FARMERS caught using animal growth promoters will be disqualified from

receiving EC headage payments under a new hormones crack-down unveiled

in Brussels yesterday.

Producers will be asked to sign a written statement when applying for

premiums, undertaking not to use the banned substances.

Announcing the crack-down, EC Farm Commissioner Rene Steichen admitted

that despite a blanket hormones ban in place since 1988, abuse is

widespread in all 12 member States.

He said random inspections at slaughterhouses would in future be

accompanied by targetted inspections of farms where fattening is the

main activity -- in other words high risk farms. A total ban on

beta-agonists will also be introduced, the Commissioner said.

A number of drugs such as clenbuterol, otherwise known as Angel Dust,

are currently allowed for theraputic use, but even these will be banned

in future.

The Commissioner said alternative drug treatments were available

instead.

Mr Steichen said Brussels would provide aid for groups of farmers or

stock breeders prepared to set up their own inspection teams. A minority

of unscrupulous producers were discrediting the entire industry, and

Brussels would show ''no pity,'' he warned.

Meanwhile, Brussels is set to lift its ban on imports of livestock

meat and dairy products from Eastern Europe, provided the countries hit

by the ban pledge to implement strict anti-foot and mouth measures.

These will include two weeks of quarantine for livestock being

exported to the EC.

* A relaxation in the rules for Suckler Cow Premium has been agreed by

the EC Agricultural Council.

This allows more dairy producers to claim premium by increasing the

individual milk quota limit from 60,000kg to 120,000kg (160,450 litres),

and abolishing the 10-cow limit.

Qualifying producers may apply for a priority allocation of Suckler

Cow Premium quota rights from an allocation of quota made by the

European Council for this purpose.

To qualify, a producer's milk quota must not exceed 120,000kg on April

1, 1993. Suckler Cow Premium quota will be allocated for the number of

eligible suckler cows which were held on the producer's holding for six

months from January 1 to June 30, 1993 inclusive. The producer will be

able to apply for premium under the 1993 Suckler Cow Premium Scheme.

Small dairy producers who can comply with the terms of the allocation

must submit a valid application by the closing date of May 15, 1993.

Valid applications received for up to 20 days after the closing date,

that is until June 4, 1993, will be accepted, but allocation will be

progressively reduced.

Application forms and explanatory notes for allocation of these quota

rights have been distributed to producers with a milk quota of 120,000kg

or less as at April 1, 1993.

Producers who do not receive an application form and explanatory

notes, and who think they may qualify, should contact their nearest

Local Area Office for a copy of the application form as soon as

possible.

Allocation will be subject to the rules for Suckler Cow Premium Quota

Rights, based on 1992 valid premium claims, and will therefore be

subject to a deduction for the national reserve. The amount of this

deduction has not yet been announced, but it will not exceed 3%.

Producers will be notified of their allocations in the autumn.