Current state of biosecurity
Biosecurity concerns have increasingly plagued South African agriculture in recent years, with Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) declared a National Disaster during the recent 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Thus far in 2026, South Africa has experienced one of the most severe biosecurity periods in recent history, including outbreaks of FMD, avian influenza (i.e., bird flu), and African Swine Flu (ASF).
- Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD): The current FMD outbreak has been one of the worst recorded nationally. It has severely impacted livestock suppliers by closing domestic and international markets, restricting livestock movement, and directly affecting the domestic supply. The industry has consequently deemed this a priority concern and is actively working with producers to mitigate any further risks and loss.
- Avian Influenza (Bird flu): While the last major commercial poultry outbreak occurred in 2023, new detections in wild bird species between mid-2025 to early-2026, mainly affecting African Penguins, highlighted continued transmission risk. Poultry producers remain vulnerable and at risk if preventive controls are not put in place.
- African Swine Flu (ASF): The pork industry has experienced outbreaks of FMD and ASF in early 2026 in parts of the Free State, North West, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Northeast of Pretoria. This has directly impacted the supply and domestic production of pork.
Importance of checking livestock requirements
Robust biosecurity measures provide notable environmental, operational, and economic protection and benefits beyond basic regulatory compliance. Economic benefits include:
- Retained market access: Proof of compliance with stringent biosecurity measures can maintain lucrative market access, providing a competitive advantage over non-compliant competitors who risk market suspension.
- Robust supply during price surge: Farms that prevent infection avoid emergency culling and benefit from stronger supply availability and upward price pressure during market shortages.
- Reduced treatment costs and losses: Preventive biosecurity measures significantly lower veterinary intervention costs, mortality losses, and operational disruption.
- Buyer confidence: Measurable and demonstrable mitigation through adequate recordkeeping and documentation strengthens commercial relationships and audit outcomes.
- Lower insurance risk exposure: Effective risk mitigation can reduce financial risk, thereby supporting a more favourable insurance positioning.
Audit requirements
Auditors are expected to evaluate all livestock, regardless of whether animals are produced and/or kept for commercial purposes. This includes:
- Animal management documentation, including:
- A documented livestock management plan
- Identification of grazing areas, consumption volumes, and stocking density
- Assessment of livestock impact on the land (i.e., soil compaction, erosion, overgrazing)
- An animal health plan, including:
- Historical veterinarian checks, vaccinations, and treatments
- Planned veterinary/vaccine schedules
- Disease monitoring procedures
- Emergency planning:
- Disease outbreak response procedure
- Natural disaster procedure
- Staff competence:
- Relevant staff trained on the safe handling and transportation of animals
- Awareness of biosecurity procedures
- Livestock infrastructure:
- Facilities that house livestock to be well-maintained
- Appropriate stocking capacity
- Nutrition and feeding plan:
- Documented feeding programme
- Evidence of safe feed storage
- Responsible breeding practices (if applicable):
- Commitment to responsible breeding that avoids inbreeding or overbreeding.
- An effective grazing plan:
- Measures preventing land degradation
Overall, a compliance-first approach to livestock management is essential whenever livestock are on-site. Given the elevated biosecurity risk environment in 2026, mitigating biosecurity risks through compliance with the SIZA Environmental Standard is critical to maintaining a stable, healthy livestock supply and the industry’s future success.
For more information, please contact Matthew Guest at matthewg@siza.co.za
