OIE MISSION TO RSA TO EVALUATE CONTROLS FOR FMD

24 FEBRUARY 2015

PRESENTATION TO THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE

OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

2013 mission

2014 mission

Progress so far

2013 OIE MISSION

The 2013 mission covered four countries that have zones free of Foot and Mouth Disease, it started on the 28th October with a visit to Namibia and Botswana before coming to South Africa from 3rd to 8th November, a one day visit to Swaziland slotted in during the South Africa visit on the 5th November.

The aim of that mission was to: assess the implementation and compliance with the relevant provisions of

the Terrestrial Code e ensure the maintenance of FMD free status and, in the case of South Africa, to assess the situation following the suspension

of its FMD free status with effect from 25 February 2011.

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2013 OIE MISSION FINDINGS

The following findings were made: Identification of animals within the protection zone: Visibility of the Veterinary Services control: The internal control measures already applied in the protection zone should

continue to be managed Introduction of animals from the protection zone into the free zone Ndumo and Tembe must be managed similar to the KNP The Protection zone in KNP Maintenance of the international fences:

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2013 OIE MISSION PROGRESS

Following this mission, the Department embarked on the following: An addendum was submitted to the OIE giving specific assurances following

the mission. 600 000 unique ear tags were procured for the protection zones and the

high surveillance zone of KZN. A software system to enable data capturing of individual tags as well as

ownership was procured, though this process proved to be lengthy. The Veterinary Procedural Notice was amended to fully comply with the OIE

Code and its terminology: The fence in KZN, that which used to be called the “red line fence” was re-

erected. The international fence continues to be maintained, though financial

constrains make is difficult.

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2014 OIE MISSION

This mission was dedicated to South Africa, as a follow up to the 2013 mission. This mission took place from 30 November to 6th December 2014. Its aim was to assess the compliance with the relevant provisions of the Terrestrial Animal

Health Code (Terrestrial Code) ensure the maintenance of FMD free status including the measures

described in the addendum to the application which was submitted for recovery of FMD free status in January 2014, regarding Limpopo,

Mpumalanga and Kwa-Zulu Natal Provinces.

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2014 OIE MISSION FINDINGS

The OIE mission was impressed with: progress made with regards to the animal identification, though progress was found to

be slow. The team advised that tagging start from outwards inwards, thus ensuring that animals closed to the Free Zone are identifiable should they stray into the Free Zone.

Progress made with the building of the “red line fence”. They however raised concern that there are no manned check points.

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2014 OIE MISSION FINDINGS (Cont...)

The RSA Zimbabwe border fence: though this fence was generally intact, a few breakage points were discovered. The team also found that there is no documented procedure on how stray animals will be handled when found.

Separation of animals at dipping in KZN: due to shortage of facilities, animals from the Protection Zone, which is regarded as infected, and those from the High Surveillance Zone, which is regarded as free, are at some dipping tanks dipped on the same day.

Slaughter of animals from the Protection Zone: the risk mitigation measures which are prescribed in the Code were not being practised at the abattoir.

Availability of vaccine: since the ARC OVI stopped producing the FMD vaccine, it is procured in Botswana. Due to the Mpumalanga outbreaks last year, all this resource was directed to Mpumalanga leaving a number of dip tanks in Limpopo unvaccinated.

Eastern boundary fence of Ndumo: the fence east of the game reserve has been brought down by the community, leaving a possibility of contact between buffalo and cattle likely.

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2014 OIE MISSION FINDINGS (Cont...)

Visibility: Despite this being a finding in the 2013 mission, very little had been achieved. The team expects for road signage informing the general public of the boundaries.

Completion and manning of the “red line fence”: the team advices that envisaged completion times be adhered to.

Identification of animals: though the team was encouraged by the progress, they advised that animals closest to the free zone be given priority.

Filling of vacant posts: this was raised during the previous mission, and the team was disappointed to find that the situation had only slightly improved.

Post Vaccination Monitoring Programme: the team advised that we introduce monitoring of vaccinated animals to assess the effectiveness of the vaccine.

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2014 OIE MISSION PROGRESS

The RSA Zimbabwe border fence: A team of 30 Tradesmen Aids, and two Control Technicians were deployed, resources re-directed to strengthen this fence. Approximately 30 kilometres of fence has been repaired. A Standard Operating Procedure for the handling of animals has been developed and signed off.

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SA/Zimbabwe border fences before repairs Same fences after repairs

2014 OIE MISSION PROGRESS(Cont...)

Separation of animals at dipping in KZN: an instruction was issued that the dipping of animals be separated by days as a short time measure. KZN has prioritised the construction of dipping facilities which will resolve this problem.

Slaughter of animals from the Protection Zone: So far only two abattoirs in Limpopo are slaughtering animals from the Protection Zone, pH meters have been procured to measure and monitor the maturation and pH drop of carcases. A Standard Operating Procedure has been designed to outline how these abattoirs are going to be designated and how they should handle live animals, carcases and offal (especially heads, feet and dirty offal). Full compliance is expected at end of February 2015.

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2014 OIE MISSION PROGRESS (Cont...)

Availability of vaccine: 300 000 doses of vaccine was procured and half of which went to Limpopo. 13 657 animals had been vaccinated by end January and it is expected that the vaccination campaign will be completed by end February. A further 300 000 doses are in the process of being procured from Botswana.

In order to ensure the cold chain is adequately maintained, thermometers are being procured for provincial offices where vaccine stocks are being stored.

Eastern boundary fence of Ndumo: The KwaZulu Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has undertaken to construct this fence and construction will commence during February and completed in June 2015.

Another concern was surveillance of buffalo in both reserves, work in this area has already started with samples from Tembe being collected, and sampling in Ndumo to commence in the second half of March.

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2014 OIE MISSION PROGRESS (Cont...)

Visibility: All three provincial Departments of Transport have been approached and all have given permission for signage to be put up. Procurement of road signage is in progress, with Limpopo having placed orders and expecting delivery by end of February 2015.

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Temporary FMD sign boards erected Permanent FMD sign Boards delivered

2014 OIE MISSION PROGRESS (Cont...)

Completion and manning of the “red line fence”. Completion of the fence is expected at the end of May 2015. So far 36% of the fence has been completed. 28 check points will be build into the fence with 137 permanent posts already being funded, 77 of which are filled.

The completed portion of the Red-line fence in KwaZulu-Natal.

Identification of animals: prioritisation of animals in the Protection Zone closest to the Free Zone has started.

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2014 OIE MISSION PROGRESS (Cont...)

Filling of vacant posts: DAFF: efforts are under way to have posts filled. 25 posts of

Tradesman Aid posts will be filled by end of March. MP: 5 Animal Heath Technician (AHT) posts have been filled with effect

from 1 December 2014 and two (2) more have been advertised. KZN: is prioritising contract employment of AHTs.

Post Vaccination Monitoring Programme: DAFF has established a surveillance plan for the entire Protection Zone and for the high surveillance zone of KZN

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2014 OIE MISSION PROGRESS (Cont...) Last but most important, the Minister, Deputy Minister and Director General let

OPERATION COMPLIENCE campaign in January. This consisted of Izimbizo and media campaigns

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FMD awareness campaign in KwaZulu-Natal. Dr Modisane doing an interview on a breakfast show particularly targeting farmers.

QUESTIONS??

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