South Africa's Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) is facing ongoing difficulties in hiring a suitable specialist consultant for its long-delayed project to achieve international Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, as reported to the parliamentary portfolio committee on agriculture on 3 March 2026.
The company has advertised the position twice without finding a qualified candidate. In October 2025, OBP had expected to appoint one by the end of that month. The GMP upgrade, stalled for years, is crucial to bring OBP's animal medicine production to world-class levels. Work to refine supply chain management specifications continues.Leadership vacancies remain: no permanent CEO or CFO has been appointed, though a CEO recommendation is with the department and the CFO process is progressing. A cost and management accountant position has been filled.Installation of two new freeze-dryers is behind schedule: the GEA unit is now expected operational by end-March with testing by end-May, and the Telstar unit by mid-March with testing by end-March (previously both targeted for end-December).
Financially, OBP reported a R5.68 million loss in the first two quarters of 2025/26 (to end-September 2025), compared to a R16.46 million profit the prior year—R22.14 million worse year-on-year and R12.72 million below the budgeted R7.03 million profit target. Gross income rose R5 million to R130 million, but cost of sales jumped to R72 million (from R34 million), including R35.904 million for imported Argentine Biogénesis Bagó FMD vaccine plus R6 million in duties and freight.The presentation to parliament highlighted persistent challenges with GMP compliance, production expansion, and financial stability. LW
Critics and media describe the situation as a "collapse" of the once-world-class facility, with allegations of mismanagement, squandered funds, qualified audits from the Auditor-General (including unaccounted portions), and inability to produce FMD vaccines locally—leading to reliance on imports during the ongoing outbreak.
The facility's decline has left South Africa vulnerable in biosecurity, especially for FMD control, despite the massive initial investment. Calls for forensic audits and accountability continue, with no clear resolution as of early 2026.
Diaan Venter - Winner 2025- Technical - Technical Piece - From Outbreaks to Opportunity: Rethinking FMD Vaccines in South AfricaThe 1.5 million doses of Dollvet foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine, which arrived at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday morning, have not yet been delivered to Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) and therefore cannot be distributed yet.During an oversight visit to OBP on Tuesday 3 March 2026 by the parliamentary select committee on agriculture, land reform and mineral resources (together with provincial legislators), it was confirmed that the vaccine is still in a cold-storage facility, awaiting delivery by the local agent Dunevax (the authorised importer from Turkey).
Minister John Steenhuisen confirmed on Sunday that the consignment had arrived safely in the country, but the process is now held up by administrative steps.According to Joylene van Wyk, spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Dunevax must first deliver the vaccine to OBP.
Only then can verification, stock counting, and temperature assurance tests (“quality assurance and counting”) take place. Full payment will be released only after these steps are completed—as required by the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), which is binding on state departments.
Dr Theo de Jager, chairperson of Saai, said the organisation had learned that the transaction between the department and Dunevax has not yet been fully finalised, causing the delay.The vaccine is therefore currently in a cold-storage facility and awaiting the final logistical and administrative steps before it can reach OBP and then be distributed to provinces for the national vaccination campaign.
The red tape surrounding the import and distribution of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines in South Africa has become a major source of frustration for farmers, especially during the current widespread outbreak when every day counts.
Farmers are losing millions in the meantime. Infected herds face culling, movement bans prevent sales to auctions or abattoirs, feedlots and dairies lose throughput, export markets remain closed or restricted, and the cost of biosecurity, testing, and lost production mounts daily.
For many livestock farmers—already dealing with drought in some areas, high feed prices, and tight margins—the inability to get vaccines deployed quickly translates directly into crippling financial losses.
The situation highlights a broader pattern: while emergency imports are arranged to address the crisis, the combination of PFMA compliance requirements, inter-departmental processes, and administrative steps often creates bottlenecks precisely when speed is most critical.
Farmers and industry bodies have repeatedly called for streamlined emergency procedures during outbreaks, but the current reality shows that red tape can still slow down what should be a rapid response in a time of real need.
As we can say - GOOD LUCK we see some light as the process moving slowly and hoping for the best- We must be THANKFUL - or DANKIE - we appreciate the huge effort.-
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