5.6 Disease Prevention and Veterinary Treatment

5.6.1 Disease prevention in organic livestock production shall be based on the following principle:

The selection of appropriate breeds or strains of animals as detailed in Section 5.4

(a) The application of animal husbandry practices appropriate to the requirements of each species, encouraging strong resistance to disease and the prevention of infections.
(b) The use of high quality feed, together with regular exercise and access to pasturage, having the effect of encouraging the natural immunological defence of the animal.
(c) Ensuring an appropriate density of livestock, thus avoiding overstocking and any resulting animal health problems.

5.6.2 The principles set out above should limit animal health problems so that they can be controlled mainly by prevention.

5.6.3 If despite all of the above preventative measures, an animal becomes sick or injured, it must be treated immediately, if necessary in isolation, and in suitable housing.
For additional rules specific to the USA market please refer to point 2.3 Supplementary requirements for Organic Operators producing for the USA market.

5.6.4 The use of veterinary medicinal products in organic farming shall comply with the following principles:

5.6.5 Phytotherapeutic (e.g. plant extracts (excluding antibiotics), essences etc.), homeopathic products (e.g. plant, animal or mineral substances) trace elements and products listed in Section 10, Table 7 Section 3, shall be used in preference to chemically-synthesised allopathic veterinary medicinal products or antibiotics, provided that their therapeutic effect is effective for this species of animal, and the condition for which the treatment is intended.

(a) If the use of the above products should not prove, or is unlikely to be effective in combating illness or injury, and treatment is essential to avoid suffering or distress to the animal, chemically-synthesized allopathic veterinary medicinal products or antibiotics may be used under the responsibility of a veterinarian.

(b) The use of chemically synthesised allopathic veterinary medicinal products or antibiotics for preventive treatments is prohibited.

In addition to the above principles, the following rules shall apply:
 
The use of substances to promote growth or production, (including antibiotics, coccidiostatics and other artificial aids for growth promotion purposes) and the use of hormones or similar substances to control reproduction (e.g. induction or synchronisation of oestrus) or for other purposes, is prohibited. Nevertheless, hormones may be administered to an individual animal, as a form of therapeutic veterinary treatment.

(c) Veterinary treatments to animals, or treatments to buildings, equipment and facilities which are compulsory under national legislation shall be authorised, including the use of immunological veterinary medicinal products when a disease has been recognised as present in a specific area in which the production unit is located and the disease cannot be controlled by other management techniques. Vaccines must not be genetically engineered unless mandated by the Governement. 
For additional rules specific to the USA market please refer to point 2.3 and 2.4(a) Supplementary requirements for Organic Operators producing for the USA market.

5.6.6 Whenever veterinary medicinal products are to be used the type of product must be recorded clearly (including an indication of the active pharmacological substances involved), together with details of the diagnosis; the posology; the method of administration; the duration of the treatment, and the legal withdrawal period. This information is to be declared to AsureQuality Ltd before the livestock or livestock products are marketed as organically produced. Livestock treated must be clearly identified, individually in the case of large animals, individually or by batch in the case of poultry and small animals.
For additional rules specific to the USA market please refer to point 2.3 and 2.4 (a) Supplementary requirements for Organic Operators producing for the USA market.

5.6.7 The withdrawal period between the last administration of an allopathic veterinary medicinal product to an livestock under normal conditions of use, and the production of organically produced foodstuffs from such livestock, is to be twice the legal withdrawal period or, in a case in which this period is not specified, 48 hours.

5.6.8 With the exception of vaccinations, treatments for parasites and any compulsory eradication schemes established by the NZFSA, where an animal or group of animals receive more than two or a maximum of three courses of treatments with chemically-synthesised allopathic veterinary medicinal products or antibiotics within one year (or more than one course of treatment if their productive lifecycle is less than one year) the livestock concerned, or produce derived from them, may not be sold as being products produced in accordance with this Standard, and the livestock must undergo the conversion periods laid down in Section 5.3 of this Standard, subject to the agreement of AsureQuality Limited.