The push for international disease-free certification is backed by a substantial reduction in domestic outbreaks, driven by sustained, state-backed indigenous vaccination programs. According to ministerial data, registered FMD outbreaks across India plummeted from 105 in 2021 to just 40 in 2025, demonstrating the epidemiological efficacy of the state’s domestic vaccine supply chain. The nine candidate states selected for the initial wave of World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) certification were chosen based on their exceptionally low baseline infection rates and their successful completion of consecutive, state-wide herd vaccination cycles.

To satisfy the demanding traceability criteria mandated by European import watchdogs, the Indian government is backing its veterinary campaign with an unprecedented digital animal identification system. The administration has successfully issued unique, 13-digit digital identity tags to over 38 crore (380 million) animals. Furthermore, to eliminate fraudulent reporting and guarantee database integrity, officials have implemented an OTP-based verification protocol to log every single vaccination in real time, building a bulletproof, transparent history of animal health directly tied to the digital registry.

This campaign aligns with a broader national effort to establish self-sufficiency and high-tech sovereignty in animal health. India has successfully developed a robust suite of indigenous vaccines to combat highly infectious regional threats, including FMD, Classical Swine Fever (CSF), and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR). The recent deployment of a locally developed vaccine for African swine fever further showcases the country’s expanding biological R&D capabilities, reducing reliance on costly foreign imports and establishing a highly reliable, cost-efficient domestic supply chain.