Requirements for hormonal growth promotant-free producers

Producers who wish to export to hormonal growth promotant (HGP)-free markets must meet certain requirements.

Non-EU markets

Cattle targeted for HGP-free markets outside the European Union (EU) can be declared HGP-free if they:

• have been bred on the property of origin and have never been treated
• are purchased stock and you have a declaration from the previous owner stating they have never been treated in their lives.

With purchased stock, this declaration of HGP freedom may be:

• a fully completed national vendor declaration (NVD) and waybill
• or
• a purchaser invoice from the stock agent indicating that the cattle were HGP-free
• or
• a copy of the NVD with the HGP declaration completed.

Producers selling HGP-free cattle should complete the HGP question on a NVD (cattle) form. They must be able to substantiate their HGP-free status by either having bred the cattle and never treated them with HGPs or keeping copies of HGP-free declarations from previous owners.

Any owner of cattle declared as HGP-free and subsequently found with evidence of HGP implants could face regulatory action.

EUCAS-accredited producer requirements

Only properties accredited under European Union Cattle Accreditation Scheme (EUCAS) can supply cattle for the EU market. EUCAS is now administered nationwide by the Department of Agriculture.