The supplement manufacturing industry has submitted a proposal to federal regulatory agencies that includes provisions for establishing common industry standards for manufacturing processes, allowing focus toward finished product safety through an adverse event reporting system, and limiting unsubstantiated labeling claims. These standards are now being vigorously demanded by the various state and federal agencies.

The National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) is a not-for-profit, industry-funded trade association serving manufacturers of nutritional products for small animals as well as horses. Working very closely with the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), the Food & Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA/CVM), and other trade associations such as the National Association of Equine Supplement Manufacturers (NAESM), NASC submitted the proposal.

The Compliance Plus proposal was submitted as a response to AAFCO’s plan–spelled out on their Internet website at https://www.aafco.org orchestrate and recommend nation-wide enforcement strategy beginning in April 2002. The Enforcement Strategy is scheduled to be carried out by AAFCO state agriculture department members selecting a single ingredient that is not recognized or accepted for use in animal feeds. The enforcement event is targeted to seek compliance with existing federal and state laws and regulations. These activities may impact all channels of distribution and sale of products within the participating states.

Additionally, the NASC also seeks to gain formal approval for the sale of certain novel ingredients that are deemed to be not accepted or recognized by many state agriculture departments. The NASC seeks to ease the approval process for member companies by collectively funding among NASC members clinical data on safety for certain ingredients with ongoing member-sponsored research initiatives. The association also serves as a clearing house for relevant information, and an industry voice for legislation and regulations of various kinds