National Animal Supplement Council (NASC)
Unlike human supplements, present U.S. law does not specifically recognize animal supplements. Because of this, individual states have tried to make it illegal to sell products containing glucosamine, MSM, and even Vitamin C to animals. Until this issue is remedied, your ability to use supplements for your animal will remain in jeopardy.
What is the NASC?
In 2001, a group of supplement manufacturers formed a not-for-profit organization called the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) to address this problem. The NASC is dedicated to ensuring that supplements continue to be available for animals. They are doing so by working with the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA-CVM) and the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) to create fair, reasonable, responsible regulation that provides nationwide consistency for animal supplements. SmartPak is proud to be a founding member of the NASC.
How does the NASC work?
Before the NASC existed, there were no standards for what a company making animal supplements could claim on its labels, no standards for manufacturing practices and no standards for tracking adverse events (side effects). Since its formation, the NASC has implemented national standards for labeling, manufacturing and adverse event reporting so that customers will know what they are getting for their supplement dollar. NASC members must embrace the following:
- Accurate labels with complete ingredient listings and standardized formats
- Manufacturing of products under rigorous quality standards
- Ensuring the safety of the ingredients by tracking adverse events
- Completion of regular independent audits, including random product testing
How is SmartPak involved?
SmartPak is an NASC-audited member and therefore our SmartSupplements™, Leg Up® and SmartPak™ brands of supplements meet the requirements above and are approved to carry the NASC quality seal.
In addition to helping found the NASC, SmartPak’s technology team designed and built a sophisticated database used by all NASC members to track the safety of supplement ingredients. For the first time ever, the animal supplement industry is sharing data with each other and with the FDA-CVM. By collecting this data, we have solid proof of safety and visibility on any problems regarding animal supplement formulations and individual ingredients. Together, we are hoping to make sensible decisions based on scientific evidence rather than speculation.
"SmartPak genuinely sees themselves as advocates for what is best for their customers – the continued availability of high-quality products. SmartPak has given generously of their time and expertise leading the development of The NASC Adverse Event Reporting System (NAERS). This system and its implementation is unprecedented in the animal health industry and is more comprehensive than the requirements mandated by the US Congress for either Human Dietary Supplements or animal feed. NAERS has been key to our continued progress with the regulatory agencies or those recommending regulatory policy."
- Bill Bookout, NASC president