As stated in article D234-6 of the French Rural and Maritime Fishing Code, which reads as follows:
“I. – Veterinary medicinal products containing substances or categories of substances with anabolic, anticatabolic or beta-agonist activity may only be administered to animals belonging to species whose flesh or products are intended for human consumption under the following conditions:
1° For therapeutic use:
a) Testosterone, progesterone or derivatives which readily hydrolyse the initial compounds after resorption at the site of application, administered by injection, for the treatment of a fertility disorder, excluding implants, or in the form of vaginal coils for the treatment of ovarian dysfunction ;
b) Beta-agonists :
– for bovine species, by injection, for the induction of tocolysis ;
– for equidae, for the treatment of respiratory disorders, navicular disease, acute laminitis or the induction of tocolysis;
– for the treatment of respiratory disorders or induction of tocolysis;
c) Trembolone allyl, or altrenogest, administered orally to equidae and companion animals, and for the treatment of fertility disorders;
2° For zootechnical use:
a) Substances having an oestrogenic, androgenic or gestagenic hormonal action, with the exception of oestradiol 17 beta or its esterified derivatives, administered on an individual basis with a view to synchronisation of the oestrous cycle, preparation for embryo donation and implantation;
b) Substances having an androgenic effect, administered to fish fry not intended for consumption, during the first three months of their life and with a view to sexual inversion;
II. – The medicinal products mentioned in I must not contain :
1° beta-agonists inducing a withdrawal period of more than twenty-eight days ;
2° Substances having a hormonal action, the pharmaceutical form or administration of which causes local deposition or results in a withdrawal period of more than fifteen days;
3° Substances having a hormonal action for which there are no reagents allowing their identification or assay, nor the equipment necessary for carrying out analyses designed to detect residues at levels above the authorised limits.”