Specialised cold chain logistics was rolled out by DSV to support to Dunevax Biotech to bring in a shipment of 1.5 million doses of the Dollvet-Oil Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine to OR Tambo International Airport on Monday.
The freight forwarder said the consignment marked a critical milestone in South Africa’s coordinated response to the current FMD outbreak under the National State of Disaster, ensuring the timely and secure delivery of essential vaccines to help contain the spread of the disease, protect livestock, and safeguard the agricultural economy.
FMD has already caused losses of billions of rands and disrupted entire livestock value chains, increased prices for consumers, and placed financial strain on farmers and rural economies.
DSV said it managed the air freight logistics, customs clearance process, and cargo handling, providing temperature-controlled transport and cold chain management.
“This ensured product integrity from shipment in Turkey to handover in Johannesburg to Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) and the Department of Agriculture (DOA).”
Located at South Africa’s busiest air cargo hub at OR Tambo International Airport, the DSV Cold facility enabled the vaccine delivery through validated cold rooms, real-time monitoring, and GDP-compliant protocols, a company statement said.
Melanie Smit, vice-president for DSV Air and Sea in sub-Saharan Africa, described the shipment as a milestone in South Africa’s response to the ongoing FMD outbreak.
“The cold chain vaccine delivery reinforced a coordinated, science-led approach to strengthening South Africa’s response to FMD. It demonstrated DSV and Dunevax Biotech’s commitment to supporting government and industry partners in protecting South Africa’s livestock sector, ensuring food security, trade continuity, and rural livelihoods,” the statement said.
Dunevax director Fritz Rexrodt said: “The successful arrival and clearance of the Dollvet-Oil vaccine is the result of precise coordination and world-class cold chain logistics. DSV’s expertise and professionalism in co-ordinating and handling this highly sensitive shipment ensured full compliance and temperature integrity from arrival through to release. This played a critical role in strengthening South Africa’s response to FMD at a pivotal time.”
The consignment represented the first phase of a broader national procurement programme, with an additional six million doses scheduled to arrive in March. This will further strengthen the country’s vaccination capacity and ensure sustained immunisation coverage in affected and high-risk areas.
Mooketsa Ramasodi, director-general of the Department of Agriculture said: “With 14 million cattle in South Africa, we need a significant number of vaccines. The arrival of these 1.5 million doses is an important contribution to our fight against FMD.”
He further confirmed that the permit for the additional six million doses, forming part of the phased national roll-out, was expected to be approved and scheduled for March, reinforcing efforts to curb the spread of FMD under the National State of Disaster.
