Brazil declared free of foot and mouth disease without vaccination in historic global milestone

BRAZIL – Brazil has been officially declared free from foot and mouth disease (FMD) without vaccination, following a decades-long campaign marked by persistence, cooperation, and scientific rigour.

At a ceremony held in Paris, France, during the 92nd General Session of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), Brazil received its certificate of recognition from Emmanuelle Soubeyran, WOAH’s Director General. 

“Celebrating this historic recognition with Brazil is a very important milestone,” said Soubeyran. “The journey to this moment has been long and demanding.”

Brazil’s recognition comes 27 years after the southern states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina were first declared FMD-free with vaccination in 1998. Now, the entire nation, home to more than 234 million cattle, is recognised as free of the disease without the use of vaccines.

“This remarkable achievement is the result of decades of rigorous planning, sustained commitment, and strong collaboration between Brazil’s Veterinary Services, government authorities, the livestock sector, countless stakeholders, and WOAH,” Soubeyran noted. 

“It speaks to the strength of Brazil’s veterinary infrastructure and its ability to uphold high biosecurity and surveillance standards.”

The implications for trade are significant. Brazil is one of the world’s largest meat exporters, and this status opens doors to new markets while boosting confidence in animal product safety. 

“The FMD-free status is extremely significant for Brazil because it represents the culmination of efforts we’ve been working toward for decades,” said Dr. Marcelo de Andrade Mota, WOAH Delegate and Director at Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

“This status ensures that we continue to contribute to feeding people worldwide.”

Other countries’ efforts recognised 

Brazil’s success was part of a broader celebration of global progress in animal health at this year’s WOAH session. Several countries and territories were honoured for eradicating or controlling major animal diseases that threaten food systems, economies, and livelihoods.

Bolivia also reached a new milestone, achieving FMD-free status without vaccination across its entire territory. The country’s phased zoning strategy was credited for its success. 

“Great care was taken in defining the zones to avoid possible conflicts in internal livestock trade,” said Dr. Hernán Oliver Daza, Bolivia’s WOAH Delegate and Chief Veterinary Officer. “This, along with respecting the progress of each stage of the progressive pathway, allowed for the initial recognition of FMD-free zones with vaccination and, in the last five years, achieving a status without vaccination at the national level.”

Daza added that Bolivia’s ongoing commitment to WOAH standards and regional initiatives such as the Hemispheric Foot-and-Mouth Disease Eradication Plan (PHEFA) ensures sustained disease control.

Other recognitions included Chinese Taipei being declared free of classical swine fever, Saudi Arabia achieving freedom from African horse sickness, and Tanzania earning endorsement for its dog-mediated rabies control programme. 

The United Kingdom saw two of its zones recognised as having negligible risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and Mongolia regained endorsement for its national FMD control programme.

Mongolia’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Ayushjav Narantuya, acknowledged the country’s recovery after an earlier setback. “The withdrawal…had several significant impacts. And its re-endorsement brings both immediate and long-term benefits across several areas,”  he said.  

He emphasised the importance of local engagement, saying that community involvement and trust-building are key to effective disease control.

As global trade and food systems grow increasingly interconnected, WOAH’s recognitions serve a broader purpose: strengthening biosecurity, protecting public health, and ensuring economic stability. 

“Brazil’s achievement sends a clear and compelling message,” Soubeyran concluded. “Investing in animal health brings widespread benefits and long-term rewards.”

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