Meat industry launches research drive to ease Foot-and-Mouth Disease slaughter restrictions

RED Meat Industry Services (RMIS) has partnered with the University of Pretoria and global animal health company Zoetis to investigate the economic and regulatory impact of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) virus persistence in slaughtered cattle, as the industry seeks science-based reforms to outdated slaughter regulations.

- YOGASHEN PILLAY

The initiative follows Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen's announcement that government plans to vaccinate South Africa's entire national cattle herd of approximately 7.2 million animals as part of efforts to contain ongoing FMD outbreaks.

RMIS said the study, titled Evidence-Based Risk Reduction for FMD Virus Persistence at Slaughter, aims to generate the scientific evidence needed to revise current regulations that impose blanket restrictions on meat and byproducts from cattle that have recovered from FMD. "These restrictions are not only outdated but also result in significant wastage, especially of offal and other byproducts, causing financial strain across the red meat value chain," RMIS said.