards protecting these livelihoods while ensuring consumers continue to have access to affordable poultry products.
SAPA looks forward to engaging constructively with the Department of Agriculture during the implementation phase and remains committed to supporting measures that strengthen animal health, protect the national poultry flock, and promote the long-term sustainability of the sector.
Photo by Brian David on Unsplash
Relevant Agribook pages include “Poultry and chicken farming.”
