2.3 Livestock health care practice standard

Cross references

USDA NOP: 205.238 Livestock health care practice standard
NZFSA Technical Rules for Organic Production:
Section 6, point 6.5.4-6.5.10

(a) Only medicines listed by the United States that are permitted under NZ law may be used.

(b) When preventive practices and veterinary biologics are inadequate to prevent sickness, a producer may administer synthetic medications: Provided, that, such medications are allowed under point 2.4 in this Appendix.  Parasiticides allowed under point 2.4 may be used on:

Breeder stock, when used prior to the last third of gestation but not during lactation for progeny that are to be sold, labelled, or represented as organically produced; and

Dairy stock, when used a minimum of 90 days prior to the production of milk or milk products that are to be sold, labelled, or represented as organic.

(c) The producer of an organic livestock operation must not:

Sell, label, or represent as organic any animal or edible product derived from any animal treated with antibiotics, any substance that contains a synthetic substance not allowed under point  6.2 of this Appendix, or any substance that contains strychnine, a prohibited non-synthetic substance.

This Means:
(a)For livestock (excluding dairy animals for milk production);

If an organic animal is treated with antibiotics, the animal and its products following treatment must not be sold, labelled, or represented as organic.

(b) For dairy animals for milk production

A conventional dairy animal treated with antibiotics can be converted to organic y being under continuous organic management for 1 year prior to milk and milk products from the animal being sold as organic.
. Once a dairy animal is converted to organic, if it is treated with antibiotics (subsequent to gaining organic status) it loses its organic status for ever (Rules: 205.236 (2) (iii), 205.238 (C) (1).

Administer any animal drug, other than vaccinations, in the absence of illness;

Administer hormones for growth promotion;

Administer synthetic parasiticides on a routine basis;

Administer synthetic parasiticides to slaughter stock;

Administer animal drugs in violation of NZ legislation [ACVM Act, PAR system, professional conduct (NZVA); or

Withhold medical treatment from a sick animal in an effort to preserve its organic status.  All appropriate medications must be used to restore an animal to health when methods acceptable to organic production fail.  Livestock treated with a prohibited substance must be clearly identified and shall not be sold, labelled, or represented as organically produced.