Take a ‘Trust But Verify’ Approach When Evaluating Products For Your Store

It’s no secret that pets today are considered true members of the family and as such, enjoy care and pampering intended to keep them healthy and thriving. Retailers across the U.S. have seen increased demand for supplements for dogs, cats and other pets in an uptick likely attributed both to a rise in pet ownership and a greater focus on health and wellness by pet parents.

Today’s consumers are more skeptical than ever, however many find themselves believing that if a product has made its way to the store shelf, it must come from a reputable company that is responsibly producing the product. The truth is that products of questionable quality do sometimes reach store shelves and online marketplaces, which is why you should take a “trust but verify” approach when evaluating pet supplements to stock in your store.

Animal health and nutritional supplements are overseen by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, and in many cases by state regulatory agencies as well. But unlike pharmaceuticals, there is no law requiring supplements for dogs, cats and horses to be evaluated before their release, nor are label claims required to be proven accurate or truthful prior to marketing.

It is only after a supplement is introduced for sale that this all changes. Then, the FDA and state regulators have legal authority to review the product, its label claims, and any reported adverse events. They can pull a product from store shelves if a problem is discovered, if the product is not labeled properly, or if the company is acting irresponsibly. But even then, supplements for pets are not typically a high regulatory priority unless a major problem arises.

This is where the National Animal Supplement Council comes in.

As you evaluate supplements to stock, look for the NASC Quality Seal to know you’re working with reputable suppliers that produce and market their products within the bounds of the law, and maintain ongoing compliance with NASC’s rigorous standards for product quality and consistency.

The NASC Quality Program provides members with strict guidelines for product quality assurance, adverse event reporting, and labeling standards. The NASC Quality Seal is a credible and trusted mark of quality that can be found on thousands of supplements for dogs, cats and horses.

NASC member companies are responsible suppliers that have banded together to collectively achieve solutions that serve the best interests of all stakeholders: manufacturers, distributors, retailers, regulators, veterinarians, consumers—and most important, the animals themselves.

Representing roughly 90% of the industry, NASC members share a vision for a system of transparency, collaboration and the implementation of best practices, which results in successful self-regulation that bridges the gap between what the law requires and what consumers demand.

See the full list of companies and brands that have earned the NASC Quality Seal.