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What you need to know

In New Zealand, the use of HGPs implanted into bovine animals is strictly controlled through the HGP Regulated Control Scheme (RCS). You need to be familiar with your full legal obligations under the HGP RCS.

Animal Products (Regulated Control Scheme – Hormonal Growth Promotants) Notice 2009 [PDF, 206 KB]

Only a veterinarian or a competent person supervised by a veterinarian may treat cattle with an HGP.  Only beef cattle may be treated.  It is illegal to treat dairy cattle, bobby calves, or other animals.

Farmer responsibilities for animals treated with an HGP

An HGP ear tag. It is brown and stamped with the words 'growth promotant' The tag has a small hole at one end. Above the tag is a paper clip for a size comparison with the clip being about two-thirds the length of the tag.
An HGP identification ear tag.

When you have animals treated with an HGP you must ensure that:

  • the animals have a NAIT-approved RFID tag that is registered in the NAIT (National Animal Identification and Tracing) online system before they are treated
  • the animals have an HGP identification ear tag (see picture) applied at the time of treatment
  • lost NAIT tags are replaced and that the new tag number is recorded in the HGP database
  • lost HGP identification ear tags are replaced.

When selling or moving cattle (including supplying for slaughter)

You must ensure that:

  • the movement is recorded in the NAIT system
  • the animal status declaration (ASD) clause covering HGPs is filled in accurately.  If you do not know whether the cattle have been treated with HGPs you must tick the 'Yes' box, and put 'Unknown' in the number box
  • the animals are identified with NAIT approved RFID tag that is registered in the NAIT online system and an HGP identification ear tag (lost tags must be replaced). 

When buying cattle

You must ensure that:

  • you have received an ASD for stock purchased
  • check the ASD to see whether the stock has been treated with an HGP
  • previous ASD details are checked when stock is included in the purchase of property as a going concern – if these ASDs  indicate that the animals purchased have been treated with an HGP you must declare it as HGP-treated when sold or supplied for slaughter
  • the animals are identified with NAIT-approved RFID tag that is registered in the NAIT online system and an HGP identification ear tag (lost tags must be replaced). 

Find out more

General requirements under the HGP Regulated Control Scheme

The NAIT online system

MPI business units