Since early 2026, South Africa has been experiencing an escalation of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreaks with cases now experienced across all nine provinces. Urgent steps are being taken by the South African Government to curb the outbreak through mass vaccination, implementing a livestock identification, traceability system, managing movement controls alongside expanding diagnostic capability and awareness campaigns. On 13 February 2026 authorities in South Africa classified the FMD outbreak as a national disaster under the Disaster Management Act 2002.
The St Helena Resilience Forum has discussed a veterinary risk assessment by the Senior Veterinary Officer for the island in light of this situation in South Africa and have supported preliminary proposals to protect St Helena, which are aligned with applying the precautionary principle to reduce the risk of the disease reaching St Helena.
Relying on South Africa’s measures will not minimise the risk to the island’s livestock and St Helena needs to implement its own measures to prevent the introduction of the virus into the island.
The Executive Council has approved the prohibition on the importation of live animals and their germplasm and meat products and dairy products from cloven-hoofed animals originating from South Africa. We are applying the precautionary principle to protect St Helena.
What is being prohibited?
This below prohibition applies only to products (i) originating from, (ii) produced in, or (iii) repackaged in South Africa.
The following imports should be prohibited until further notice:
- Imports by sea: arrivals after voyage V261702 of the MV Karoline (scheduled for 10 March 2026),
- Imports by air: arrivals after 10 March 2026:
- All live imports and germplasm of cloven-hoofed animals.
- All fresh meat (including chilled and frozen) produced from cloven hoofed animals.
- All meat products produced from cloven hoofed animals that have not been treated to a minimum temperature of 80°C throughout the meat.
- All dairy products that have not been processed using an ultra-high temperature (UHT) treatment at not less than 135°C.
The ban does not include tinned meats which are normally treated and sterilised, and UHT (boxed ) milk.
In addition to the prohibition on imports, additional biosecurity measures will be put in place pre-border for passengers travelling to the island and at our seaport and the airport to reduce the risk to St Helena. At the airport, measures will be implemented to reduce the risk from small meat and dairy product imports as well as passengers’ clothing and footwear that might be contaminated from visits to locations with animals through farm or safari excursions. This will include examination and cleaning of used clothing and footwear as may be necessary.
It is not known how long this ban and implementation of additional biosecurity measures will continue, however, the Environment, Natural Resources and Planning Portfolio (ENRP) will monitor the situation and make further announcements as changing news becomes available.
To protect the island, ENRP have been working with the island’s importers to discuss their food orders from South Africa and proposals for a prohibition to reduce the risk of the disease reaching the island.
Inevitably, the ban on the above imports and additional biosecurity measures will result in some inconvenience to importers and the general public. The community is thanked in advance for their cooperation in helping to protect our island.
If you require further information please contact:
- Senior Veterinary Officer, Andrew Cant, via email at andrew.cant@sainthelena.gov.sh
- Agricultural Development Officer, Andrea Timm, via email at andy.timm@sainthelena.gov.sh
- Portfolio Director, Darren Duncan, via email at darren.duncan@sainthelena.gov.sh or
Alternatively, all officers can be contacted on telephone 24724.
Further information will be provided.
Note to Editors
FMD is a highly contagious, acute viral disease of cloven hooved animals (including pigs, cattle, sheep and goats) characterised by formation of vesicles and erosions in the mouth, nose, feet and teats. The virus is present in all secretions and excretions from infected animals. Although FMD carries a low animal death rate for these animals the economic impact on the productivity of recovered animals, especially cattle, is severe, which is why the disease is treated so seriously.
Although humans can get FMD, it is rare and mild and depends on the strain. Humans can carry the virus for two to three days.
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