Ministry issues livestock movement guidelines

In a significant development for the agricultural sector, the Ministry of Agriculture Eswatini has formally issued detailed guidelines outlining the partial relaxation of livestock movement controls during the ongoing outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

The announcement follows a media briefing held on April 23, 2026, by the Minister for Agriculture, Mandla Tshawuka, who emphasised the need to balance disease control with economic continuity in the livestock industry.

The press statement provides a structured framework governing the movement of cloven-hoofed animals, specifically cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, and outlines strict procedures to ensure biosecurity remains intact.

1. Movement for slaughter

Movement of livestock for slaughter is now permitted under clearly defined Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Two zones are recognised:

• Red Zone: Animals must be slaughtered within abattoirs located in the red zone
• Clean Zone: Animals must be slaughtered within abattoirs located in the clean zone

Mandatory requirements:

• Animals must be inspected within 7 days prior to movement by an Animal Health Inspector and a health certificate must be issued to the owner
• The owner must apply for a local movement permit at the sub-regional office
• Once issued, the permit is valid for 48 hours only

Compliance at loading:

• The livestock movement permit must be endorsed by:
• Veterinary Assistant
• Animal Health Inspector
• Livestock Extension Officer
• The consignment must be sealed with official seals, with seal numbers clearly printed on the permit

Additional documentation:

• A Health Inspection Certificate (Form FMD-P1)
• A Check Point Report (Form FMD-P2)

Post-slaughter protocol:

• Carcasses must be transported in appropriately sealed vehicles
• Sealing must be done by a veterinary official at the abattoir
• Each consignment must include a fully completed and stamped Meat Inspection Form, clearly showing seal numbers of the transporting vehicle

2. Feedlot movement

A feedlot is defined as a bio-secure facility registered by Veterinary Services in accordance with the Guidelines for National Veterinary Services (GNVS) which is authorised to receive animals under a permit for finishing for direct slaughter.

Key conditions:

• Animals entering a feedlot must remain for:
• Minimum: 1 month
• Maximum: 3 months

Permitted movements:

1. From clean area to clean feedlot (unchanged and continues as before)
2. From clean area to dirty feedlot
3. From dirty area to dirty feedlot

Additional requirement:

Before a livestock movement permit is issued:

• The feedlot owner must obtain a ‘No Objection Permit’ from the sub-regional office of the destination feedlot.

3. Movement of animals for breeding

Breeding-related movement is subject to tighter geographic and health controls.

Core rules:

• Movement is restricted within a sub-region only
• Permits are issued only within that specific sub-region

‘Like-to-Like’ Movement Principle:

• Animals from non-vaccinated dip tanks → to non-vaccinated dip tanks
• Animals from first-dose vaccinated dip tanks → to similar dip tanks
• Animals from fully vaccinated dip tanks → to fully vaccinated dip tanks

Inter-sub-regional movement:

Allowed only under strict conditions:

• Origin must be a fully vaccinated sub-region
• No clinical cases must be present
• Post-vaccination movement protocol must be completed

Approved sub-regions:

• Hluthi
• Lavumisa
• Lubuli
• Selected dip tanks in:
• Sithobela
• Siphofaneni
• Mbulungwane

4. Movement restrictions in the Hhohho Region

Due to active FMD infection, stricter measures remain in place:

• No livestock movement permitted in the HhohhoRegion
• Exceptions:
• Movement allowed only within Lobamba
• Selected dip tanks in Mbabane
• All approvals handled on a case-by-case basis

For more information and clarity, you can reach out to the ministry at +268 2404 2732/3/5/8 or by email: info_moa@gov.sz.

Final outlook

While the partial relaxation offers relief to farmers and livestock traders, authorities have made it clear that compliance is non-negotiable. The structured approach ensures that economic activity can resume cautiously without compromising national efforts to control and eliminate the spread of FMD.