Happy New Year! We hope you had an enjoyable holiday season that included quality time with those you love most. We want to congratulate the entire NASC membership on another successful year of overcoming obstacles to continue supplying pet parents with the products they rely on for their beloved animals. You put your heads down and worked through issues such as rising production costs, supply chain interruptions and staffing challenges, to name a few. We know it wasn't always easy, but through pure grit and determination you got the job done!

We want to highlight some work NASC did in 2021 to advocate for our industry and help move the needle on important issues that affect us all as industry participants:

• Vermont Legislation – NASC retained a lobbyist to engage with the Vermont Department of Agriculture and state legislators to help to shape and pass legislation that legitimizes all dosage-form animal health products, including hemp. We also successfully negotiated the proposed $105 per-product registration fee down to $35 per product.
  
  
• Florida Legislation – NASC has worked with personnel in the Florida Department of Agriculture, including the commissioner, in an effort to modify the current ag bill that will be introduced on January 11. If the agreed-upon language is accepted, it will resolve labeling issues for hemp products in the state and legitimately recognize dosage-form animal health products. This is an issue we need to watch carefully, and we will keep everyone posted should broad action and a grassroots effort become necessary.
  
  
• CBD Safety Study – The NASC board of directors approved a CBD safety study in dogs to answer FDA’s questions regarding safety and toxicity of CBD in pet products. We have partnered with Nutrasource, an experienced contract research organization, to develop protocol for a two-phase study involving four groups of 40 dogs in which CBD, CBD/A and CBD/G products will all be evaluated. The study results will give FDA safety data to reference as they proceed with future decision making. You will see further communication regarding this initiative with more specific details shortly.
  
  
• Retailer Focus – NASC has conducted numerous training programs with retail partners to help them better understand claims boundaries, the NASC Audit Program and the benefits of bringing in products from NASC members. Many retailers and major e-commerce sites now require NASC membership and the Quality Seal to bring in hemp and other dosage-form animal health products. We are also adding a Retailer membership level to the NASC website so retailers can access NASC training and guidance documents, as well as other resources.
  
  
• AAFCO Committees – NASC is involved in several AAFCO committees to ensure members are well represented on the issues AAFCO tackles. As a direct result of the actions NASC has taken on the hemp issue, the newly-formed AAFCO Hemp Committee will launch this month to continue work on hemp as an ingredient in pet feed/food. We have also been very active in new guidelines for human food grade labeling, as well as standardization initiatives for human and animal food.

We will continue to act on behalf of NASC members on these issues and more and will regularly update you on our progress. Please reach out if you have questions and we look forward to a great 2022!

— Bill Bookout, NASC President

UPCOMING TRADE SHOWS

NASC will exhibit later this month at the VMX Veterinary Meeting & Expo, January 15-19 in Orlando, FL. We are excited to get back to meetings and look forward to telling attendees the NASC story, promoting our members, and helping to drive traffic to the booths of exhibiting members. We will be sure to drop by members' booths to say hello and share materials. 

Additional shows NASC will attend in 2022 include: 

• Global Pet Expo | March 23-25, Orlando, FL
• Pets+ Thrive! | May 2-4, Kansas City, MO
• SuperZoo | August 23-25, Las Vegas, NV
• AHVMA | September 10-13, West Palm Beach, FL

If there is anything we can help with related to VMX or any other upcoming show, please reach out to Jeni Rector (j.rector@nasc.cc | 760-751-3360 x104).

NASC EXPANDS ADVERTISING PROGRAM

The 2022 NASC marketing plan includes an expanded advertising program designed to help us reach even more of our important downstream audiences, which includes retailers, veterinarians and pet owners, to tell them all about the NASC mission and member commitment to quality and consistency.

We will have print and digital content throughout the year in Pet Age, Pets+, Animal Wellness, Equine Wellness and Innovative Veterinary Care Journal, with strong calls to action driving readers to the NASC member list on our website.

2022 NASC ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Registration opens this month for the 2022 NASC Annual Conference! We will convene June 7-9 in St. Louis, Missouri, at the Chase Park Plaza Royal Sonesta Hotel.

The conference will feature presentations, panels and breakouts on topics important to your business success, plus opportunities for networking and fun! If you would like to be personally notified when registration opens, please visit www.conference.nasc.cc and fill out the contact form on the main page. We look forward to seeing you in June! 

ORDER YOUR NASC HEALTH GUIDES!

NASC is offering members a high-value, low-cost item you can use to promote your business while educating pet parents! The NASC Pocket Guide to Dog & Cat Health and the NASC Pocket Guide to Equine Health are written for the well-informed dog, cat and horse owner, and discuss supplements from a complementary perspective as an element of whole animal care. The guides briefly cover some health concerns animals may experience in their lives however the content is within risk boundaries as structured and worded.

Additional details:

• Audited members can co-brand the front cover and customize the inside front and back covers with their branding/messaging with a minimum order of 1,000 books
• Non-audited members can order guides that feature NASC branding on the front and inside covers
• Cost per book is around $1.00 each at a quantity of 1,000 books, however our printer allows us group pricing to help bring down member cost. NASC will organize group orders between interested member companies to get everyone the best pricing possible.

Please contact Jeni Rector (j.rector@nasc.cc | 760-751-3360 x104) for more information—she can answer your questions, send you a digital file of the guides to review, and help you with ordering.

ON-DEMAND WEBINARS OFFER LEARNING ON YOUR SCHEDULE

Just a reminder that videos and slide decks from the NASC Preferred Supplier Educational Webinar Series are posted on the NASC website under the Events/Webinars tab. The webinar series launched in late 2021 and three recordings are currently available. We will upload new recordings immediately following each event. Our first webinar of 2022 will be presented by Alkemist Labs on January 25—stay tuned for more information.