Clover SA Raises Concerns Over Foot and Mouth Disease Regulations

Clover SA has issued a warning regarding the current management of foot and mouth disease (FMD) control measures in South Africa, claiming that these practices are inconsistent and non-standardized. According to Clover, this inconsistency is adversely affecting the dairy industry by complicating the export processes for dairy products, even when they meet both national and international safety standards.

Johann Vorster, CEO of Clover, emphasized the necessity for coherent FMD eradication strategies across different provinces. He noted that the current application of export permits and veterinary attestations poses significant challenges for local dairy producers. Vorster stated, "FMD is a national disaster which requires strong eradication measures. However, these are being wrongly conflated with dairy processing standards."

Clover SA pointed out that despite adherence to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) guidelines, which state that ultrahigh-temperature (UHT) treated dairy can be safely traded without FMD-related certification, local regulations are creating unnecessary barriers.

The company also highlighted issues in the classification of vaccinated versus infected milk. Vorster remarked that vaccinated milk is being misclassified as infected, which expands restrictions without scientific basis. This misclassification threatens the entire dairy value chain and increases costs for producers.

Clover SA is actively collaborating with the dairy industry to advocate for urgent regulatory reforms. They call for a clear national minimum standard aligned with WOAH guidelines and the removal of unnecessary restrictions on UHT products. Additionally, they stress the need for standardized export certification processes.

Without these reforms, Clover warns that South Africa's dairy industry could face irreversible economic damage, impacting milk collection, employment, and food security.