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ALERT: As of June 1, 2022, the California drug testing fee will now be $14 per horse entered in competition or consigned to a public sale.

Information for Exhibitor or Consignor

Definition of Event

An “event” is defined in the Food and Agricultural Code Section 24001 as any public horse show, competition, or sale in which money, goods, or services are exchanged for the right to compete for a single set of placings leading to points or awards at the show or competition, or to permit a horse to be consigned for sale.

The following events are exempt from EMMP regulations:

• A rodeo-related competition, which is strictly a timed performance with no subjective judging, when held apart from a horse show. This includes barrel racing, team penning, ranch sorting, roping and gymkhana.
• A sales of solely racehorses.
• Competitions under the jurisdiction of the California Horse Racing Board.
• A public horse show in which the class or entry fee is less than $4.99 per class and other fees do not exceed $19.99 (other fees include, but are not limited to, grounds fees, stall fees or office fees).
• A public horse show in which all fees for participation are less than $19.99 (to include, but is not limited to, class fees, grounds fees, stall fees and office fees).

Exhibitor or Consignor Responsibilities

A registered event exhibitor or consignor:

• Must comply with the California Equine Medication rule
• Must file an accurate and complete Drug Declaration Form (California Form 76-027 or USEF Medication Report Form) with the event manager for any horse that has received a prohibited substance for therapeutic reasons within the three (3) days before a show /competition or the five (5) days before a sale. Drug Declaration Forms are available from event managers.
• Must cooperate with EMMP field personnel from the time of horse selection for sampling until official release of the selected horse.

Failure to submit a horse for sample collection or to cooperate with EMMP personnel is a violation and subjects the responsible person to civil penalties and possible suspension.

Withdrawal of Equine from Event After Administration of Therapeutic Medication

An equine must be withdrawn from competition for a minimum of:

• 24 hours after therapeutic administration of a prohibited substance
• 45 days after the administration of reserpine and fluphenazine
• 90 days after the administration of an anabolic steroid.

An equine must be withdrawn from a public sale for a minimum of:

• 72 hours after therapeutic administration of a prohibited substance
• 72 hours after the therapeutic administration of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

Completion of a Drug Declaration Form (California Form 76-027 or US Equestrian Federation Medication Report Form)

A Drug Declaration Form (CDFA Form 76-027 or USEF Drugs and Medication Report Form) is a legal document that an exhibitor or consignor must complete and file with an event manager for any equine at an event that has received a prohibited substance deemed by a licensed veterinarian as therapeutically necessary for the treatment of an illness or injury. An owner/exhibitor/trainer must complete and file a Drug Declaration Form for any equine that has received a prohibited substance within the three (3) days before the day being shown. A consignor must complete and file a Drug Declaration Form for any equine that has received a prohibited substance or NSAID within the five (5) days before the day of the sale.

The owner/exhibitor/trainer is to submit the completed Drug Declaration Form to the event manager within one (1) hour of administration of the product(s) at the event. If the product administration occurs at a time other than during equine event or sale hours, the owner/exhibitor/trainer is to submit the completed form within one (1) hour after an event manager returns to duty.

California Equine Medication Rule

California law (Food and Agricultural Code Sections 24000-24018) outlines the equine medication rule for public equine events in California. The owner, trainer and consignor have responsibility to ensure full compliance with all elements of the California Equine Medication Rule. Owners, trainers, exhibitors, veterinarians and consignors of equines to public sales must comply with both the California Equine Medication Rule and any sponsoring organization drug and medication rule for an event. The more stringent medication rule applies for the event.

The California Equine Medication Rule classifies drugs as prohibited substances and permissible substances. A prohibited substance is defined as any drug or medication that is a stimulant, a depressant, a tranquilizer, an anesthetic including local anesthetic, an analgesic, an anabolic steroid, a corticosteroid (excluding dexamethasone) and a soring agent. A prohibited substance administered for therapeutic purposes must be withdrawn 24 hours before a public competition or 72 hours before a public sale.

A permissible substance is a therapeutic drug or medicine or a drug or medicine found in a sample within the established maximum detectable plasma or urine levels. There are nine (9) permissible drugs with restriction on the established maximum detectable plasma or urine levels. The nine (9) permissible medications, not to exceed maximum allowable levels, include: dexamethasone (Azium®), diclofenic acid (Surpass®), firocoxib (Equioxx®), flunixin (Banamine®), ketoprofen (Ketofen®), meclofenamic acid (Arquel®), methocarbamol (Robaxin®), naproxen (Naprosyn®), and phenylbutazone (Butazolidin®).

Nine (9) Permissible Medications with Maximum Allowable Limit Restrictions - Dose and Time Recommendations Table

List of common prohibited substance for the California Equine Medication Monitoring Program

The California Equine Medication Rule allows use of modern therapeutic pharmacologic treatments for illness or injury, unless the treatment,

1. Involves use of a prohibited substance and the animal is not withdrawn from competition or sale following treatment,
2. Results in the presence of more than one non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in the urine or plasma, or
3. Results in the presence of the substance exceeding the maximum allowable level in blood or urine.

The EMMP advises owners and trainers to contact the EMMP veterinarian to confirm if intended drug use for a particular purpose is therapeutic.

The California Equine Medication Rule prohibits the administration of any injectable substance to an equine within twelve (12) hours of competition, except for a veterinarian administering the following:

1. A minimum of 1 liter of polyionic fluids per 100 pounds of body weight within 6-12 hours of competition (NOTE: Fluids supplemented with concentrated electrolytes, such as magnesium, are prohibited).
2. Antibiotics (NOTE: Procaine Penicillin is prohibited).
3. Dexamethasone injection, not to exceed 0.5 milligrams per 100 pounds, exclusively for the treatment of acute urticaria (hives) within 6-12 hours of competition.

The veterinarian must file a Drug Declaration Form (CA Form 76-027 or USEF Form) within 1 hour of administration of these injectable substances.

For more information on the California Equine Medication Rule visit: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/emmp/EMMP_CA_Equine_Med_Rule.html

Resources

• Information for Exhibitor or Consignor (Brochure)
• Permissible Medications Dose and Time Recommendations Table
• Drug Declaration Form (Form 76-027)
• Horse Consignor Poster
• Horse Show/Competition Exhibitor Poster
• Drugs and Medication Guidelines Brochure
• List of common prohibited substance for the California Equine Medication Monitoring Program