South Africa approves bird flu vaccination for poultry

Overview

Updated Jun 4

On June 3, 2026, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen amended the Animal Diseases Act to permit poultry vaccination against bird flu. The change ends the mandatory mass-culling rule that destroyed more than 8.5 million birds in 2023 and cost Astral Foods a R621 million operating loss.

By May 2026, Astral had already vaccinated about 750,000 broiler breeders across five Gauteng farms, covering roughly 30% of its breeding stock. The South African Poultry Association welcomed the rule change and urged timely implementation of interim controls. A vaccine matched to the H7 strain that drove the 2023 losses still awaits registration.

Why it matters

When farmers can vaccinate instead of cull entire flocks, fewer outbreaks mean steadier egg and chicken supplies and fewer price spikes for shoppers.

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Key Indicators

8.5M

Birds culled in 2023

More than one in five of the country's laying hens and broilers were destroyed.

36%

Egg price rise, year to Oct 2023

Egg prices jumped as the outbreak cut hatching-egg production by about 30%.

R621M

Astral Foods operating loss, FY2023

The country's largest producer swung from profit to loss during the outbreak.

~750K

Birds vaccinated by Astral, May 2026

Astral vaccinated roughly 30% of its breeding stock across five Gauteng farms — up from 200,000 in its initial permit.

467%

Astral earnings surge, H1 FY2026

Headline earnings per share surged as lower feed costs and better poultry prices reversed the 2023 losses.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Ever wondered what historical figures would say about today's headlines?

People Involved

John Steenhuisen

Minister of Agriculture, South Africa

Signed the rule change permitting poultry vaccination

Organizations Involved

South African Poultry Association

Industry Body

Triggered the policy review; welcomed the June 3 framework as a significant milestone; still seeking state funding for mass rollout

The trade body for South Africa's chicken and egg producers.

Astral Foods

Poultry Producer

Expanded vaccination to ~750,000 broiler breeders across five farms (~30% of breeding stock); H1 FY2026 earnings recovered sharply

South Africa's largest integrated poultry producer.

Timeline

September 2023 June 2026

8 events Latest: June 3rd, 2026 · 3 months ago

Tap a bar to jump to that date

June 2026
Vaccination legalized, cull-only policy ends
Latest Regulatory

Steenhuisen amends the Animal Diseases Act to create an HPAI Vaccination Framework combining vaccination, biosecurity, and testing.
June 3rd, 2026
SAPA welcomes vaccination framework, calls for prompt implementation
Statement

The South African Poultry Association called the rule change a significant milestone and urged the department to move quickly on interim controls while formal gazette amendments are finalized.
June 3rd, 2026
May 2026
Astral reports 467% earnings surge in H1 FY2026
Financial

Astral Foods' headline earnings per share surged 467% in H1 FY2026. Its interim dividend rose 427%, driven by lower feed costs and better poultry pricing after the 2023 crisis.
May 18th, 2026
Astral expands vaccination to five farms, 30% of breeding stock
Industry

Astral reports vaccinating about 750,000 broiler breeders across five Gauteng farms, covering roughly 30% of its breeding stock ahead of the winter season.
May 7th, 2026
March 2026
Industry asks the state to pay
Statement

The South African Poultry Association calls for government funding of a national vaccination drive, saying producers cannot bear the cost alone.
March 7th, 2026
July 2025
Astral starts vaccinating in Gauteng
Industry

Astral begins inoculating about 200,000 broiler breeders, roughly 5% of its breeding stock, using a commercial H5 vaccine.
July 1st, 2025
June 2025
First vaccination permit issued
Regulatory

The Department of Agriculture grants Astral Foods the country's first permit to vaccinate poultry against HPAI, after an 18-month application.
June 30th, 2025
September 2023
Worst outbreak on record hammers producers
Outbreak

South Africa culls more than 8.5 million birds during its worst bird flu season. Egg prices rise and hatching-egg output drops about 30%.
September 30th, 2023

Scenarios

Local H7 vaccine wins registration, rollout widens

Possible Resolves by Jun 3, 2027

Discussed by: South African Poultry Association; Department of Agriculture

The 2023 losses came from the H7 strain, but the first permits used an H5 vaccine. If regulators register a vaccine matched to the local H7 strain, producers can protect against the threat that actually hit them, and vaccination spreads beyond Astral's pilot.

Trade partners restrict South African poultry over vaccination

Possible Resolves by Jun 3, 2027

Discussed by: Reuters; The Poultry Site (citing France precedent)

Vaccinated birds can carry the virus without showing symptoms, which makes some importers wary. When France launched its duck campaign in 2023, the United States and Japan limited French poultry imports. A major buyer could do the same to South Africa.

Government commits public money to the vaccination drive

Uncertain Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: South African Poultry Association; Business Day

Producers say they cannot fund mass vaccination alone and want the state to share the bill. If the Treasury or the agriculture department earmarks public money for HPAI vaccination, uptake accelerates. If not, smaller farms may stay unvaccinated.

Astral extends vaccination beyond its breeder pilot

Likely Resolves by Jun 3, 2027

Discussed by: WATTPoultry; Engineering News

Astral started with about 200,000 breeders under tight conditions. Under the new framework it could expand to a larger share of its flock. A public move beyond the initial breeder stock would show the framework working in practice.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1995

Mexico turns to vaccination (1995)

After an H5N2 outbreak, Mexico began mass-vaccinating poultry and has administered billions of doses since. It was one of the first countries to make vaccination central to its bird flu strategy.

Then

Vaccination cut visible outbreaks and kept flocks producing.

Now

The virus settled into a milder, endemic form and never fully disappeared, a trade-off of letting vaccinated birds keep circulating it quietly.

Why this matters now

Mexico is the cautionary case: vaccination can protect supply but may let the virus persist instead of being eliminated.

December 1997

Hong Kong's mass cull (1997)

After H5N1 bird flu jumped to humans and killed six people, Hong Kong slaughtered about 1.5 million chickens in three days. It was the first time the virus was known to kill people directly.

Then

The cull stopped the human outbreak and cleared the territory's poultry markets within days.

Now

Mass culling became the global default for fighting highly pathogenic bird flu for the next two decades.

Why this matters now

Hong Kong set the 'stamping-out' standard that South Africa is now stepping away from after the 2023 losses.

October 2023

France vaccinates its ducks (2023)

France became the first country to run a nationwide poultry vaccination campaign, targeting about 60 million ducks. Ducklings got a two-shot course, mandatory on farms with more than 250 birds.

Then

The United States and Japan limited imports of French poultry, worried that vaccinated birds could hide the virus.

Now

By March 2025, France said the policy had worked and that it had regained bird-flu-free status, letting poultry back outdoors.

Why this matters now

France shows both sides of South Africa's bet: vaccination can curb outbreaks, but it can also trigger trade restrictions from cautious buyers.