Design Biologix, a South African private veterinary vaccine manufacturer, is proud to announce on 15 January 2026 its appointment as sole agent by international animal health leader Biogénesis Bagó to import and support the deployment of their highly effective Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine within South Africa with immediate effect.
This milestone collaboration represents a major step forward in the country’s ongoing response to the persistent FMD outbreaks affecting cattle herds across the country and reinforces the pivotal role of public-private cooperation in safeguarding national livestock health and agricultural prosperity.
South Africa continues to confront widespread FMD transmission despite intensive containment measures. In 2025, outbreaks were confirmed in seven provinces including KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Free State, with the disease persisting as a serious threat to livestock welfare, food security and international trade. Government and industry efforts have already resulted in more than 950 000 cattle being vaccinated with imported vaccines as part of the ambitious strategy to achieve “FMD-free with vaccination” status, important for maintaining access to global export markets valued at billions of rands annually.
This exclusive partnership between Design Biologix and Biogénesis Bagó,a globally respected veterinary vaccine manufacturer, will ensure a reliable supply of high-quality, strain-matched FMD vaccine that is urgently needed to supplement existing stocks and expand vaccination coverage not only in high-risk zones, but country-wide. Design Biologix will oversee importation, cold-chain logistics, regulatory compliance and coordination with government to accelerate the rollout throughout with extreme urgency.
Historic local industry collaboration and public-private innovation
This development builds on a history of unprecedented cooperation between the private sector and government agencies such as the South African Department of Agriculture and other livestock industry partners. In 2025, the government imported hundreds of thousands of doses of FMD vaccine from regional partners like the Botswana Vaccine Institute, supported industry-led procurement efforts, and established an industry-government task team to strengthen animal disease response.
Design Biologix’s role marks a historical evolution in this model — a private South African veterinary vaccine manufacturer, working directly with an international manufacturer underpinned by strong regulatory oversight and aligned with national disease control priorities.
This collaborative approach reflects the guiding principles of the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP), a strategic framework championed by the government to drive public-private partnerships that enhance competitiveness, food security, technological innovation, and inclusive growth across the agricultural sector. The AAMP emphasises leveraging private sector capacity to accelerate transformation, expand export market access, and strengthen resilience across the agricultural value chain.
“The AAMP envisions a globally competitive and inclusive agriculture sector built through shared investment, innovation and partnerships between government, industry and research institutions,” notes policy guidance drawn from this strategy.
Impact on the FMD outbreak and South African agriculture
The availability of Biogenesis Bago’s highly effective FMD vaccine exclusively through Design Biologix offers a major enhancement to South Africa’s vaccination strategy, especially ahead of the planned mass vaccination phases targeting high-risk areas in early 2026. It will enable more comprehensive coverage of cattle populations, reduce viral transmission, and protect livelihoods across commercial and communal farming sectors. By expanding vaccine access and facilitating rapid deployment, this collaboration aims to support national objectives to contain the outbreak, minimise trade disruptions and protect the R80 billion livestock economy.
The exclusive appointment of Design Biologix by Biogénesis Bagó represents both a vote of confidence in South African private veterinary vaccine manufacturing expertise and a tangible step towards healthier herds, secure markets and sustained agricultural growth. Our shared commitment to animal health, farmer livelihoods and national food security will guide every aspect of this programme.
Design Biologix and Biogénesis Bagó look forward to working closely with the Department of Agriculture, provincial veterinary authorities and industry stakeholders to ensure efficient vaccine delivery and to contribute meaningfully to controlling the FMD outbreak.
Important notification
Following the exclusive appointment of Design Biologix by Biogénesis Bagó, further discussions with the relevant stakeholders in the Department of Agriculture will be prioritised with extreme urgency.
Design Biologix confirms that, pursuant to its formal appointment as the sole and exclusive representative of Biogénesis Bagó in South Africa, all communications, engagements, enquiries, representations, negotiations and correspondence of any nature relating to Biogenesis Bago, its Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccine, or its activities within South Africa shall, with immediate effect, be channelled exclusively through Design Biologix.
This includes, but is not limited to, interactions with government departments, regulatory authorities, industry bodies, veterinary professionals, producers, distributors, media and all other stakeholders. This single-channel communication framework is critical to ensure regulatory integrity, technical accuracy, coordinated stakeholder engagement and the disciplined execution of the national FMD control strategy.
