Excerpt: Liberty Fighters Network has formally demanded that the Minister of Agriculture disclose all records and scientific evidence behind South Africa’s unprecedented mass vaccination of poultry against avian influenza. With no clear involvement from the Ministry of Health and no public consultation, serious questions remain about the safety of consuming vaccinated poultry and the legal basis of this sweeping decision.
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Liberty Fighters Network (LFN) has formally written to the Minister of Agriculture, Mr John Steenhuisen, expressing serious concerns over the recent decision to authorise the mass vaccination of poultry against avian influenza, a move described by the Department of Agriculture as a proactive response to the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks.
According to statements issued by the Department on 5 June 2025 and 7 July 2025, the vaccination programme has already commenced, targeting 200000 broiler breeders on commercial farms. This unprecedented campaign marks a significant policy departure in how South Africa manages poultry disease risks.
LFN questions how such a sweeping decision was made without clear evidence of collaboration with the National Department of Health, which bears the mandate to protect public health and food safety.
“It is simply unacceptable that measures which directly impact consumers and the entire poultry value chain can proceed without proper public scrutiny or rigorous scientific debate,” said Reyno De Beer, President of LFN.
Key Concerns Raised by LFN:
- Lack of Public Disclosure: There has been no release of scientific studies or independent peer-reviewed evidence demonstrating the safety and efficacy of the vaccines when administered to flocks supplying food for human consumption.
- No Clear Involvement by the Ministry of Health: Despite the implications for consumer safety, there is no indication that the Department of Health assessed or endorsed the programme.
- Absence of Public Participation: No opportunities were provided for consumers, civil society, or independent experts to comment on or interrogate the decision.
- Statutory Compliance Questioned: The decision may fall short of obligations in the Animal Diseases Act and the Meat Safety Act, which require that disease-control measures do not compromise food safety.
LFN has formally invoked the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000, demanding that the Minister provide the full record of the decision within 14 calendar days. This includes:
- Scientific studies and risk assessments
- Internal memoranda and decision submissions
- Minutes of meetings and consultations
- All correspondence with the Department of Health and food safety regulators
Pending the release and review of these records, LFN is calling for the immediate suspension of further vaccination activities.
“This is not merely an agricultural issue. It is a public health and national security issue. South Africans deserve transparency and evidence before decisions of this scale are enforced,” De Beer added. LFN stands ready to pursue all lawful remedies, including litigation and parliamentary oversight, to protect the rights of consumers and to demand accountability from those entrusted with safeguarding public health.
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