AGRICULTURAL NEWS - Farmers in the Garden Route have been urged to limit the movement of livestock as authorities tighten controls in response to the ongoing Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in Mossel Bay.
Strict measures apply within designated quarantine zones in the Mossel Bay area. Farms with cattle that have tested positive for FMD, are awaiting PCR test results, or are showing visible lesions are prohibited from moving any livestock.
The Western Cape Department of Agriculture, through the State Veterinary Office in George, has issued updated guidelines to clarify movement restrictions across the district. Officials emphasised that while some movement is unavoidable for farming operations, it should be kept to an absolute minimum to curb the spread of the disease.
For farms located within quarantine areas but not directly affected, movement is only permitted under controlled conditions.
Farmers must obtain a Red Cross permit as well as a veterinary health certificate before transporting animals. In addition, a compulsory health declaration must be completed via the official system. The completed declaration must accompany the animals during transit.
When applying for permits, farmers are required to complete the Western Cape application forms and submit them in PDF format to the State Veterinary Office via email.
Authorities have advised allowing a minimum of 24 hours for Red Cross permits to be issued.
For livestock movement outside quarantine areas, a health declaration is still required and can be accessed here.
Officials have also warned that quarantine boundaries may change without prior notice as new infections are detected, requiring farmers to stay informed and compliant with the latest directives.
The measures form part of broader efforts to contain the outbreak and protect the region’s livestock industry, with authorities appealing to farmers to cooperate fully to prevent further spread of the disease.
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