Call for public comment on the draft document – bovine brucellosis control policy

Call for public comment on the draft document – bovine brucellosis control policy under the Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act No 35 of 84), the Animal Diseases Regulations (R2026 of 1986), and the Bovine Brucellosis Scheme (R2483 of 1988)

The Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, invites all interested institutions, organisations, and individuals to submit written comments on the draft document within 90 days from 15 November 2019, the date of publication of this notice.

Notice to the following address:

The Director

Directorate: Animal Health

Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries

Private Bag X138

PRETORIA

0001

E-mail: PetuniaM@daff.gov.za and AliciaC@daff.gov.za

The draft document can be accessed on the DAFF website or obtained from the Director: Animal Health.

This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za

No. 42839 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 15 NOVEMBER 2019

Brucellosis is a controlled animal disease under the Animal Disease Act, 1984 (Act No 35 of 1984) and the Animal Diseases Regulations (R2026 of 1986). Bovine brucellosis, caused by Brucella abortus, is a chronic herd disease that negatively impacts on cattle production and reproduction by causing abortions, still-born and weak calves, retained placentas, decreased milk yield, and reduced fertility in bulls. Brucellosis is zoonotic and can infect humans through consumption of raw milk, through slaughtering infected animals without protection, and through handling of aborted foetuses and afterbirths of infected cows. Debilitating disease ensues if humans are infected, which may become recurrent or chronic if not treated efficiently in a timely manner. The most effective way of reducing the impacts of the disease on livestock and prevent human infection is to control this disease in the animal population. Development of a reformulated Bovine Brucellosis Policy has been identified as a key intervention and output of the Veterinary Strategy (2016–2026). In order to promote the buy-in of all stakeholders and role players into a revised Bovine Brucellosis Policy, an all-inclusive approach had been chosen by releasing the “Discussion Document on the Review on Bovine Brucellosis Control” for an initial round of public consultation prior to compiling a draft policy. This discussion paper has been published for public comment in the Government Gazette No. 40827 of 5 May 2017, and inputs were received from stakeholders and role-players. Based on the inputs received, the “Draft document – Bovine Brucellosis Control Policy, South Africa” has been developed. The purpose of developing the “Draft document – Bovine Brucellosis Control, South Africa” is to set out and clarify the broad framework of the disease control strategy to be followed for bovine brucellosis control in cattle; and to provide guidelines on roles and responsibilities for the implementation of the policy and to amend legislation where required. The policy objectives need to be agreed upon in principle to allow for further development of more detailed implementation plans on each objective. The policy outlines a multipronged, stepwise approach of defined activities, with the aim to improve disease control and decrease the prevalence of the disease. It would call for (i) enforced compulsory vaccination of all heifer calves between 4–8 months of age with a registered vaccine, with potential booster vaccination of adult cows with a relevant registered vaccine, and identification of all vaccinated calves and cows; (ii) continued active education and awareness on bovine brucellosis; (iii) legislated compulsory testing of all cattle (herds); (iv) disease control through quarantine and movement control; (v) slaughter of brucellosis positive cattle/herds at an approved/registered abattoir; (vi) improved reporting of necessary data; and (vii) improved implementation of legislation and policy. The same central policy is to be applied across all nine provinces.