<\/p>\n
Restrictions placed on the dairy industry by the South African government to curb an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease places it at serious risk, said one of the country\u2019s leading dairy companies.<\/p>\n
World Organisation for Animal Health standards says that dairy products that have been properly sterilised are safe for trade and should not require foot-and-mouth?related conditions or certification, Clover SA said in a statement on Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, current measures in place mean that vaccinated milk is being incorrectly treated and classified as infected milk,\u201d said Johann Vorster, Chief Executive Officer at Clover. \u201cThe State has simply got it wrong, hasn\u2019t done its homework, or is just bungling the situation. It\u2019s a shambles.\u201d<\/p>\n
ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n
CONTINUE READING BELOW<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
All nine of South Africa\u2019s provinces are battling the highly contagious disease that causes blisters and sores in the mouths and feet of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. The government\u2019s response includes export-certification requirements and restricting the movement of animals. Some auctions and major livestock shows have also been canceled.<\/p>\n
The eradication measures for foot-and-mouth disease \u201care being wrongly conflated with dairy-processing standards,\u201d Vorster said. \u201cThis is shutting down exports of products that are scientifically safe for human consumption.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although the foot-and-mouth virus can severely affect the health of cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals, and may even cause their death, it crosses the species barrier to humans with difficulty.<\/p>\n
The consumption of dairy products such as pasteurised milk, long-life milk, yogurt, cheese and butter poses no risk to humans of being adversely affected by the virus Milk SA, the statutory body representing South Africa\u2019s dairy industry, said in a statement on February 17.<\/p>\n
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen will on Saturday officially receive a shipment of one million foot-and-mouth vaccines from Argentina, with an additional five million doses scheduled to arrive in March. President Cyril Ramaphosa last week declared the outbreak a national disaster.<\/p>\n
\u00a9 2026 Bloomberg<\/p>\n
Follow Moneyweb\u2019s in-depth finance and business news on WhatsApp here.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n