Legal responsibilities in using hormonal growth promotants

Region: Greater Darwin, Katherine Region, Barkly Region, Central Australia | Topic: Livestock, Biosecurity
Feb 2021

Cow

Hormonal growth promotant’s (HGPs) are commonly used in North Australian production systems to increase weight gain.  The hormones in HGPs are synthetically produced derivatives of naturally occurring hormones which increase anabolic activity and improve feed conversion efficiency for an accelerated growth response.

Before using HGPs, producers and livestock agents should understand the legal obligations necessary to protect Australia’s trade and market access.

  • Have a registered PIC.
    You must have a Property Identification Code (PIC) to purchase HGPs from an authorised seller.
  • Complete a HGP purchaser declaration form and provide it to the supplier from which you are purchasing HGP.
    Your supplier should have copies of this form or you can access it on the APVMA website.
  • Use according to the label directions.
    Approved guidelines for use of HGP products are prominent on the product label. Follow these guidelines for information on dosage, application, withholding periods and more.
  • Identify HGP-treated cattle with a triangular ear punch mark.
    The prescribed ear punch mark is an equal sided triangle. Only the approved ear punch available from authorised retailers of HGPs may be used to apply this prescribed earmark.
  • Keep a record each time an animal is treated with HGPs
    This includes the date of treatment; description, location and number of livestock treated. Make sure any animals that are treated with HGPs are marked with a triangle ear punch mark. All HGPs need to be recorded - even ones that have been discarded.
  • Declare animals treated with HGPs on the National Vendor Declaration (NVD) form.
    National Vendor Declarations (NVDs) are legal documents that are key to Australian beef’s traceability and market access. Question one on the NVD (HGP) must be answered correctly to avoid penalties and protect market access.

Select ‘Yes’ for HGP question one on the NVD if:

  • you’re in doubt
  • records indicate HGP application
  • animals have a triangle hole in the right ear
  • you can see or feel an old implant in their left ear.

You should only tick ‘No’ if you are absolutely sure animals have not been treated with HGPs.

Figure 1: National Vendor Declaration (NVD)

National vendor declaration form

HGP-treated stock must not be presented for sale as HGP-free stock and, with the exception of a European Union Cattle Accreditation Scheme (EUCAS) approved feedlot, must never be included in any EUCAS-accredited herd.

Checks are made at saleyards and abattoirs to ensure that cattle treated with HGPs are identified. Checks are also made to ensure that declared HGP-free stock are not implanted. The Livestock Biosecurity Branch investigated twelve reports of HGP non-compliance in 2020 from the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment, traced to export abattoirs.

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