Individuals and organizations can express their support by signing a statement at animalhealthsupplementact.org. NASC is actively gathering signatures from pet owners, retailers, and industry participants, encouraging all stakeholders, regardless of location or affiliation, to participate. Bill Bookout, NASC’s president, stressed that broader engagement will strengthen the push for regulation.
The AHSA would cover ingestible products for dogs, cats, horses, and specialty pets that provide non-nutritional health benefits, excluding pet food, treats, topical products, and supplements for food-producing animals. Manufacturers would be required to adhere to current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) standards and register products in a national listing system. The act would also limit labeling claims to structure/function statements, prohibiting any disease-related claims.
Bookout highlighted that the industry has demonstrated responsible functioning, and the proposed law aims to formalize a co-regulation approach. “We’ve demonstrated that the industry can function responsibly, and that’s really the basis of our approach, which is co-regulation, not self-regulation,” he said. He added that consistent federal rules are essential for the industry: “A national industry, which we are, cannot operate in an inconsistent regulatory environment.”
Read Also: Kazakhstan AI designs custom wet dog food
The legislation is expected to be introduced in 2026, with NASC aiming for passage in 2027 through the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Early feedback from lawmakers has been described as favorable and bipartisan. NASC plans to organize additional informational sessions and provide supporters with updates.
Without the AHSA, these products are considered unapproved new animal drugs, exposing them to potential enforcement actions or policy changes depending on the administration in power. The act seeks to replace this uncertainty with clear federal guidelines, ensuring products comply with safety and labeling requirements while marginalizing bad actors.
