Red Meat is Safe to consume
25 February 2026, AMIE Red Meat is Safe to Consume Amidst the ongoing Foot-and-Mouth Disease crisis in South Africa, consumers are worried about the safety of red meat. Please note that FMD is not an illness that can jump from animal to human (zoonosis). Red meat is safe to consume. The reason why animals are […]
Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak declared a national disaster
13 February 2026, National Disaster Management Centre The Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak has been classified as a National Disaster in terms of the Disaster Management Act No. 57 of 2002. This declaration enables coordinated action across all spheres of government to contain the outbreak, protect livestock, and safeguard livelihoods and food security in […]
State of the Nation Address 12 February 2026
13 February 2026, The Presidency On the 12th of February 2026, President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the State of the Nation Address. Find a link to the complete address below. Read more.
Minister John Steenhuisen announces the constitution of the new South African Veterinary Council (SAVC)
27 January 2026, Dept of Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, has formally constituted the new South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) in accordance with the Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act, 1982 (Act No. 19 of 1982). The term of office of the newly constituted council will commence on 1 February 2026 and will run until 31 January […]
Submission of FMD field strains to the Pirbright Institute
23 January 2026, Dept of Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, has officially announced that South Africa has resumed the submission of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) field strains to the Pirbright Institute in the United Kingdom. This marks the first time since 2011 that the country has sent FMD field strains to this global authority. Read more […]
Minister Steenhuisen appoints Industry Coordination Council to strengthen FMD response
21 January 2026 – Department of Agriculture Following last week’s announcement of South Africa’s national strategy to contain and control Foot and mouth disease (FMD), Minister of Agriculture Mr John Steenhuisen has formally appointed the FMD Industry Coordination Council to support its implementation. Read more here.
Market access updates – HPAI closures and re-opening
13 October 2025, Department of Agriculture Markets closed due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI): Notices were issued regarding trade restrictions for Denmark and the Netherlands. Cut-off date for both countries is the 22nd of September 2025. Read the notice here. Markets reopened: Meanwhile, trade restrictions on poultry imports from New Zealand have been lifted, […]
Meat, markets and money: Empowering SA entrepreneurs for a food-secure future
7 October 2025, BizCommunity South Africa holds significant potential, thanks to its extensive agricultural land, well-established meat and livestock sectors, and robust regional and global market prospects. Nevertheless, ongoing challenges abound, including inequality, unemployment, disparities in skills and infrastructure, animal disease outbreaks, organisational weaknesses, and a call for more inclusive economic growth. Read more here.
Fuel the Future: The AMIE Academy Fund
10 Sept 2025, BizCommunity Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are widely recognised as the backbone of the South African economy. They contribute significantly to employment, innovation, and GDP growth. According to the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), SMEs account for more than 60% of all employment in South Africa and contribute approximately 34% to the […]
AMIE welcomes Minister’s update on FMD, stresses industry support to unlock vaccine scale-up
2 September 2025, Association of Meat Importers and Exporters AMIE welcomes yesterday’s (1 September 2025) briefing by the Minister of Agriculture on South Africa’s Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) response, including the procurement of additional vaccines, the lifting of certain Disease Management Areas (DMAs), and the establishment of an Industry / Government Task Team. These are important […]