When it comes to the supplements people are giving their beloved dogs, cats, horses and other companion animals, pet parents want to know these products are providing their intended benefits from companies they can trust.

The National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) has introduced two new websites focused on people making buying decisions to help ensure confidence in the products they buy and help provide credible information to animal owners. The NASC Quality Seal certifies not only what is taking place behind the scenes during their manufacturing process, NASC’s Preferred Supplier Program helps members use quality raw materials that come from trusted suppliers.

NASC also buys and randomly tests products to make sure they meet label claims for ingredients.

In the growing pet supplements market, challenges include regulatory hurdles, stability, safety, palatability and adverse event monitoring. NASC works with federal and state agencies to allow supplements into the market and facilitate their expansion.

Focus on buyers

The NASC Seal of Quality on an animal supplement will give buyers and pet parents peace of mind that the products they are giving their furry friends have passed the NASC’s rigorous certification standards. As part of the certification, NASC verifies quality ingredients, quality production processes, continuous product and data monitoring and allowable product claims, specifically:

• The company must have a Quality Control Manual in place that provides written Standard Operating Procedures for production process control. This helps ensure the company is providing a consistent and quality product and is almost identical for the standards for human products.
• The company must utilize the NASC Adverse Event Reporting System (NAERS) to continually monitor and evaluate products and ingredients.
• The company must follow proper Label Guidelines for all products and all forms of labeling.
• The company’s product labels must include any specific Warning and Caution Statements suggested by the Food & Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine and the NASC Scientific Advisory Committee.
• The company will have to comply with independent random product testing requirements in order to maintain the seal.

Only after the company has successfully passed an on-site quality audit and comprehensive inspection, are they granted permission to display the seal on their products, websites, product literature and advertisements. Use of the seal demonstrates the supplement manufacturer has implemented the NASC requirements and is committed to the highest current standards of quality in the animal supplement industry today.

As a result, the Seal of Quality is a mark of assurance that consumers are purchasing from a reputable animal supplement company. Additionally with the launch of two new consumer websites, NASC offers one-stop expertise for consumers to get all their pet health information, to learn about pet supplements and to stay on top of the latest news from experts. The Council has entered into a partnership of support with PetHealthLive and HorseHealthLive.